LG Xboom Buds Review: A Stylish and Feature-Packed Choice for Everyday Listening
LG Xboom Buds offer powerful bass, customizable ANC, and a sleek design for a great audio experience at an affordable price.
LG Xboom Buds are wireless earbuds made with the help of music producer will.i.am. They promise powerful sound, active noise cancellation (ANC), and a bold design. With a price of $99 / £119, they offer a good balance of quality and affordability, making them a great choice for daily use.
While they are not as advanced as premium earbuds, the Xboom Buds deliver strong bass, clear vocals, and adjustable treble for a good all-around sound. They come with useful features like customizable ANC, EQ controls, and Auracast support, adding extra value. Plus, the battery life is impressive, giving you up to 10 hours of playtime without ANC.
Lack of several advanced features featured in more costly versions such as the LG Tone Free T90S, and their somewhat large form are drawbacks. Nevertheless, Xboom Buds are a good middle-range choice, ideal for anyone seeking consistent sound and useful functions for daily usage.
LG Xboom Buds Specification
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎧 Drivers | 10mm dynamic graphene drivers |
| 🔇 Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | Yes |
| 🔋 Battery Life (Earbuds) | Up to 10 hours (ANC off), up to 7.5 hours (ANC on) |
| 🔋 Battery Life (With Case) | Up to 30 hours (ANC off), up to 24 hours (ANC on) |
| ⚖️ Weight (Per Earbud) | 5.3g |
| 📶 Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, supports Auracast |
| 🎵 Frequency Range | Not specified |
| 💧 Waterproof Rating | IPX4 (earbuds only, splash resistant) |
| 💰 Price | $99 / £119 |
| 🗓️ Release Date | March 2025 (UK), April 2025 (US) |
| 🎨 Colours Available | Black, White |
| 🔊 Sound Quality | Strong bass, clear vocals, adjustable EQ, supports AAC format |
| 📱 App Features | ANC control, EQ presets, 8-band equalizer, touch control settings |
| 🌟 Special Features | Auracast, Transparency mode, Wind noise reduction, Whispering mode, Game mode (low latency), Find My Earbuds |
| 🛠️ Build & Comfort | Larger design with a hook for better fit, basic build quality |
| 🎙️ Microphone Quality | Clear voice recordings, slightly sharp sound, decent for calls |
| ⚠️ Drawbacks | No UVnano cleaning, no Plug & Wireless, slightly bulky, no aptX Adaptive codec |
LG Xboom Buds Review: Price and Release Date
LG Xboom Buds launched in the UK in March 2025 and will arrive in the US in April 2025. They are priced at $99 / £119, making them an affordable mid-range option. Early UK customers could get them for £99. The earbuds are available in black or white on LG’s official website. For this review, I used the white version.
LG Xboom Buds Review: Best Features and Specs
The LG Xboom Buds have many useful features, starting with the LG Xboom Buds app. This app lets you control the noise cancellation (ANC), adjust the sound settings (EQ), and change the touch controls. A special feature is Auracast, which allows you to listen to nearby audio from devices like phones and TVs.
The app also gives you sound presets like Natural, Immersive, Bass Boost, and Treble Boost. You can also use an 8-band equalizer to make the sound just the way you like it. The ANC works well and reduces background noise, like the sound of a hairdryer, but it’s not as quiet as more expensive earbuds like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. There’s also a transparency mode, which lets in outside sounds, making it great for walking or outdoor use.
Additional features include whispering mode for clear calls, wind noise reduction, Find My Earbuds, and a game mode for reduced latency. While the app is packed with features, the Xboom Buds are missing a few premium options from LG’s Tone Free T90S, like UVnano bacteria cleaning and Plug & Wireless streaming from the charging case.
Despite these missing features, the Xboom Buds offer strong performance and great battery life—10 hours with ANC off and 7.5 hours with ANC on, extended by the charging case. While it doesn’t match the JBL Live Beam 3’s battery life, it’s still a solid offering from LG.
LG Xboom Buds Review: Sound Performance
Although the LG Xboom Buds feature excellent sound and a powerful bass, you may need to change the settings for better balance. The Natural EQ mode, which enhances the treble and deep bass, is what they use by default. Because of this, high sounds like drums can feel a bit sharp. If you adjust the EQ to a custom setting, you can control the treble better and make the middle tones clearer.
The bass is a strong point, especially in songs like Black Eye by Allie X, where the drum beats are deep and fast. Vocals and instruments like synths are clear too but the separation between sounds isn’t perfect, so the audio doesn’t feel very wide or open. These earbuds only support AAC for Bluetooth streaming, not higher-quality options like aptX Adaptive, so the sound is not as good as on premium models like the LG Tone Free T90S.
Still, the Xboom Buds are fun to listen to. In songs like Come On Back With Your Love by Kolter, the vocals are clear and the bass is exciting. They also handle sub-bass very well, giving a nice deep rumble in songs like The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy, which is hard to find in cheaper earbuds.
The sound does drop in quality at very high volumes (90%-100%), but for most people, this won’t be a big problem.
For microphone quality, voice recordings are clear with little background noise and only a bit of sharpness. In video calls, voices might sound a little tinny, but you can still hear them clearly.
LG Xboom Buds Design Review: Comfort, Fit, and Build Quality
LG Xboom Buds are designed more for function than style. They look bigger than slimmer models like the LG Tone Free T90S and stick out from your ears. If you want earbuds that are small and less noticeable, these may not be the best option.
The build quality matches their lower price. The case and earbuds feel simple, but you can pick between white or black colors. A helpful design feature is the small hook that keeps the buds in place, especially during exercise. This hook makes the design a bit less smooth, but once the buds are in your ears, you won’t see the hooks.
Comfort, however, could be better. The rounded and slightly bulky shape made them feel a bit uncomfortable during longer listening sessions. While they form a tight and secure seal, I found it hard to wear them for more than an hour at a time.
On the bright side, the Xboom Buds are IPX4 splashproof, making them a good option for workouts or light rain. Just remember, this rating applies to the buds only — the charging case isn’t water-resistant. You’ll also find multiple ear gel sizes in the box, which helps adjust the fit for better comfort.
LG Xboom Buds Review: Value
LG Xboom Buds are priced at $99 / £119, making them a cheaper option compared to LG’s older premium models like the Tone Free T90S. However, you do miss out on some advanced features. These buds don’t include extras like UVnano cleaning or spatial audio, and the sound quality is decent but not top-level.
For the price, they offer good basic features and solid performance. But, there are other earbuds that give you better value. The Nothing Ear (a), for example, sounds great and often costs less than $100 / £80. Even LG’s own Tone Free T90S has dropped in price and could be a better choice if you want more features.
Also, while the Xboom Buds are cheaper than some models, $99 / £119 is still not cheap. There are great budget options like the Sony WF-C510, which we liked even more than some expensive earbuds like the Apple AirPods 4.
LG Xboom Buds are okay for the price, but there are better deals out there.
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Pros and Cons of LG Xboom Buds
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| 🎵 Powerful bass performance | 🎧 Basic design and fit could be better |
| 📡 Auracast support | 🚫 Missing Plug & Wireless and UVnano |
| 📱 Great companion app | 🎚️ Treble can be sharp without adjustments |
| 🔇 Effective ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) | 🎶 No support for high-resolution audio codecs |
Conclusion
LG Xboom Buds offer strong bass, useful features, and effective noise cancellation, but they fall short of LG’s top models. Auracast support is a standout feature, but the basic design, average comfort, and lack of high-resolution audio are downsides.
