The LG Tone Free (HBS-FN6) are the most recent true wi-fi earbuds from the South Korean firm.
These earbuds are fairly cool as they arrive with their very own disinfection technique, they’re loud, light-weight and have a reasonably customary design, particularly in comparison with choices just like the Pixel Buds and the Surface Earbuds.
The $199 earbuds are total respectable, however they’ve a couple of trade-offs. In case you’re searching for true wi-fi earbuds with lively noise-cancellation (ANC) and even passive noise suppression, the Tone Free earbuds aren’t for you.
Nonetheless, the Tone Free provide a usable app, good sound and one thing I’ve but to see on a tool obtainable in Canada; ultraviolet nanotechnology that disinfects the earbuds each time you set them of their case.
UV nanotechnology
The Tone Free (HBS-FN6) variant encompasses a ‘UVnano’ charging case. In accordance with LG, the case makes use of ultraviolet gentle to remove 99.9 p.c of micro organism on the buds closest to the interior ear.
It’s attention-grabbing to see LG deliver this expertise to a pair of earbuds. The UVC rays utilized by the headphones can kill micro organism and even some viruses, nevertheless, LG says that it’s going to not break down COVD-19.
“The LG Tone Free UVnano charging case doesn’t kill the COVID-19 virus. It could actually clear 99.9 p.c of micro organism on the earbuds’ speaker mesh whereas charging for 10 minutes,” reads a direct quote from the corporate.
What could be regarding to some, are points associated to UVC radiation. For these anxious about this, the ultraviolet case was developed by specialists to make sure security, based on LG. After all, this additionally implies that you must take LG’s phrase concerning how protected they’re.
“It’s UL Verified to cut back micro organism, developed by microbiology specialists at Underwriters Laboratories, one of many world’s main security science firms,” says LG
Sadly, I can’t definitively say that the case is disinfecting your earbuds, as I’ve no strategy to measure this. A small LED gentle on the case turns purple, letting you understand that disinfection is occurring inside the case, and it’ll flip off when the disinfection is full.
Customary earbud design
The LG Tone Free sport is a design paying homage to the AirPods Pro with a small housing part and ear ideas that function medical-grade gel designed to evolve to the person’s ear.
The Tone Free comes with gel ear ideas in about three totally different sizes. Moreover, the earbuds function tiny microphones subsequent to the ‘R’ and the ‘L’ symbols.
The best way the round case opens jogs my memory of a make-up compact. On the entrance, the lip of the case sports activities a purple LED gentle, and the again of it encompasses a USB-C port.
On the highest, there’s the ‘Tone’ branding, and that’s nearly it. Moreover, the buds snugly match into the case and snap into place with three magnetic ‘Pogo’ connectors on every earbud.
Moreover, the Tone Free is available in black and white color variants.
Considerably comfy
I’d grade the Tone Free’s consolation a strong ‘B’ at greatest.
When simply sitting down and listening to music, they really feel good, however as soon as I get on the transfer, I begin to have the fixed dread that they may fall out. They aren’t essentially all the time coming out of my ears, nevertheless it positively looks like they simply may.
I’ve used these earbuds on the fitness center on the elliptical and whereas strolling from one machine to the opposite. The variety of instances the earbuds fell out of my ears whereas utilizing an elliptical was vital.
I attempted the totally different tricks to see if one labored higher than the others, however none of them had been a adequate match.
The jostling wasn’t the one explanation for the earbuds slipping out, because the extra I sweat, the harder it was to maintain the earbuds in my ears.
Battery-wise, the LG Tone Free final about 5 hours. In whole, with the rechargeable case, the earbuds can go about 19 hours earlier than needing to recharge the case.
The case options wi-fi charging and powers with a USB-C port.
Sounds strong when you don’t like bass
On the subject of sound, the Tone Free are fairly good and deal with numerous sorts of music nicely. I believe the sound is usually fairly sharp for essentially the most half, however there are issues bass-wise. They function an honest sense of bass however don’t have the “oomph” you’d count on from dance corridor, reggae or entice music. Some headphones are inclined to exaggerate bass in songs when it’s positively not mandatory, so the shortage of bass isn’t essentially a nasty factor relying in your style.
Utilizing the app’s bass enhance helps mitigate the earbuds’ lack of bass, however they’re positively simply outdone by the Sony WF1000XM3’s or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live.
Nonetheless, when you take heed to a track with out a lot bass, the sound is fairly good. You’ll positively need to mess with the equalizer within the Tone Free’s app to get one of the best sound expertise.
The earbuds additionally function ambient sound performance whenever you use their app. The function permits customers to listen to the voices and sounds of the individuals round them whereas wearings the earbuds.
Ambient sound is especially helpful for listening to music on a stroll or a motorcycle journey since you possibly can hear what’s occurring round you. I discover that the performance works nicely, and even with music a bit louder, I positively don’t have any downside listening to what’s occurring.
Sounds good and self-cleans
The LG Tone earbuds are a reasonably good pair of earbuds. I like utilizing them and suppose they function respectable sound. They aren’t one of the best earbuds I’ve ever used, however are cheaper than another choices available on the market.
The Tone Free value $199.99 CAD, whereas Google’s Pixel Buds are $239.99, the Galaxy Buds Stay are $249.99, and Sony’s WF-1000XM3s are priced at $299.99.
