Sony Linkbuds S

Sony Linkbuds S are the most comfortable noise-cancelling earbuds I've ever tried. Furthermore, it's the only earbuds which stay in my ear for hours without need for adjustment or picking it up from the floor.

During my research these earbuds we're always in the top recommended earbuds based on comfortability. I had given up on earbuds for a long time, because they constantly fell out or were discomfortable. Both of these issues are completely removed, and actually I prefer to wear them when working, because of the background noise reduction.

Typically I use them for more than 1 charge, and probably more than 8 hours every day. I can check the detailed listening statistics in my app, but nah - it is too scary.

The comfort makes the whole difference, and the rest is just sweet.

The list of reasons why these earbuds are great is long. Here's a few of the best

• Long battery time and quick charging

• Great Noise Cancellation

• Easy control with tapping gestures

• Exquisite comfort and 'wearability'

• Connect to two devices simultaniously

• A fantastic app to control the many features

To me these headphones are pieces of amazing technology. Six microphones to improve noise cancellation, great batteries, wireless technology and a lot of software to enhance 'your listening experience' - which these headphones really does.

Their Android application works better than I ever hoped for. It is user friendly and most of the features are relevant.

You can customize each earbud's tap-settings. For instance you can control the noise reduction mode you want to use with the left earbud. The right can be used to control playback and vice versa. Both earbuds can be used to control volume and calls at the same time. They are not 100% customizable, but it is acceptable and useful.

You can easily connect to - and switch between - two devices, and even control playback in some cases. This was not a feature I knew about when I made the purchase, and I will recommend you to include this feature as a requirement when you buy new earbuds.

The case is small and magnetic which 'sucks' the earbuds in place and they won't fall out. Pretty neat detail, but rather standard. They charge very fast, and the case has 2-3 full charges. I believe that a 10 min charge will give you at least a few hours of listening. When you get low on battery you will get a quick warning here and there, which is OK. I've tried other earbuds which constantly started bugging you when you reached 20%, which in fact made them useless at that level - extremely bad execution on their part.

A downside is their integration with two companies, which keeps some of the tap settings blocked because of these features. I am not using any of those companies, and thus they are pretty useless. However, I can live with it because of all the pro's. 

More customization would be nice, and I hope they will improve on this. I believe that their target group embraces possibilities and freedom to make it personal, rather than a one-fit's-all concept. I can understand how Sony wants to keep control, especially with my work experience in mind, and I am sure that this allows Sony to thoroughly test everything without other parts breaking. More customization possibilities will have an impact on the number of bugs and errors, and create other problems if the app is not carefully architectured from the get go.

No app for Windows

Sony hasn't made a Windows app. It's an abomination. Please get this done, Sony, and get it done yesterday.

Here's the deal. I mostly use the headphones to listen to podcasts and audiobooks, and once in a while music. Sounds quality is defilitely a parameter that matters for me, but I do not want to pay the extra cost for exquicite sound quality, when my listening habits does not require it. 

The LinkBuds S sound is good. I never experience problems with bad quality, unless I start to move far away or go behind a concrete wall. The noise cancelling is very good, and definitely helps me keep the sound volume low, and keep distractions out of my mind. I live in a tropical climate, so the A/C and fans are usually buzzing which is a steady wave of background noise, that is suddenly gone. Mad respect.

Did I mention they are comfortable?

The value is amazing, and it is in my Top 10 best gadget purchases ever. I use my earphones every day, and in many situations. I can drive my motorbike and use these at the same time, take a run or walk my dog, and use them when working as well. I forgot to mention that you can do calls and use the voice assiatant as well. 

To summarize it feels like I got more than I paid for.