The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are the upgraded variant of the Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless. While the original LinkBuds have an open-ear design so that you can easily hear ambient sound without removing the buds or turning down your audio, the S model are closed-ear and are closer to traditional earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless. They have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system to help block out ambient sound. Their build is also quite similar in look to the XM4, but is mostly made from recycled plastic, making them lighter and more comfortable. While not a 180-degree difference, Sony has also inched away from the trend of favoring an overly bassy, boomy sound profile.
Our Verdict
The Sony LinkBuds S are very good for sports and fitness. These lightweight buds offer a comfortable and stable fit, making them very portable, and are a solid choice for running or working out. They're also well-built and are certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes. Unfortunately, they lack volume controls by default, but you can always remap them via their companion app.
- Customizable via companion app's graphic EQ and presets.
- Comfortable, stable, and well-built design.
- IPX4 water resistance.
Battery drains faster with LDAC codec.
Minimal mic controls.
The Sony LinkBuds S are great for commuting and travel. These lightweight and portable buds have an ANC system to help block out rumbly bus and plane engines around you. With their ANC on, they last over seven hours continuously, and if you need to top them up, their carrying case holds an additional 2.3 charges. That said, if you use the LDAC codec, their battery life is decreased. They have a comfortable fit, allowing you to wear them for extended periods without fatigue.
- Customizable via companion app's graphic EQ and presets.
- Comfortable, stable, and well-built design.
- Great overall noise isolation, thanks to ANC system.
Battery drains faster with LDAC codec.
Minimal mic controls.
The Sony LinkBuds S are decent for office use. These buds have a comfortable fit and feature an ANC system that can reduce noise, such as office chatter and the hum of AC units, allowing you to focus on your work. They also don't leak much audio at high volumes. While their over seven hours of continuous playback time may not last through your entire work day, their carrying case supplies an additional 2.3 charges, which is handy in a pinch.
- Customizable via companion app's graphic EQ and presets.
- Great overall noise isolation, thanks to ANC system.
- Supports multi-device pairing.
Battery drains faster with LDAC codec.
- Sub-par overall microphone performance.
Minimal mic controls.
The Sony LinkBuds S are Bluetooth headphones; their latency is too high for wireless gaming on PCs.
The Sony LinkBuds S are Bluetooth-only headphones; you can't use them wired.
The Sony LinkBuds S have good audio reproduction accuracy. They don't deviate much from their warm sound profile, which offers smooth, controlled bass and a warm, recessed treble. Many listeners will appreciate this slightly vintage tonality, but you can always use the EQ in the companion app to add some brightness back in. The left and right drivers are well-matched, so objects are correctly located in the stereo field, distortion is inaudible, and there are no group delay issues.
The Sony LinkBuds S have impressive noise isolation. They do a great job blocking out sounds across the whole frequency range. Isolation in the bass range could be stronger, but they still handily reduce the rumbles of bus engines, and they do a good job blocking out the sounds of chatty coworkers in an office. They also leak very little noise, so you can listen at loud levels without disturbing those around you.
The Sony LinkBuds S have a subpar microphone. It makes your voice sound a little thin and harsh, although the peaks in the treble region ensure your voice remains audible. The mic also comes with a fairly aggressive noise gate that helps reduce background noise around you. Unfortunately, it's a little over-eager, so it can also cut out your voice, especially when exposed to loud sounds, such as a passing train. You'll want to use these headphones in a quiet environment if you plan on taking a phone call.
The Sony LinkBuds S have great frequency response consistency. Once you get a good seal with your ear canal, you'll hear consistent audio with every wear.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Mar 24, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test, and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
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Updated Jan 08, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.
- Updated Dec 15, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
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Updated Dec 18, 2024:
Several Sound tests have been updated following Test Bench 1.8. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony LinkBuds S come in the following color variants: 'Black,' 'White,' 'Desert Sand,' and 'Earth Blue.' We tested the 'Black' variant; you can see our model's label. These headphones can also be found in a limited-edition two-toned 'Violet' colorway made in collaboration with the singer Olivia Rodrigo. This model comes with two custom EQ presets that are designed for listening to her albums, 'GUTS' and 'SOUR.'
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony LinkBuds S are the upgraded variant of the Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless. Unlike their counterpart, they have a closed-back design and have an ANC system. In this regard, they're closer in performance to the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless and even outperform them in terms of noise isolation. They're also more comfortable, lightweight, and are even tuned differently. However, they're not quite as premium-feeling, and they lack the memory foam ear tips of the WF-1000XM4.
Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best earbuds and in-ear headphones, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless are somewhat better in-ears than the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless. While both buds are comfortable and well-built, the WF-1000XM5 can block out more ambient noise, largely due to their memory foam ear tips creating a tight seal within the ear. Their battery performance is better, too.
The Sony WF-C710N are positioned a tier below the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless in the brand's earbud lineup. The main advantage the pricier LinkBuds S offer is superior noise isolation performance. If you often find yourself annoyed by chatty coworkers, the LinkBuds S are the better purchase. Still, the two pairs sound very similar, and the C710N actually have a better performing mic and a longer continuous battery life. So if noise isolation isn't a priority, the cheaper buds may offer better value.
The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are the upgraded variant of the Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless. Both are designed for different purposes, meaning you may prefer one over the other. The original LinkBuds are open-ear, allowing you to easily monitor your surroundings without removing the buds. However, that means they won't block sound, and they leak audio. However, the S model are in-ears with ANC. They're able to block out a great amount of ambient noise. They're more comfortable, stable, and have a more neutral and flat sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have longer continuous battery life.
The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless have a slight edge over the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless, but it depends on your priorities. The LinkBuds S are more comfortable, thanks to their smaller and lightweight design. Their ANC can block out significantly more ambient sound. However, the WF-1000XM4 are better built and have better overall battery life.
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Test Results
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