Comparison guide
Sony LinkBuds S vs AirPods 4 (ANC): which should you choose?
Sony LinkBuds S and AirPods 4 (ANC) compared under one framework. One recorded specification difference is Battery per bud: 6 h on the Sony LinkBuds S against 5 h on the AirPods 4 (ANC). Specifications and their sources are recorded alongside.
Published: 2026-08-12 · Updated: 2026-09-21
Earbuds verdict
Undocumented scoring basis · overall score and upgrade ranking withheld. The table records stored representative configurations; confirm the configuration and price on the merchant page before buying.
- Sony LinkBuds S: Ultra-light 9g ANC — a weight you can wear all day and a natural ambient-sound mode stand out.
- AirPods 4 (ANC): An open-fit that still cancels noise — enjoy the H2 chip's smart audio without sealing your ears.
- Undocumented quality and performance advantages are not ranked
- Specification field coverage (not accuracy): 100%
Choosing between Sony LinkBuds S and AirPods 4 (ANC) starts with the real use case and the problem to solve, not with which product is newer. No independent laboratory test is implied.
Core specifications on one baseline
| Item | Sony LinkBuds S | AirPods 4 (ANC) | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery per bud | 6 h AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 5 h AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | -16.7% |
| Battery with case | 20 h AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 30 h AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | +50% |
| Driver size | 5 mm AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 11 mm AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | +120% |
| Weight per bud | 4.8 g AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 4.3 g AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | -10.4% |
| ANC type | Hybrid ANC | Open-ear ANC | Different |
| Chipset | Sony Integrated Processor V1 | Apple H2 | Different |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC | Different |
| Color | Ecru | White | Different |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, LDAC, AAC, SBC | Bluetooth 5.3, AAC, SBC | Different |
| Region | GLOBAL | GLOBAL | Same |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP54 | Different |
8 of the 22 values in this table carry a source. The rest have no source on record, which is not the same as being wrong.
How to read Same, Different, No data, Unverified and Not applicable is documented on the configuration-level specification screen. If a condition you require is unknown, withhold the decision and match the exact model, sales region and configuration against the sources on that screen.
Differences recorded in the table
4 fields can be ranked on the same basis, listed by weight.
- Battery per bud · Sony LinkBuds S 6 h, AirPods 4 (ANC) 5 h (-16.7%)
- Battery with case · AirPods 4 (ANC) 30 h, Sony LinkBuds S 20 h (+50%)
- Driver size · AirPods 4 (ANC) 11 mm, Sony LinkBuds S 5 mm (+120%)
- Weight per bud · AirPods 4 (ANC) 4.3 g, Sony LinkBuds S 4.8 g (-10.4%)
The decision axes and the checking order for the whole category are on the Earbuds comparison page.
The two products this comparison names
Match the listing against these models first. The recorded-field count is catalogue completeness, not product quality.
- Sony LinkBuds S · Sony · model number WF-LS900N · released 2022 · recorded fields 11/11
- AirPods 4 (ANC) · Apple · model number A3053 · released 2024 · recorded fields 11/11
Fields the two products share
1 recorded field holds the same value for both stored representative configurations, so nothing in this list separates them.
- Region · GLOBAL
Who should choose Sony LinkBuds S
Sony LinkBuds S leads the table on Battery per bud. Ultra-light 9g ANC — a weight you can wear all day and a natural ambient-sound mode stand out.
Who should choose AirPods 4 (ANC)
AirPods 4 (ANC) leads the table on Battery with case, Driver size, Weight per bud. An open-fit that still cancels noise — enjoy the H2 chip's smart audio without sealing your ears.
How to read price and purchase availability
No merchant link is shown: neither product has an approved listing whose name and configuration match the catalogue, and AsKrs does not guess a destination.
- Sony LinkBuds S · No verified purchase link currently available
- AirPods 4 (ANC) · No verified purchase link currently available
This comparison is built from published specifications and stored representative configurations. The use context, configuration checks, switching costs, and the scope and limits for Earbuds are documented on the Earbuds comparison page.