Home Wireless Earbuds Huawei Freebuds 5 Vs. Sony Linkbuds S

A Review By Comparison of the Huawei Freebuds 5 Vs. Sony Linkbuds S

Last updated on Apr 17, 2023   7 min read
Note: This page may contain affiliate links, we only earn from qualifying purchases!
Sony LinkBuds S

Sony LinkBuds S

See price on Amazon

Reasons why you might like the Sony LinkBuds S

Overall Score 6.2 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 6 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5

Reasons why you might like the Huawei FreeBuds 5

Overall Score 6.0 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP54
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 5 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode

A summary of the review by feature comparison

Category Features Sony LinkBuds S Huawei FreeBuds 5
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IPX4 IP54
weight 9.6g 10.8g
has no wires or cables
sweat resistance
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 5mm 11mm
lowest frequency 20Hz 16Hz
highest frequency 40000Hz 40000Hz
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 6hours 5hours
battery life of charging case 14hours 25hours
charge time 2hours
battery power 42mAh
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5.2 v5.2
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has aac
has ldac
MICROPHONE number of microphones 6only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone
EXTRAS has ambient sound mode
has in/on-ear detection
has find earbuds feature
supports fast charging
multipoint count 2only
has a mute function
control panel placed on a device
has voice prompts
travel bag is included
See price on Amazon

A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Sony LinkBuds S IPX4
Huawei FreeBuds 5 IP54

Ingress protection ratings is the rank of protection given by an enclosure, against dust and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating refers to protection against solids such as dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (sweat).

Having a value of IP54, the Huawei FreeBuds 5's rating is read as, the first number of 5 denotes that ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety, and of liquids that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.

Compared to the Huawei FreeBuds 5, Sony LinkBuds S have a rating of IPX4 meaning that no data available to specify a protection rating and that of liquids is that, they both have the same rating against liquids

Weight

Sony LinkBuds S 9.6g
Huawei FreeBuds 5 10.8g

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a weight of 10.8g . We prefer a lower weight best because lighter devices are more comfortable to move with.

The Sony LinkBuds S, at 9.6g are lighter than the Huawei FreeBuds 5 by -1.2g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

True wireless devices have no cables connecting any part of the device together, Huawei FreeBuds 5 are true wireless for this case since they don't have cables. This is a major difference since wireless earbuds have cables connecting the two earbuds together.

Sony LinkBuds S also is true wireless because it doesn't have wires connecting the two earbuds .

Sweat Resistance

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have sweat resistance

Sony LinkBuds S's resistance to sweat makes both devices good for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc

Has Stereo Speakers

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Huawei FreeBuds 5's speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

Both Sony LinkBuds S and Huawei FreeBuds 5 have stereo speakers

Sony LinkBuds S
See price on Amazon

Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Active noise cancellation makes use of more advanced kind of tech to actively counter noise. How it works, it studies the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (noise) then adding -1 (counter sound by the device) to make zero therefore "diluting" the noise.

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue since you don't need to crank up the device volume to overcome background sounds.

The Sony LinkBuds S too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes either of the devices ideal for flights and morning travels. The Huawei FreeBuds 5 and Sony LinkBuds S work with different noise cancellation types, pick the setting that you prefer for commute or that enhances your chill time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Sony LinkBuds S stay tightly in place, this creates a sound seal that tones down background sounds while preventing the earbuds sound from leaking out at the same.

Driver Unit Size

Sony LinkBuds S 5mm
Huawei FreeBuds 5 11mm

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a unit size of 11mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. The driver unit is the component that makes sound in the earbuds, the unit size corellates with the sound made by the device.

Sony LinkBuds S driver unit is 5mm in diameter, which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5 by 6mm , as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not imply that they deliver better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Sony LinkBuds S 20Hz
Huawei FreeBuds 5 16Hz

Huawei FreeBuds 5's lowest frequency is at 16Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well an audio component produces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.

