Home Wireless Earbuds Sony Linkbuds S Vs. Sony Wf 1000Xm4

Sony Linkbuds S Vs. Sony Wf 1000Xm4 Review

Last updated on Apr 20, 2023   9 minute read
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Sony WF 1000XM4

Sony WF 1000XM4

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Reasons why you might like the Sony WF 1000XM4

Overall Score 7.9 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 8 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 4 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
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

Sony Linkbuds S Vs. Sony Wf 1000Xm4 Review In Summary

Category Features Sony WF 1000XM4 Sony LinkBuds S
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IPX4 IPX4
weight 7.1g 9.6g
has no wires or cables
sweat resistance
has an earbud foam
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 6mm 5mm
lowest frequency 20Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 40,000Hz 40,000Hz
sound pressure level 105dB/mW
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 8hours 6hours
battery life of charging case 16hours 14hours
charge time 1.5hours 2hours
battery power 40mAh
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
has aptx hd
audio latency 40ms
MICROPHONE number of microphones 4only 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
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Sony Linkbuds S Vs. Sony Wf 1000Xm4 Review In Detail

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Sony WF 1000XM4 IPX4
Sony LinkBuds S IPX4

Ingress protection ratings refer to the rating of protection given by an enclosure, against solids and water. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating represents protection against solids say dust, followed by the one that refers to protection against liquids (sweat).

Having a value of IPX4, the Sony LinkBuds S's rating is read as, the first number 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, Sony WF 1000XM4 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 WF 1000XM4 7.1g
Sony LinkBuds S 9.6g

Sony LinkBuds S have a weight of 9.6g . We prefer a lower weight best for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to transport.

The Sony WF 1000XM4, at 7.1g are lighter than the Sony LinkBuds S by -2.5g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

For a device to be true wireless it must 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 a major distinction since wireless earbuds have wires linking the pair of earbuds .

Sony WF 1000XM4 also is true wireless because it has no wires linking the pair of earbuds together.

Sweat Resistance

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

Sony LinkBuds S have sweat resistance

Sony WF 1000XM4's resistance to sweat makes both devices good for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc

Has An Earbud Foam

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

The earbud foam is designed to be ultracompact and lightweight, with little interference with earrings, spectacles, hats, or hairstyles. The Sony WF 1000XM4 have an earbud foam to some it is more comfortable than the in-ear foam.

Has Stereo Speakers

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

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

Both Sony WF 1000XM4 and Sony LinkBuds S have stereo speakers

Sony WF 1000XM4
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

ANC uses advanced technology to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. ANC works when, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and then generates a mirror signal to cancel it out. In simple terms, it's like having +1 (sound from your surrounding) and producing -1 (counter sound by the device) to make zero which results in a reduced level of noise.

The Sony LinkBuds S have ANC allowing you to listen at lower levels of volume, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the earbuds volume to outcompete background noise.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 too have ANC making both earbuds ideal for plane rides and morning commutes. Each operate with different noise cancellation types, pick the setting that you prefer for commute or that enhances your chill time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S stay well in place, creating an acoustic seal that tones down background sounds and also prevents the earbuds music from leaking out .

Both Sony WF 1000XM4, and Sony LinkBuds S have passive noise reduction which means that both tone down ambient noise instead of actively using technology to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Sony WF 1000XM4 6mm
Sony LinkBuds S 5mm

Sony LinkBuds S have a unit size of 5mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, and can produce better bass. The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that makes sound in the earbuds, its size determines the loudness of the device.

Sony WF 1000XM4 driver unit is 6mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 1mm , as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so it's true that, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not indicate that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Sony WF 1000XM4 20Hz
Sony LinkBuds S 20Hz

The 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 on its way through.

Sony WF 1000XM4's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that both devices produce equal bass

Highest Frequency

Sony WF 1000XM4 40,000Hz
Sony LinkBuds S 40,000Hz

The Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, high-frequency response shows how well an audio device generates high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on its way through.

