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1 / 8

In their words

1 / 2

@swift_comet_37 · Owner-reported

Owned 1–6 months · Still using it: no, stopped · Posted Oct 2026

While this product's noise cancellation, sound quality, and app customization are comparable to Sony's flagship models from a generation ago, it suffers from a serious flaw in battery degradation. The battery in this product completely degrades in about six months.

Comfort · better than expected
Noise cancelling in the real world · better than expected
Battery · worse than expected
Battery · gave out

Would not buy again

@brisk_alder_55 · Owner-reported

Owned over 2 years · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted Sep 2026

Great fit. Too bad Sony discontinued the design. I wish they would keep the design and just update the tech inside.

Comfort · better than expected
Noise cancelling in the real world · better than expected

Would buy again

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Sony

Sony LinkBuds S

Name: Sony LinkBuds S
Brand: Sony
SKU: B09YL76VSR
Price: 159.99 USD

This donut-less follow up is a much more reliable product than the LinkBuds, but it's also pretty anonymous.

Current price · Amazon US

$159.99

Check Price on Amazon

Price last checked 1d ago

noise cancelling

8.1/ 10

ANCNoise cancelling

8.1

0.010.0

At 8.1, its noise cancelling beats 63% of wireless earbuds we've measured.

Measured on 93 of the 265 we've cataloged.

See the lab data ↓Frequency response · Isolation · Noise cancelling

Owners (2)

1of 2

Buy againOwner reported

1 of 2 would buy again. 1 of 2 still use it daily, 1 stopped.

Owned 1–6 months to over 2 years.

Fit and comfort over hours2 better
Noise cancelling in the real world2 better
Battery in real life1 as expected · 1 worse
Mic on calls2 as expected
Buds and case after months2 as expected

Read the 2 owner reviews ↓

What gave out: Battery (1)

Key specs

Battery Life Earbuds

5.68 hBelow average

5.68 h

2 h15 h

below average for wireless earbuds — based on 249 of 265 we've cataloged.

Battery Life With Case

20 hBelow average

20 h

7 h60 h

below average for wireless earbuds — based on 247 of 265 we've cataloged.

IP Rating

IPX4Most common

IPX436%IP5518%IP5416%IPX510%

IPX4 is the most common — on 36% of the 244 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 265).

Noise Cancellation Type

ActiveMost common

Active60%Passive16%Hybrid10%None8%

Active is the most common — on 60% of the 178 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 265).

Battery

Battery Life Earbuds: 5.68 h
Battery Life With Case: 20 h
Charging Method: USB-C
Full Charge Minutes: 120 min
Battery Life Anc On: 6 h
Fast Charging: Yes

Build

IP Rating: IPX4
Sweat Resistance: Yes
Water Resistance: Yes
Material Case: Plastic
Material Chassis Primary: Plastic

Sound

Noise Cancellation Type: Active
Ambient Levels: 20 levels
Ambient Mode: Yes, adaptive transparency
Anc Depth: 35 dB
Anc Modes: Off, ANC on, transparency
Driver Count: 1
Driver Size: 5 mm
Driver Type: Dynamic
Frequency Response: 20-20000 Hz
Frequency Response High Hz: 20000 Hz
Frequency Response Low Hz: 20 Hz
Frequency Response Signature: Neutral
Adaptive Anc: Yes
Impedance: 16 Ω
Passive Isolation: 20 dB
Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW

Connectivity

Bluetooth Version: 5.2
Bluetooth Codec: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
Bluetooth Range: 10 m
Connection Type: Bluetooth
Headphone Jack: No
Latency: 40 ms
Multipoint Devices: 2 devices

Design

Earbud Form Factor: In-ear
Case Dimensions: 42.8×60×27.6 mm
Color Options: Black, ecru, white
Ear Tip Material: Silicone
Ear Tip Sizes Included: S, M, L, XL
Wearing Style: Deep insert
Weight Per Earbud: 4.8 g
Weight With Case: 42 g

