Request a product

Apple AirPods 4 vs Sony LinkBuds Open

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleAirPods 4SonyLinkBuds Open
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2024October 2024
Sound
TypeOpen-earOpen-ear
Noise cancellingNoNo
Transparency modeNo–
Spatial audio with head trackingYesYes
Driver size–11 mm
Bluetooth codecsSBC and AACSBC, AAC and LC3
Lossless over USB-CNo–
ChipH2V2
DriversCustom high-excursion Apple driver and custom high dynamic range amplifier11 mm ring-shaped driver with a high-compliance diaphragm and high-power neodymium magnet
Chip–Integrated Processor V2
Noise cancelling detail–No noise cancelling; the open-ring design lets outside sound through; Adaptive Volume Control adjusts the volume to your surroundings; Speak-to-Chat
Audio featuresPersonalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; Voice Isolation; lossless audio with Apple Vision ProDSEE upscaling; 360 Reality Audio with head tracking; LE Audio (LC3); BGM effect; equaliser in the app
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)Up to 5 hoursUp to 8 hours
With the caseUp to 30 hoursUp to 22 hours
Wireless chargingNoNo
Battery life detail–Up to 8 hours with AAC, SBC or LC3; 8 hours from the earbuds plus 14 hours from the case, 22 hours in total; talk time up to 4.5 hours; standby up to 13 hours; the equaliser, DSEE, Speak-to-Chat and Adaptive Volume Control shorten battery life
Charging caseCharging Case (USB-C), charged by USB-C cable onlyUSB-C; about 2.5 hours to fully charge the case, 1.5 hours for the earbuds; 46.0 × 46.0 × 29.4 mm
Fast charging5 minutes in the case gives around 1 hour of listening3 minutes of charging gives about 1 hour of playback
Design
Weight (each earbud)4.3 g5.1 g
Water and sweat resistanceIP54IPX4
Bluetooth5.35.3
Two devices at once–Yes
ControlsForce sensor on the stems (press once to play, pause or answer a call; twice to end a call or skip forward; three times to skip back; press and hold for Siri); “Hey Siri” or just “Siri”; Siri Interactions by nodding or shaking your headWide Area Tap on the earbud or the face in front of the ear (tap twice to play or pause; three times to skip or answer calls; five or more times for volume), reassignable in the app; head gestures to answer calls; voice control; Quick Access; IR sensors pause music when an earbud is taken out
MicrophonesDual beamforming microphones and an inward-facing microphone; speech-detecting accelerometerA microphone on each earbud, with Precise Voice Pickup Technology and AI noise reduction for calls
Fit and ear tipsOpen-ear design with no ear tipsOpen-ring design held in place by Fitting Supporters; either earbud can be used on its own
Case weight32.3 gAbout 30.6 g
Water resistance detailIP54 (IEC 60529) for the AirPods and charging caseIPX4 equivalent for the earbuds, excluding the sound outlet, ventilation holes and microphone holes; the charging case is not water resistant
Works withFull features with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro on the latest software; works as Bluetooth headphones with other devices, with limited featuresSony | Sound Connect app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; LE Audio with compatible devices; Auto Switch with the LinkBuds Speaker; Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa; Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair; Bluetooth 5.3 Class 1, about 10 m range
ColoursWhiteBlack, White, Violet (Olivia Rodrigo edition)
In the boxAirPods 4 and Charging Case (USB-C), documentation; USB-C cable sold separatelyEarbuds, charging case, USB-C cable (USB-A to USB-C), documents

More comparisons