Sony launched the original LinkBuds wireless earbuds in March 2022 with a unique ring driver design, and the company quickly followed up with the launch of the new LinkBuds S. Unlike the LinkBuds, which focus on allowing ambient sound in, the S model is designed to block out ambient noise with an in-ear fit and active noise cancelling (ANC) system.

These earbuds are also similar in appearance to the Sony WF-1000XM4 but are made of recycled plastic, making them lightweight and comfortable to wear. In terms of sound profile, Sony has moved away from a heavy bass, boomy sound, and towards a more balanced audio experience. Inside the box, you get the Sony LinkBuds S earbuds, four tip sizes, a charging case, the USB-C to USB-A charging cable, and user manuals.

The Sony LinkBuds S come in three colour variants such as Black, White, and Ecru. We tested the Black variant for this review. The design of the LinkBuds S is familiar and easy to use. The earbuds come with four different sizes of ear tips, and their ergonomic shape fits comfortably in my ear.

The sealed fit of the earbuds means that you won’t be able to hear your surroundings as well as the original LinkBuds, but it also means that you can hear the bass in your music more clearly. Additionally, the sealed fit can also help to protect your hearing by reducing the need to crank up the volume during loud environmental noise.

One aspect that carries over from the original LinkBuds WF-L900 is the matte textured plastic of the LinkBuds S and its charging case. On one hand, the texture feels nice, and it’s hard to imagine them ever slipping out of your hand. However, they are also quick to attract dust which actually isn’t a biggie if you are used to regularly cleaning your earbuds.

The LinkBuds S are also IPX4 water-resistant, making them suitable for workouts and commutes. In addition to active noise-cancellation, they also feature an ambient sound or transparency mode that allows you to hear more of your surroundings.

The Sony Headphones Connect app offers 20 levels of adjustment for this feature, providing a significant amount of flexibility. The earbuds come equipped with the same Integrated Processor V1 and DSEE Extreme processor found in the LinkBuds and the WF-1000XM4, allowing it to upscale digital music files to near-high-resolution quality.

The LinkBuds S is easy to control – all the functions can be controlled by tapping on the flat exterior of the earbuds. The controls include toggling between active noise cancelling (ANC) and transparency mode, activating your virtual assistant, controlling volume, and controlling playback.

There is also an awareness mode, which you can activate by holding the side of an earbud for a quick hit of transparency mode, similar to other Sony audio products like the WH-1000XM5. You can customise the control profile of each earbud in the Sony Headphones Connect app, but you cannot set individual controls – you can’t set the left earbud to control playback and the right earbud to control volume, for instance.

The LinkBuds S features Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and support for LE Audio, in addition to Sony’s high-resolution LDAC codec, SBC and AAC. They also have the ability to connect to two devices simultaneously, thanks to a firmware update that allows for Bluetooth multipoint connectivity.

Sony claims that the LinkBuds S can last up to 6 hours on a single charge, and in testing, we found the earbuds to come close to that claim. With a constant output of real music peaking at 75dB (SPL), the Sony LinkBuds S lasted for 5 hours and 41 minutes on a single charge, which is pretty good. The charging case also provides an additional 14 hours of charge, bringing the total to nearly 20 hours.

The Sony LinkBuds S have outstanding consistency in their frequency response. When you get a good fit and seal, you will experience consistent bass and treble delivery with every use. They also have excellent mid-range accuracy. Their frequency range is fairly neutral, which makes vocals and lead instruments sound clear and detailed.

Additionally, the peaks and dips in the frequency response of the Sony LinkBuds S are excellent. In terms of noise isolation, the LinkBuds S perform excellently as well.

Sony is already well-established in the world of in-ear earbuds, with its WF-1000XM4 being a highly sought-after pair of truly wireless earbuds. The noise cancellation and audio quality on the WF-1000XM4 are superior to the LinkBuds S, making them the top choice if you’re considering Sony earbuds.

However, the Sony LinkBuds S still offer many of the same features at a lower price point, and their more lightweight and compact design may appeal to those who find the XM4 to be too bulky. At their current price of AED 450, they are a solid investment and a marked improvement over the original LinkBuds.

Price: AED 450

HUAWEI has announced its all-new Hi-Res Certificated TWS with long battery life and outstanding ANC, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i. The latest iteration to the HUAWEI FreeBuds series offers users high-resolution sound with 28h of Music Playback and 42dB Multi-Mode ANC. This is also topped off with a compact and comfortable design with dual-device connectivity and IP54 Water Resistance.

More importantly, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i is compatible with different operating systems, including devices running on Android and iOS. Consumers can get the HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i in UAE starting from the 13th of January, for a price of AED 329 from Huawei’s online platforms as well as certified retailers. The new HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i is available in Isle Blue, Nebula Black, and Ceramic White colours.

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i supports LDAC HD audio codec, and it is Hi-Res certified. Hi-Res Audio Wireless is officially defined as the capability to reproduce the full range of sound of recordings mastered from CD-quality music sources, and it is widely accepted and recognised among audio enthusiasts.

