A breakdown of the review per specifications

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Sony LinkBuds S IPX4

Sony WF C500 IPX4

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

Scoring IPX4, the Sony WF C500's rating for solids indicates that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second number of 4 means 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 WF C500, Sony LinkBuds S 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

Sony WF C500 10.8g

Sony WF C500 have a weight of 10.8g . We consider a lower weight best because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry.

Sony LinkBuds S, at 9.6g weigh less than the Sony WF C500 by -1.2g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Sony WF C500 ✓

For a device to be true wireless it should have no wires linking any part of the device together, Sony WF C500 are true wireless for this case since they don't have wires. This is a major difference as some wireless earbuds have wires connecting the two earbuds .

Sony LinkBuds S also is true wireless because it has no wires linking the two earbuds .

Sweat Resistance

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Sony WF C500 ✓

Sony WF C500 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 ✓

Sony WF C500 ✓

Sony WF C500 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Sony WF C500's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The Sony LinkBuds S also have stereo speakers

Sony LinkBuds S
See price on Amazon

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Sony WF C500 ✗

ANC makes use of more advanced kind of tech to reduce ambient sounds. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern of incoming noise and after inverts the soundwaves to counter it. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) and adding -1 (counter sound by the device) to make 0 which results in a reduced level of noise.

Sony LinkBuds S have ANC allowing you to listen at lower levels of volume, good for your ears as you don't need to crank up the device volume to outcompete background sounds.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Sony WF C500 ✓

The Sony WF C500 sit well in place, creating a sound seal that reduces your environment noise and also prevents the earbuds music from leaking out .

Both Sony LinkBuds S, and Sony WF C500 have passive noise reduction this means that they tone down ambient noise instead of actively using technology to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Sony LinkBuds S 5mm

Sony WF C500 5.8mm

The Sony WF C500 driver unit is 5.8mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass. The driver unit is the component that produces 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 means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Sony WF C500 by 0.8mm , a common assumption 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 mean that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Sony LinkBuds S 20Hz

Sony WF C500 20Hz

The Sony WF C500's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio device produces low audible frequencies and if it alters the signal on its way through.

Sony LinkBuds S's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that both devices can produce equal bass

Highest Frequency

Sony LinkBuds S 40000Hz

Sony WF C500 20000Hz

Sony WF C500's highest frequency is at 20000Hz, high-frequency response shows how well a particular audio component generates high human frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.

Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40000Hz, this implies that Sony LinkBuds S can produce a clearer and crispier treble than the Sony WF C500

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Sony WF C500 ✓

The Sony WF C500 have neodymium magnets, when 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 sound pressure level, using high magnetic flux.

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

A Review By Comparison Of The Echo Buds 3Rd Generation Vs. Sony Wf C500

Battery Life

Sony LinkBuds S 6hours

Sony WF C500 10hours

The Sony WF C500's battery life is 10 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. 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 less than that of Sony WF C500 by 4 hours . Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Sony LinkBuds S 14hours

Sony WF C500 10hours

This is given by the manufacturer, and the Sony WF C500's case is said to have a full charge of 10 hours. A charging case with a longer battery life allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before recharging the case itself.

Sony LinkBuds S's charging case has a battery life of 14 hours, more than that of Sony WF C500 by 4 hours

Charge Time

Sony LinkBuds S 2hours

Sony WF C500 2.5hours

It requires 2.5 hours to fully charge the Sony WF C500's battery. It is highly adivsable to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds for the first time.

Sony LinkBuds S takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Sony WF C500 by 0.5 hours

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Number Of Microphones

Sony LinkBuds S 6only

Category	Features	Sony LinkBuds S	Sony WF C500
DESIGN	ingress protection (ip) rating	IPX4	IPX4
	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	5.8mm
	lowest frequency	20Hz	20Hz
	highest frequency	40000Hz	20000Hz
	has a neodymium magnet	✓	✓
POWER	battery life	6hours	10hours
	battery life of charging case	14hours	10hours
	charge time	2hours	2.5hours
	has a battery level indicator	✓	✓
CONNECTIVITY	has usb type-c	✓	✓
	bluetooth version	v5.2	v5
	maximum bluetooth range	10meters	9meters
	has aac	✓	✓
	has ldac	✓	✗
MICROPHONE	number of microphones	6only	2only
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	✓	✓
		See price on Amazon	See price on Amazon

A Review By Comparison of the Sony Wf C500 Vs. Sony Linkbuds S

Reasons why you might like the Sony LinkBuds S

Reasons why you might like the Sony WF C500

A summary of the review by feature comparison

A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Weight

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

Lowest Frequency

Highest Frequency

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Power

Battery Life

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Charge Time

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Bluetooth Version

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Has Aac

Has Ldac

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

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

Has Voice Prompts

Travel Bag Is Included

Related Reviews