Home Wireless Earbuds Sony Linkbuds S Vs. Nothing Ear 1

A Review By Comparison of the Sony Linkbuds S Vs. Nothing Ear 1

Last updated on Mar 14, 2023   7 min read
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Sony LinkBuds S

Sony LinkBuds S

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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
Nothing Ear 1

Nothing Ear 1

See price on Amazon

Reasons why you might like the Nothing Ear 1

Overall Score 6.0 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • 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 Nothing Ear 1
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IPX4 IPX4
weight 9.6g 9.4g
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 11.6mm
lowest frequency 20Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 40000Hz 20000Hz
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 6hours 5hours
battery life of charging case 14hours 29hours
charge time 2hours 1.5hours
has wireless charging
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
has a mute function
control panel placed on a device
warranty period 1Years
has voice prompts
travel bag is included
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A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Sony LinkBuds S IPX4
Nothing Ear 1 IPX4

IP ratings is the rank of protection given by a casing, against solids and water. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value refers to protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (sweat).

Having a value of IPX4, the Sony LinkBuds S's rating is read as, the first value of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and of liquids that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.

In comparison to the Sony LinkBuds S, Nothing Ear 1 have a rating of IPX4 meaning that we are not yet certain of their rating with solids (dust) and that of liquids is that, they both have the same rating against liquids

Weight

Sony LinkBuds S 9.6g
Nothing Ear 1 9.4g

Sony LinkBuds S have a weight of 9.6g . We take in account a lower weight best for the reason that lighter devices are easier to carry.

The Nothing Ear 1, at 9.4g weigh less than the Sony LinkBuds S with a difference -0.2g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

True wireless devices have no wires connecting any part of the device together, Sony LinkBuds S are true wireless for this case since they don't have cables. This is an important distinction as some wireless earbuds have cables connecting the two earbuds .

Nothing Ear 1 also is true wireless because it doesn't have wires connecting the 2 earbuds .

Sweat Resistance

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

Sony LinkBuds S are resistant to sweat

Nothing Ear 1's resistance to sweat makes both devices ideal for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc

Has Stereo Speakers

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

Sony LinkBuds S have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

Both Nothing Ear 1 and Sony LinkBuds S have stereo speakers

Sony LinkBuds S
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

ANC makes use of more advanced kind of tech to actively counter noise. How it works, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and after inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. Simply put, it's like having +1 (sound from your surrounding) then producing -1 (inverted noise) giving zero which results in a reduced level of noise.

Sony LinkBuds S have Active Noise Cancellation allowing you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue since you don't have to crank up the device volume to outcompete background noise.

Nothing Ear 1 too have Active Noise Cancellation making either of the earbuds ideal for plane rides and morning commutes. The Sony LinkBuds S and Nothing Ear 1 work with different noise cancellation settings, pick the noise cancellation type that suits your travel or that suites your relaxation time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

The Sony LinkBuds S sit well in place, creating a sound covering that tones down background sounds and also prevents the device music from leaking out at the same.

Both Nothing Ear 1, and Sony LinkBuds S have passive noise reduction which implies that both limit ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Sony LinkBuds S 5mm
Nothing Ear 1 11.6mm

The Sony LinkBuds S have a unit size of 5mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, and can produce better bass. A driver unit is the component that makes sound in the earbuds, its size determines the sound produced by the earbuds.

Nothing Ear 1 driver unit is 11.6mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 6.6mm , many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not indicate that they deliver better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Sony LinkBuds S 20Hz
Nothing Ear 1 20Hz

Sony LinkBuds S's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio device generates low recognizable frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.

Nothing Ear 1's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that both devices make sound with equal bass

Highest Frequency

Sony LinkBuds S 40000Hz
Nothing Ear 1 20000Hz

The Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well an audio component generates high audible frequencies and if it adjustments to the signal on its way through.

Nothing Ear 1's highest frequency is at 20000Hz, this implies that Sony LinkBuds S generate a clearer and crispier treble than the Nothing Ear 1

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

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

Power

Battery Life

Sony LinkBuds S 6hours
Nothing Ear 1 5hours

Sony LinkBuds S's battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is commonly given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

Nothing Ear 1's battery life is less than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 1 hours . Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Sony LinkBuds S 14hours
Nothing Ear 1 29hours

This is given by the vendor, and the Sony LinkBuds S's case has a full charge of 14 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before recharging the case itself.

Nothing Ear 1's charging case has a battery life of 29 hours, more than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 15 hours

Charge Time

Sony LinkBuds S 2hours
Nothing Ear 1 1.5hours

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

Nothing Ear 1 takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 0.5 hours

Has Wireless Charging

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

Nothing Ear 1, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you just put down on a supported charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

The Sony LinkBuds S have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the earbuds has a low battery. Its lights display the charging status of your device and charging case.

Nothing Ear 1 too have a battery level indicator, these enable you tell the charging state of your earbuds, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low.

Sony LinkBuds S
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

Sony LinkBuds S support USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.

Nothing Ear 1 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
Nothing Ear 1 v5.2

Sony LinkBuds S have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

Nothing Ear 1 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, equal to that of the Sony LinkBuds S . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Sony LinkBuds S 10meters
Nothing Ear 1 10meters

The Sony LinkBuds S have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.

Nothing Ear 1 have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Sony LinkBuds S

Has Aac

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

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

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Sony LinkBuds S will work well 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
Nothing Ear 1

Sony LinkBuds S 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.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Sony LinkBuds S 6only
Nothing Ear 1 6only

Sony LinkBuds S have 6 microphones.

While the Nothing Ear 1 microphones are 6, equal to that of the Sony LinkBuds S . More microphones record better sound quality and help the earbuds to filter out background sounds.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

Nothing Ear 1 have a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are intended to filter out background sounds from the earbuds' sound.

Sony LinkBuds S
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

The Sony LinkBuds S support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound to still be heard even while wearing the earbuds

The Nothing Ear 1 support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music while being aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re having a run but still want to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

Sony LinkBuds S have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when removed from your ears .

Nothing Ear 1 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
Nothing Ear 1

If misplaced in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, Sony LinkBuds S have a find earbuds feature.

The Nothing Ear 1 too have the find earbuds feature. You can use the earbuds app on your smartphone to play an alarm from your device to find them.

Supports Fast Charging

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

Sony LinkBuds S support fast charging. Usually, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge the earbuds.

Also the Nothing Ear 1 support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, just that the battery fills up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Has A Mute Function

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

The Sony LinkBuds S have a mute function, they support the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

The Sony LinkBuds S, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds.

Nothing Ear 1 too have a control panel on them.

Warranty Period

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1 1Years

Nothing Ear 1 have a warranty period of 1 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals.

Has Voice Prompts

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

The Sony LinkBuds S have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, like if there is an issue with the connection.

Nothing Ear 1 too have voice prompts .i.e the device will notify you if the battery is low, and it's time to recharge the device.

Travel Bag Is Included

Sony LinkBuds S
Nothing Ear 1

Sony LinkBuds S come with a special case. Carrying earbuds openly, or putting them inside your pockets without a casing can easily damage them.

Nothing Ear 1 also have a travel bag included, which is useful for safe transportation.

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