VLC Codec Info incorrectly reports 16-bit WAV is 32 bits per sample on Linux

When I play a standard 44100 Hz 16-bit stereo WAV file in VLC 3.0.11.1 Vetinari on Fedora 32, Tools > Codec Information reports that its Bits per sample is 32 (see screenshot). The free audio sample I used is https://freewavesamples.com/ensoniq-sq-1-classicguitar-c5

This is very misleading.

In VLC on Windows 10, VLC correctly reports 16 bits per sample. Maybe the difference is Windows says "Codec: PCM S16 LE (s16l)", while Linux reports "Codec: 32 bits float LE (f32l)". But the panel is called "Current Media Information Information about what your media or stream is made of." , so reporting the bit depth of the codec where the UI indicates its reporting the media information is unexpected.

Bug #18948 (closed) "All FLAC files below 32 bits per sample are up-converted to 32 bits per sample" may be related. I think VLC is also mis-reporting the bits per sample of FLAC files; I'll file a separate bug.

Funnily enough, an online tool recommended in a Superuser question, https://www.metadata2go.com/ , also reports wrong information about the WAV file... maybe it's using VLC on Linux 😉.