Moreover, the earbuds come equipped with a 10mm high-sensitivity dynamic driver unit and customised polymer composite diaphragm. HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i comes equipped with a dual adaptive EQ optimisation algorithm that detects both ear canal structure and wearing status and optimises the audio at all frequency ranges to account for such factors, ensuring a consistent listening experience. Visitors to Huawei’s offline stores will have the opportunity to experience the superior sound quality of the HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i.

HUAWEI’s newest earbuds provide EQ effects, which will allow consumers to choose the audio effects freely, such as by selecting Bass boost or Treble boost mode, so that each song can be tailored to users’ unique tastes, just like customising to get the most desirable listening experience that meets each individual’s taste.

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i provides a formidable 28 hours of battery life (with the charging case) and fast charging capabilities to sustain a staggering 7.5 hours of continuous audio playback, which can soar to 28 hours when used with the charging case. With a quick 15-minute boost in the charging case, users get an incredible 4 hours of listening power, catching up with their needs in a short period of time.

HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i adopts hybrid noise cancellation technology. Equipped with two MICs inside and outside the ear to detect environment noise outside, as well as extra noise in the ear canal, and accurately produce reverse noise cancellation sound waves, generating 42 dB of maximum noise cancelling depth.

The earbuds also integrate a hearing optimisation algorithm based on wearing detection, which identifies the listener’s wearing status, and provides optimal sound effect parameters, thereby ensuring a better listening experience. Consumers will be able to choose between Ultra, General, and Cosy noise cancellation modes, to adapt the effects to their environment, whether it is a busy airport, subway station, restaurant, office, or quiet home.

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i has been crafted into a sleek and elegant shape that is designed to fit the human ears just like hand-in-glove. Lighter pairs of earphones have been well received by consumers. A single FreeBuds 5i weighs just 4.9 gms, making it lighter than many commonly used coins. The body of the HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i is just 29mm long. Compared to the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i, the sound openings have been shortened by 1mm, and the relative height has been reduced by one-third, making the earphones more adaptable to each listener’s ear canal, thereby allowing for a snugger fit.

The HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i can connect to two devices running different operating systems (compatible with EMUI/Android/iOS/Windows) and automatically switch between the devices without missing a beat, bringing users a smooth and smart audio connection experience. The HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i comes with IP54 water resistance, making it more than equipped to meet most listeners’ needs in daily life, from accidental splashes to rain.

The JBL Wave 300TWS is a pair of true wireless stereo earbuds, which is available in three different colour options – black, white, sky blue, and pink. The review unit we received from Eros, was the sky blue variant. Inside the packaging, you get the earbuds inside the charging case, an orange-coloured USB-C charging cable, and some paperwork, which includes the quick start guide.

Opening the charging case reveals the wireless earbuds, which are very good in design and build quality. The charging case and the earbuds though are quite lightweight. On the rear of the charging case is where you will find the USB-C port.

Even though the charging case is quite compact, it is not easy to open it with one hand. The earbuds also do not come with silicon tips – they rely on a universal tip design. This means, adjusting it in the outer area of the ear canals can be a bit tricky, especially for those with a smaller ear canal opening. However, the earbuds are very comfortable to wear on longer listening sessions, since they are very lightweight.

The earbuds come packed with a 12mm driver each and weigh just 3.85 gms each. The charging case meanwhile weighs around 36 gms.

Connecting the earbuds to your smartphone is quite straightforward – open the charging case, remove both earbuds and they will immediately get into pairing mode. Look for “JBL WAVE300TWS” in the Bluetooth section of your smartphone and tap on it to connect.

The earbuds also come with touch controls built onto them. Tapping and holding for 2 seconds on either of the earbuds will invoke the voice assistant. When you receive a call, tap once to pick up the call and tap once again during the call to end it.

If you would like to mute the microphone during a call, just press and hold for 2 seconds to mute and unmute the mic. While playing music, tap once to play/pause, tap twice to fast forward, and tap thrice to rewind. What’s more, you can use the earbuds in stereo or mono modes. The earbuds however do not offer volume control through touch control.

The JBL WAVE 300TWS earbuds come certified with the IPX2 rating. This is unusually low for earbuds because this rating does not offer a good amount of protection from either sweat or water.

You need earbuds with at least an IPX5, IPX6, or IPX7 rating for sweat or water resistance. That being said, it’s better you do not use the JBL Wave 300TWS while jogging or exercising, or in the (occasional) rain.

The earbuds also do not offer Active Noise Cancellation. However, they are very comfortable to wear and are easier on the ears since they sit on the outer area of the ear canal. The positivity of this earbud design is that it allows you to hear external sounds better without the need for ANC transparency mode.

The audio quality offered by the JBL Wave 300TWS was pretty good, considering it does not offer ANC. Highs, lows, and mids were on point. Before the audio test, I assumed the bass performance won’t be much due to the nozzle-like earbud design without the silicone tips. However, I was quite happy with the bass performance the earbuds offered.

Call quality was also very good, considering both the earbuds come with one microphone built-in. Even in a loud environment, the mics sounded really good without picking up a lot of noise during calls.

For a very attractive price point of AED 299, the JBL Wave 300TWS offers a compact design, good build quality, easy pairing, very good sound quality and is very intuitive to use. Definitely go for it, if you are in the market for a budget-friendly pair of wireless earbuds that offer very good audio performance.

Price: AED 299