True Wireless
Sony Linkbuds S
78Great
$189
Full review dataSony Linkbuds S vs Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro - Great overall at around $150.
True Wireless
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
84Great
$150
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
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery7.5
Calls8.0
Value8.5
Specifications
| Spec | Sony Linkbuds S | Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $189 | $150 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 5 mm | 10.5 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | - | 14Hz-40kHz |
| Impedance | - | 15.3 Ω |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 9 h | 10 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6 h | 7.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 20 h | 40 h |
| Full charge time | 120 min | - |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 60 min | 5 min = 4 h |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| 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 | supports voice assistant via app |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 9.6 g | 5.5 g |
| Case weight | 35 g | 51 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX5 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 6 |
| Call noise reduction | - | AI noise reduction |
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
Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
The Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro pack a hefty feature set into a budget-friendly wireless earbud package, including adaptive noise cancellation, LDAC support, multipoint connectivity, and wireless charging. They deliver solid sound with crisp treble and effective call quality, though the charging case can feel gimmicky and prone to fingerprints, and spatial audio falls short. Overall, they're a well-rounded value pick rather than a flagship-level performer.
- Pro:Strong active noise cancellation
- Pro:Wide codec support including LDAC
- Pro:Multipoint and wireless charging included
- Con:Charging case feels gimmicky and smudges easily
- Con:Spatial audio performance is weak
- Con:Battery life is average for the price
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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