Sony has announced the latest wireless earphones, the Link Buds S. These are attractive combinations of technology borrowed from the powerful Sony WF-1000XM4 into a cheaper, lighter body. As a result, I think it could be the first earphone that eventually broke the grip it had in the ear canal since the AirPods Pro came out. This is to check for certain boxes with too many headphones.
I’ve been testing dozens of the best wireless earphones since AirPods Pro was first released in 2019. Many defeat AirPods in a variety of ways.They offer longer battery life, better sound quality, or more effective noise cancellation … but they rarely beat AirPods. every day How to do it. And more importantly, it’s as lightweight, small, and comfortable as the AirPods Pro, but it doesn’t do that.
This is what AirPods Pro knew right from the start, and is often forgotten or not considered at all. The AirPods Pro weighs 5.4 grams / 0.19 ounces per earphone, and the stick design means that the weight doesn’t feel like it’s sticking out of your ear and trying to pull you out.
By comparison, each Sony WF-1000XM4 weighs 7.3 grams / 0.26 ounces, and 1.9 grams may not seem like a big difference, but it’s completely 35% heavier. And take into account the bulky design. That is, the position of the weight is different.
The AirPods Pro’s design also means that the case is slim, so you can slip it into your pocket without digging or awkwardly bulging. As a result of these various benefits, I always go back to the AirPods Pro-I’m anxious for comfort.
This will bring you back to Sony Link Buds S. It has the same custom V1 sound and noise canceling processor as the WF-1000XM4, but is 40% smaller than Sony’s top earphones and weighs only 4.8g / 0.17oz per bud.
Opinion: A compromise worth making
Sony tells TechRadar that the LinkBuds S doesn’t offer as strong active noise cancellation as the WF-1000XM4, even though it uses the same processor. This may be due to the different driver and microphone configurations. It’s $ 199 / £ 180 cheaper than the Sony WF-1000XM4’s $ 279/219. (In Australia, the price is the same for A $ 349. See figure.)
But even Sony’s slightly less effective noise cancellation can beat everything else on the market that doesn’t include “Bose” in its name. You can also continue to take advantage of many of my favorite features on Sony headphones, such as a great control app and DSEE music upscaling aimed at adding detail to compressed audio sent over Bluetooth. .. There is also LDAC support for those who need high quality wireless.
And they also address my biggest complaints with the AirPods Pro, which is battery life. The LinkBuds S provides 6 hours for each bud charge, while the AirPods Pro manages 4.5-5 hours. Adding a little flexibility is welcome.
You’ve got all the best features of Sony headphones, but what looks even more comfortable than the AirPods Pro … well, who can resist?
According to Sony, LinkBuds S will be available at the end of May 2022.