True Wireless
Sony Linkbuds S
78Great
$190
Full review dataSony Linkbuds S vs Sony WF-1000XM5: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM5 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM5 - Outstanding overall at around $249.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$250
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Sony Linkbuds S
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery6.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Sony Linkbuds S | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $190 | $250 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 0.33" |
| Driver size | 5 mm | 8.4 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | - | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | - | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 102 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 9 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6 h | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 20 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | 120 min | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 60 min | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | hybrid | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | Alexa built-in | Yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 9.6 g | 11.8 g |
| Case weight | 35 g | 39 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 6 |
What reviewers said
Sony Linkbuds S
The Sony LinkBuds S are compact true wireless earbuds that blend strong hybrid noise cancellation with a lightweight, comfortable fit. They deliver rich, detailed sound via a 5mm dynamic driver and support high-resolution LDAC streaming, plus handy features like multipoint pairing, wear detection, and quick charging. With a 5-hour battery per charge (20 hours total with the case), they're a solid mid-range pick for everyday use.
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for long wear
- Pro:Excellent hybrid ANC for the price
- Pro:Supports high-quality LDAC and multipoint
- Con:Battery life is modest compared to rivals
- Con:Small 5mm driver may lack bass punch for some
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky at times
Sony WF-1000XM5
These are high-end true wireless earbuds that focus on adaptive noise cancellation and detailed audio, supporting LDAC for high-resolution streaming. They offer a solid battery life of up to 12 hours without ANC, plus a comfortable fit and IPX4 sweat resistance for daily use. The touch controls and companion app add convenience, though the price reflects their premium status.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long battery life (12 hours without ANC)
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:No higher water resistance rating than IPX4
- Con:Touch controls may take time to master
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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