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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're looking for budget-friendly earbuds and prioritize long battery life, durability, and suitability for exercise and air travel, the JLab Go Air Pop would suit you well. However, if you're willing to invest more for better sound quality, a unique open design, and features such as app customization, an equalizer, and compatibility with Android and Apple devices, then the Sony Linkbuds might be the better choice. Be aware that the Sony Linkbuds have poorer noise isolation due to their open design, making them less ideal for noisy environments. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the JLab Go Air Pop
- Good for music
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Sony Linkbuds
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Phone Calls
5.0
6.8
The Sony Linkbuds is only fair for phone calls, while the JLab Go Air Pop is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.7
7.8
The Sony Linkbuds is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JLab Go Air Pop is poor.
TV and Video
6.1
5.4
The JLab Go Air Pop is only fair for TV and video, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
2.5
The JLab Go Air Pop is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The JLab Go Air Pop has 9 hours of battery life. The Sony Linkbuds has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$25
$178
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The JLab Go Air Pop has a price of $25 and the Sony Linkbuds costs $178.
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Key similarities
Music
7.1
6.6
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers JLab Go Air Pop to be good for music, while the Sony Linkbuds is only fair.
Gaming
5.5
5.5
The Sony Linkbuds and JLab Go Air Pop are both poor for gaming.
Build Quality
9.0
9.3
The Sony Linkbuds and JLab Go Air Pop both have excellent build quality.
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How the JLab Go Air Pop and the Sony Linkbuds compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JLab Go Air Pop | Sony Linkbuds |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$25 | $178 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JLab | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | February 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.2/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.1/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 9 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 27 | 17.5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | No | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 3.9 Grams | 4.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
JLab Go Air Pop
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Sam Smart | August 2023
"The JLab GO Air POP is a great option for anyone on a tight budget. This pair of true wireless earbuds checks all the boxes for earbud essentials, and performs pretty well in most areas. The microphone isn't great, but that's to be expected for something this inexpensive."
Sony Linkbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Sam Moore | February 2022
"The Sony LinkBuds is definitely the most unique audio product to release so far in 2022, and it largely executes well on it's unoccluded design. However, it's hamstrung by all the same things as other unsealed earbuds."
Get a great deal on the JLab Go Air Pop or the Sony Linkbuds
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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