Apple’s AirPods Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro have met their match.
Raymond Wong / Input
The LinkBuds S are $20 more than the donut-shaped and open-design LinkBuds, and have active noise-cancellation.
Lightness doesn’t always mean comfort, but they definitely do for the LinkBuds S. They’re one of the comfiest pairs of wireless earbuds that I’ve ever tested. They never got hot in my ears; I wore them for over six hours every day for several weeks and forgot they were in at times.
Raymond Wong / Input
The recycled plastic is also really nice. The finish is matte and just a little grippy so that the buds are easy to grab when inserting and removing them. I prefer them over the shiny and slippery Galaxy Buds 2.
Raymond Wong / Input
With the pitch being “Never Off” I had hoped battery life would exceed other buds, but it’s just average: up to 6 hours with ANC, up to 9 hours with ANC off, and up to 20 hours total with the case.
For comparison, with ANC on, AirPods Pro ($250) last up to 4.5 hours. Sony’s WF-1000XM4 ($280) last up to 8 hours. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro ($200) last up to 5 hours.
Raymond Wong / Input
The LinkBuds S are not Sony’s best ANC wireless earbuds. Those are still the WF-1000XM4 ($280). However, the LinkBuds S are lighter and cheaper. For $80 less, you’re not getting the stronger ANC, longer battery life, and wireless charging, but that’s totally fine for the value.