I bought this about a month ago now, the anc is great it balances well and you dont get that audible hiss that some brands will give. The auto pause + passthrough feature is great and works well when i need to speak to someone! The only thing i could say could be better is the battery life, but i understand they are truly wireless and there's not much space for batteries in the ear buds.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Response from sony.comBy Sony North America Customer Support , August 2, 2023
Hi SkewedReality,
That's awesome to hear! We're glad that you like the noise canceling and smart features of the headphones. With LinkBuds S, you’re always connected to your everyday worlds. Easily connect with the people you know and the content you love. Make crystal clear calls and listen to high-quality music - even in windy or noisy environments. AI based noise reduction algorithm isolates your voice and keeps conversations crisp. And with Ultra-small and light design, they can be worn comfortably around the clock, keeping you in touch with people and places. LinkBuds S switches automatically to optimized ambient sound or high-quality noise canceling for listening without distractions. Thank you for choosing Sony!
In theory these open-ear earbuds are perfect for my bus commute, and the wide area tap is convenient for using the controls without fiddling for the right button. Adaptive volume control had limited range but was handy to a point. The earbuds sit comfortably in my ears. However, the Bluetooth connection was really weak, I can't keep my phone in my front pocket without my connection cutting out or at best, out of sync between ears. I don't expect the highest quality sound from open-ear, but within a couple months there was an occasional buzzing in the right ear that has been getting worse. After having them for a year, the left earbud does not charge consistently and loses all charge in the time the other bud uses 2% of its battery. I really liked these while they lasted but they didn't last long enough.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from sony.comBy Sony North America Customer Support, August 3, 2023
Hi KayR,
While we are glad to know your satisfaction with the amazing features and very comfortable fit design of our LinkBuds, we are really sorry if you are experiencing some issues. This is certainly not the news we'd like to hear from you. We'd love to help you troubleshoot the problem. Regarding Bluetooth connection, the LinkBuds is designed to provide reliable and stable connectivity during various activities. However, certain factors such as distance, signal interference, and the environment can affect the connection. To isolate the connection issue, please refer to the following articles: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wf-l900/articles/00097458 https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wf-l900/articles/00276313 https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/linkbuds/v1/en/contents/TP1000445772.html https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wf-l900/articles/00229323
As for the noise issue, please refer to the link below: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wf-l900/articles/00276315
And for the battery issue, the following Help Guide link may help resolve this problem: The available operating time is short, the battery power does not last long, the battery life of the left and right headset units is different. - https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/linkbuds/v1/en/contents/TP1000765297.html
Should you need more information or technical assistance with our product, please feel free to contact us and we'll be more than happy to assist you. You may send us an email at socialsupport@am.sony.com with the following:
Name: Sony.com Username: Model Number: Issue: Telephone Number:
I have no qualms about the sound quality, ANC, and the dual connectivity feature of the LinkBuds S. Lately, however, despite being in the case and closed, the LinkBuds S connect to my devices randomly. This is inconvenient when listening to music via bluetooth on other devices, particularly while driving.
FYI the firmware version I'm currently running is 3.0.5.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from sony.comBy Sony North America Customer Support, August 16, 2023
Hello Saum P, While we're glad that your satisfied with the sound quality, ANC and the dual connectivity features of our Sony WFLS900N, we're sorry to hear that you are having issues with the unit keeps connecting to your Bluetooth device even if the unit is in the charging cases. To help you resolve this issue, please try these troubleshooting steps:
First, try to reset the headset. Please follow the link for steps: https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/linkbudss/v1/en/contents/TP1000541613.html
Second, if the first troubleshooting didn't work, try to initializing the headset to restore factory settings. Kindly follow this step: https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/linkbudss/v1/en/contents/TP1000541614.html
For further assistance, please feel free to contact us and we'll be more than happy to assist you. You may send us an email at socialsupport@am.sony.com with the following:
Name: Sony.Com Username: Model Number: Issue: Telephone Number:
Excellent product. They fit in my ears perfect and sound amazing.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Response from sony.comBy Sony North America Customer Support, August 18, 2023
Hi Kralex Awesome! We're glad that you like the fit and sound quality. With LinkBuds S, you're always connected to your everyday worlds. Ultra-small and light, they can be worn comfortably around the clock, keeping you in touch with people and places. LinkBuds S switches automatically to optimized ambient sound or high-quality noise canceling for listening without distractions. Thanks for choosing Sony! Erin
I’ve had these for 6 months now after I lost one of my previous headphones I had had for 4 years. Overall I think they’re a great pair of headphones but they do have a few issues. I’ll start with the pros. Pros: Super lightweight and great for tiny ears Awesome sound quality for such small buds Great active noise canceling/noise filtering Charges fast Lightweight and compact case
Cons: Die relatively quickly, and case holds just enough juice to get through a day Case is pretty flimsy and slippery Occasional pairing issues when pairing more than one device
My biggest issue: occasionally there are sound glitches of loud and violent static with no warning and no way to terminate without restarting the earbuds.