Sony LinkBuds S's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that Huawei FreeBuds 5 produce a juicier bass than the Sony LinkBuds S

Highest Frequency

Sony LinkBuds S 40000Hz
Huawei FreeBuds 5 40000Hz

Huawei FreeBuds 5's highest frequency is at 40000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well an audio device makes high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on its way through.

Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40000Hz, this implies that both devices produce equal treble

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Sony LinkBuds S have neodymium magnets, when used in earbuds produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output while using less power. They can help produce music at quite a high sound pressure level, with the use of high magnetic flux.

Power

Battery Life

Sony LinkBuds S 6hours
Huawei FreeBuds 5 5hours

Huawei FreeBuds 5's battery life is 5 hours, these last less than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.

Sony LinkBuds S's battery life is more than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5 by 1 hours . Each time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Sony LinkBuds S 14hours
Huawei FreeBuds 5 25hours

This is given by the vendor, and the Huawei FreeBuds 5's case has a full charge of 25 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before having to recharge the case itself.

Sony LinkBuds S's charging case has a battery life of 14 hours, less than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5 by 11 hours

Charge Time

Sony LinkBuds S 2hours
Huawei FreeBuds 5

It requires 2 hours to fully charge the Sony LinkBuds S's battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds for the first time.

Battery Power

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5 42mAh

Huawei FreeBuds 5's battery capacity is 42mAh, battery power, shows the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the earbuds has a low battery. Its lights display the charging state of your earbuds and case.

Sony LinkBuds S too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you to tell the charging state of your earbuds, whether fully charged, or having a low battery.

Sony LinkBuds S
See price on Amazon

Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.

Sony LinkBuds S too use USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets.

Bluetooth Version

Sony LinkBuds S v5.2
Huawei FreeBuds 5 v5.2

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data movement between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

Sony LinkBuds S has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5 . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Sony LinkBuds S 10meters
Huawei FreeBuds 5 10meters

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth.

Sony LinkBuds S have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5

Has Aac

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Sony LinkBuds S support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Sony LinkBuds S will work fine with your iPhone. If you intend on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

Has Ldac

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 support LDAC, a codec developed by Sony which allows streaming high-resolution audio over Bluetooth connections at up to 990 kbps at 32 bit/96 kHz. It can reach a high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high-resolution audio.

Sony LinkBuds S support it as well, LDAC, can automatically adjust to a lower bitrate of 330kbps or 660kbps to increase stability.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Sony LinkBuds S 6only
Huawei FreeBuds 5 6only

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have 6 microphones.

While the Sony LinkBuds S microphones are 6, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5 . More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the earbuds to filter out noise.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are made to reduce noise from the desired sound.

Sony LinkBuds S
See price on Amazon

Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient noises so that they can still be heard even when wearing them

The Sony LinkBuds S support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, say you’re having a run but still want to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears .

The Sony LinkBuds S too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears saving battery life.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

If lost in a room, or can't be found in your bag, the Huawei FreeBuds 5 support the find earbuds feature.

The Sony LinkBuds S also have the find earbuds feature. Simply use the device app on your smartphone to play an alarm from your device to help you locate them.

Supports Fast Charging

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to lower the time it takes to charge the earbuds.

The Sony LinkBuds S support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, just that the battery fills up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in thirty minutes.

Multipoint Count

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5 2only

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. For example, you can switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect.

Has A Mute Function

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a mute function, they support the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.

The Sony LinkBuds S too have the mute function. The mute function means that you can turn off the earbuds' microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

With the Huawei FreeBuds 5, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the earbuds.

Sony LinkBuds S also have a control panel on them.

Has Voice Prompts

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have voice prompts. Automatically receive information via audio messages, like if there is a problem with the connection.

Sony LinkBuds S also have voice prompts meaning the earbuds notifies you when the battery is low, and you need to recharge them.

Travel Bag Is Included

Sony LinkBuds S
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 come with their own special case. Carrying earphones openly, or putting them inside your bag without a cover can easily damage them.

Sony LinkBuds S too have a travel bag included, which is useful for safe transportation.

Related Reviews