Features

Certified For: Made for iPhone, Google Fast Pair
Companion App: Yes
Control Type: Touch controls
Eq Customization: Yes
Auto Connect: Yes
Auto Pause: Yes
Fitness Tracking: No
Mono Mode: Yes
Spatial Audio: Yes, head tracking
Voice Assistant Support: Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa

Identity

Model Number: WFLS900N/B

Microphone

Count: 2
Wind Noise Reduction: Yes
Noise Reduction Type: Active
Type: Dual microphone

Release

Date: 2022-05-18
Msrp Usd: 199 USD
Year: 2022

Lab data

How we test ›

Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.

Compare with

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0 of 3 overlay slots used

Sony LinkBuds S Frequency Response (measured on a B&K 5128)

Click a line or a legend entry to highlight it. Click again to clear.Tap a legend entry to highlight its line. Tap again to clear.

Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.

Sony LinkBuds S: frequency response, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Response (dB)
20	2.2
25	2.7
32	3.2
40	3.3
50	3.3
63	2.9
80	2.4
100	1.7
125	0.9
160	-0.1
200	-0.9
250	-1.8
315	-2.6
400	-3.2
500	-3.2
630	-2.7
800	-0.9
1000	1.1
1250	2.6
1600	4.7
2000	7.8
2500	7.7
3150	7.1
4000	3.9
5000	3.0
6300	0.1
8000	-7.4
10000	-4.5
12500	-17.7
16000	-15.6
20000	-23.0

Sony LinkBuds S Attenuation (measured on a B&K 5128)

Click a line or a legend entry to highlight it. Click again to clear.Tap a legend entry to highlight its line. Tap again to clear.

Solid lines: passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Dashed lines: total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.

Sony LinkBuds S: passive isolation, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Attenuation (dB)
21	5.5
26	6.1
33	7.5
41	7.5
52	8.1
65	8.7
82	8.8
103	7.7
130	7.9
163	9.0
205	10.4
259	9.8
325	9.9
410	12.5
516	19.4
613	17.0
772	17.9
972	22.5
1220	25.5
1540	26.3
1940	25.2
2440	28.5
3070	31.5
3870	35.1
4870	34.2
6130	31.1
7720	32.6
9720	29.0
12200	26.9
15400	26.4
19400	42.3

Sony LinkBuds S: noise cancelling, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Total attenuation (dB)
21	2.5
26	6.2
33	16.7
41	19.6
52	22.7
65	24.3
82	27.9
103	27.0
130	24.9
163	28.6
205	32.5
259	26.8
325	20.6
410	10.9
516	17.5
613	21.9
772	19.0
972	22.9
1220	27.0
1540	26.2
1940	27.5
2440	26.9
3070	26.7
3870	27.2
4870	30.2
6130	30.5
7720	32.9
9720	28.7
12200	26.8
15400	26.4
19400	42.2

SoundGuys review

SOUNDGUYS rating

7.8/ 10

Recommended

Reviewed bySam MooreReviewed September 2022

Noise cancelling8.1

Isolation8.5

Battery life6.0

Comfort & fit8.0

Connectivity8.0

Design5.5

The verdict

The Sony LinkBuds S follows a deeply flawed, but unique pair of true wireless earbuds. It's a lot more reliable, but also a lot less distinctive. This is a solid pair of noise canceling earbuds, but it doesn't handle the very specific use cases of the original LinkBuds as well.

✓Liked: Noise canceling, Sound quality, Sealing the ears means isolation is possible, Comprehensive app

✕Could be better: Anonymous design, Under-emphasized highs, Design picks up dirt very easily

Read the full SoundGuys review →

Owners (2)

How we verify owners

What readers who own the Sony LinkBuds S report after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.

Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.

2 owner reviews

· · Owned 1–6 months · Still using it: no, stopped · Posted Oct 2026

Would not buy again