Generally I adore these headphones, but the cons are real drawbacks. They are much smaller, lighter, and more comfortable than air pods, and I prefer their functionality. If these issues could be resolved they’d honestly be perfect. I enjoy the customization allowed by the app and the compatibility with various audio apps.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Response from sony.comBy Sony North America Customer Support, September 20, 2023
Hi Leaf38,
Thanks for commenting. While we are happy to know your satisfaction with the very lightweight design, exceptional & customizable sound quality, fast charging feature, and outstanding noise canceling function, we are really sorry if you are experiencing some issues. This is certainly not the news we'd like to hear from you. We truly appreciate your input with the design of the charging case. For the battery life, the usage hours may be different from the time described on the link below depending on the settings for the headset functions & usage conditions. Available operating time - https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/linkbudss/v1/en/contents/TP1000539655.html
The same goes with the speed of energy consumption for the rechargeable battery between the left and right units. This also depends on the settings for the headset functions and usage conditions. To isolate the problem, please refer to this link: https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/linkbudss/v1/en/contents/TP1000541590.html?search=available
As for the pairing issues, the following article may help solve this problem: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/linkbuds-s/articles/00030345
And for the noise issues, if you haven't tried yet, please follow our suggested troubleshooting steps on this article to isolate unwanted noise from your headphones: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/linkbuds-s/articles/00278105
Lastly, as a general recommendation, to get the most out of your LinkBuds S, we recommend updating its firmware to the latest version. The software includes key features, applications, bug fixes, and feature improvements. It also provides fixes to any performance issues you are encountering. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/linkbuds-s/downloads
Should you need more technical assistance/information, please feel free to contact us and we'll be more than happy to assist you. You may send us an email at socialsupport@am.sony.com with the following:
Name: Sony.com Username: Model Number: Issue: Telephone Number:
I hope this helps, and thank you so much for choosing Sony.
I bought this because of how small they are and how much sound I get from these. I work overnights and I am very active and I've had other headphones that fall out of me ears but these don't ! I did read other reviews about these headphones and I always wish headphones had more bass but the bass are fine with these headphones.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Response from sony.comBy Sony North America Customer Support, November 1, 2023
Hi Junr1974, we're glad you are enjoying our product. Our LinkBuds S offer premium noise canceling to help you focus on your favorite playlist or podcast. They have Precise Voice Pickup Technology that optimally controls microphones on the outside and inside of the earbud, and advanced audio signal processing, conversations are ultra-clear, even in noisy environments. LinkBuds S also supports High-Resolution Audio Wireless thanks to LDAC, our industry-adopted audio coding technology. Thank you for choosing Sony! ~Earl
Excited too get these! I've been using Samsung ear buds, all of them, and it was time for a change - hopefully a good decision. One thing I like about Samsung is that you can turn in a device for an upgrade at a super great price. Maybe Sony good do the same where if I could trade up from these to a different pair or qualified device, that would be competitive. Wouldn't that give consumers like me an edge? It would. Robert in Phx, AZ
I would recommend this to a friend!
Response from sony.comBy Sony North America Customer Support, December 16, 2023
Hi Az Hakaman, Thanks for your feedback and insights. Sony values the opinions of customers and is always striving to provide the best experience possible. We also hope that you are enjoying these headphones. With LinkBuds S, you're always connected to your everyday worlds. Ultra-small and light, they can be worn comfortably around the clock, keeping you in touch with people and places. LinkBuds S switches automatically to optimized ambient sound or high-quality noise canceling for listening without distractions. Thanks for choosing Sony! Erin
I bought these earphones in may of 2023, and while I do use them daily, I rarely use them for hours upon hours on end. I don't overcharge them either. I'm not the type of person that drops their devices, and yet, I'm experiencing a degrade in quality that is awfully hard to ignore. They have been running our of battery in under two hours, which is frankly the most use I'd give them in a whole 24 hr period. Genuinely devastated because the sound and noise control are great.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Response from sony.comBy Sony North America Customer Support, January 19, 2024
Hi RiceTuna,
Thanks for sharing your review and experience with the LinkBuds S. We're glad that you like the sound quality and noise canceling function of the headphones. It's unfortunate that you are not satisfied with the battery life. For optimum performance, make sure that the software version of the headphones is up-to-date (via the Sony Headphones Connect app). Usage hours may vary depending on the settings and usage conditions. For more information, please refer to this link:
Hope this helps. If still not resolved, we highly recommend visiting our Sony Global Web site for information on contacting the Sony Support Center in your region at http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/Support/.