Update (7/16/20 @ 10:15 AM ET): LG's self-cleaning truly wireless earbuds are available now in the U.S.
Like many companies that make smartphones, LG also has its own line of wireless earbuds. Last year, the company launched the LG TONE Free earbuds with Google Assistant support in the US. LG is back with another pair of wireless earbuds in this lineup and they retain one of the coolest features.
The new earbuds seem to be called LG TONE Free again (model HBS-FN6), but they feature an all-new design. Last year's model had rubber ear tips and sort of a flat rounded rectangle that hung out of your ear. The new model also features rubber tips, but it has a more familiar stem design that is common in wireless earbuds. They come in black and white color options.
The charging case looks pretty much the same as last year. It's a round "puck" with smoothed-over edges. The coolest feature of the case is LG's "UVnano" self-cleaning technology. With the built-in ultraviolet light, the case can eliminate 99.9% of E. coli and S. aureus from the non-toxic, hypoallergenic ear tips and inner mesh. The case provides an additional three full charges for the wireless earbuds as well.
In terms of audio quality, LG's TONE Free wireless earbuds feature customized EQ sound settings developed by Meridian. The four presets include Natural, Immersive, Bass Boost, and Treble Boost. Ambient Sound Mode lets wearers hear what’s going on around them with the press of a button. The earbuds also have dual mics which are useful for the Google Assistant integration.
LG will be launching the TONE Free wireless earbuds next month in Europe and North America. The company did not share pricing at this time, though last year's model cost $199.
Key Specifications:
- Earbud Size: 16.1 x 32.77 x 25.0mm
- Charging Case Size: 54.6 x 54.6 x 27.5mm
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Battery Capacity
- Earbuds: 55mAh x 2
- Case: 390mAh
- Fast Charging Time: 5 minutes for 1 hour of play
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Battery Life:
- Talk: 5 hours
- Play: 6 hours
- Earbuds + Case: 18 hours
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 (Single Device Connection)
- Speaker: 2 Layered Dynamic
- Microphones: 2 Outer
- Compatibility: Android / iOS
- Bluetooth Audio Codec: SBC / AAC
- Colors: Stylish Black / Modern White
Source: LG | Via: Droid-Life
Update: Available in US
Announced last month, the LG Tone Free (HBS-FN6) are now available in the U.S. for $149.99. They are only available in the black color option. LG has also released the $129.99 HBS-FN5W model without UV cleaning case and the even cheaper $99.99 HBS-FN4 model that lacks UV cleaning and wireless charging.