In terms of design, the earbuds drop the “open ring driver” design of the earlier Sony LinkBuds, and their charging case is now vertical, more akin to an AirPods one, as opposed to a wedding ring-like case design. The LinkBuds S do still have rubber ear tips, though, and the same touch controls.
Sony has collaborated with partner company Niantic, known for making the popular Pokémon Go mobile game, in the development of another AR game called Ingress.
More specifically, the game can and will utilize these earbuds’ spatial sound technology to “enable players to enjoy a new experience in which sound is delivered according to the direction they are facing.”
Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup Technology helps clear your voice in calls
The Sony LinkBuds S feature the same Voice Pickup Technology found in the new Sony WH-1000XM5, which the company claims should help clear your voice during calls, even on a noisy street or during windy weather.These LinkBuds also have a mesh structure around the microphones, which should provide some wind isolation.
The LinkBuds S promise “immersive sound, authentic music”
This is what Sony has to say in regards to the LinkBuds S sound quality:
LinkBuds S create immersive sound and authentic reproduction, so you can enjoy your music, video or social media content just as the creator intended. With the help of a new 5mm driver unit these small earbuds pack a punch, producing powerful bass and stunningly clear vocals despite their size, bringing out the best in whatever genre or entertainment you choose. While Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 improves noise cancelling, enhances sound quality and reduces distortion with less power for distraction-free listening, perfect for busy commutes.
These new headphones also allow you to experience High-Resolution Audio Wireless, thanks to Sony’s industry-adopted audio coding technology, LDAC. All your music will be restored back to high range sound with the use of DSEE Extreme that upscales digital music files inreal time, allowing you to appreciate all the fine-details the artist injected into your most-loved tracks.
These earbuds are ready for LE Audio, a next generation Bluetooth audio that enables ultra-low latency that is ideal for gaming.
Google Assistant and Alexa compatibility, Speak-to-Chat
Just like the newly-announced XM5s, these LinkBuds S also have support for both the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa virtual assistants.
So if the user sports an Android phone, they can summon Google Assistant with the familiar “Okay Google” phrase.
It’s also noteworthy that music will automatically pause when the user is speaking with someone (“Speak-to-Chat”), even if that someone is a virtual assistant.
The usual touch controls
As we often see in earbuds by Sony, Samsung, and many other manufacturers these days, the LinkBuds S feature touch controls as opposed to any physical buttons. So we can expect a familiar touch sensor experience – tapping it to play, pause, switching between ANC and ambient sound, and so on.
Official Sony LinkBuds S battery life claims
According to the Japanese company, the Sony LinkBuds S offer full-day battery life. More precisely – about 6 hours of playback with noise canceling on, but before you ask – that’s merely just the earbuds’ battery life. Their case holds another 14 hours of battery charge, so indeed – we can expect a solid performance out of these small, light earbuds.
Also, a 5-minute quick charge is said to deliver up to an hour of extra playback, so for anyone who’s often in a rush – Sony’s got you covered.
Sony LinkBuds S price and release date
The Sony LinkBuds S will be available starting Friday, May 20, 2022, with pre-orders opening today – May 18.
You’ll be able to buy them in either Black or White, for a suggested price of $200, which makes them slightly more expensive than the earlier LinkBuds ($180).
What do you think?
Stay tuned for our full review of the Sony LinkBuds S, coming soon! Meanwhile, let us know what you think about these so far. Are you in the market for new wireless earbuds? Would you consider them a better buy over the $180 Apple AirPods 3 and $150 Samsung Galaxy Buds 2?