Sony WF 1000XM4's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, this means that both devices can generate equal treble

Sound Pressure Level

Sony WF 1000XM4 105dB/mW
Sony LinkBuds S

The sound pressure level, is the pressure level of sound, in decibels, dB, Sony WF 1000XM4's measurement is 105dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S have neodymium magnets, if used in audio devices produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output using less power to do so. They can help generate music at quite a high SPL, using high magnetic flux.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too have it, devices with these magnets are lighter and more powerful than those which use ferrite magnets. It is also known that they have more bass and clearer high notes.

Power

Battery Life

Sony WF 1000XM4 8hours
Sony LinkBuds S 6hours

Sony LinkBuds S's battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is commonly given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.

Sony WF 1000XM4's battery life is more than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 2 hours . Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Sony WF 1000XM4 16hours
Sony LinkBuds S 14hours

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

Sony WF 1000XM4's charging case has a battery life of 16 hours, more than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 2 hours

Charge Time

Sony WF 1000XM4 1.5hours
Sony LinkBuds S 2hours

It requires 2 hours to fully charge the Sony LinkBuds S's battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for long periods.

Sony WF 1000XM4 takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 0.5 hours

Battery Power

Sony WF 1000XM4 40mAh
Sony LinkBuds S

Sony WF 1000XM4's battery capacity is 40mAh, battery capacity, shows the amount of electrical energy that a battery can keep.

Has Wireless Charging

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony WF 1000XM4, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you simply put down on a supported charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

Sony LinkBuds S have a battery level indicator, an indicator notifies you when the earbuds has a low battery. Its lights show the charging state of your earbuds and case.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too have a battery level indicator, these enable you determine the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or the battery is running low.

Sony WF 1000XM4
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

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

Sony WF 1000XM4 too use USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current electronics.

Bluetooth Version

Sony WF 1000XM4 v5.2
Sony LinkBuds S v5.2

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

Sony WF 1000XM4 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 WF 1000XM4 10meters
Sony LinkBuds S 10meters

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

Sony WF 1000XM4 have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Sony LinkBuds S

Has Aac

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

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 the same bit rate.

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Sony LinkBuds S will work fine with your MacBook. If you are planning 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.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.

Has Ldac

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

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.

Sony WF 1000XM4 support it as well, LDAC, can automatically adjust to a lower bitrate of 330kbps or 660kbps for stability.

Has Aptx Hd

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support APTX HD, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It supports high-quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).

Audio Latency

Sony WF 1000XM4 40ms
Sony LinkBuds S

Latency refers to the time it takes for the audio signal to be transmitted to your earbuds. Sony WF 1000XM4 have a latency of 40ms, a lower latency reduces audio lag and is particularly important when playing games or watching videos.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Sony WF 1000XM4 4only
Sony LinkBuds S 6only

The Sony LinkBuds S have 6 microphones.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 microphones are 4, less than that of Sony LinkBuds S by 2 . More microphones result in better sound quality and help the earbuds to filter out background sounds.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

Sony WF 1000XM4 have a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are made to filter out noise from the desired sound.

Sony WF 1000XM4
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

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

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of your surrounding, say you’re having a jog but still want to be able to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears .

The Sony WF 1000XM4 too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears improving your listening experience.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

If misplaced in a room, or can't be found in your bag, Sony LinkBuds S support the find earbuds feature.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too have the find earbuds feature. You can use the device app on your phone to play an alarm from your earbuds to help you find them.

Supports Fast Charging

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to fully charge a device.

Also the Sony WF 1000XM4 too support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery fills up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in just thirty minutes.

Multipoint Count

Sony WF 1000XM4 2only
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can seemlessly switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.

Has A Mute Function

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

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

The Sony WF 1000XM4 also have the mute function. It means that you can turn off the device's microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

With the Sony LinkBuds S, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.

Sony WF 1000XM4 also have a control panel on them.

Has Voice Prompts

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

Sony LinkBuds S have voice prompts. Automatically receive information through audio messages, say if there is a problem with the connection.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too support voice prompts .i.e the earbuds notifies you when the battery is running low, and you need to recharge them.

Travel Bag Is Included

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S come with a special case. Carrying earbuds without a case, or placing them inside your pockets without a cover can easily damage them.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too have a travel bag included, which offers safe transportation.

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