The world of true wireless earbuds is a constantly evolving landscape, with new contenders emerging regularly, each vying for a spot in your ears and your heart. In this crowded arena, LG has consistently carved out a niche for itself with its Tone Free series, known for innovative features and solid audio performance. The latest iteration, the LG Tone Free T90S, takes this legacy a step further, boasting a suite of enhancements designed to elevate your listening experience. As a tech and entertainment enthusiast, I’ve spent weeks putting these earbuds through their paces, dissecting their design, features, and sound quality to bring you this comprehensive review.

LG Tone Free T90S: First Impressions

The LG Tone Free T90S arrive in a compact, sleek package that exudes a sense of understated elegance. Inside, you’ll find the earbuds nestled securely in their charging case, accompanied by a USB-C charging cable and a selection of ear tips in various sizes to ensure a comfortable and secure fit. The earbuds themselves are remarkably small and lightweight, weighing in at a mere 5.7g each. Their rounded design, devoid of any protruding stems, ensures a discreet and comfortable fit, even during extended listening sessions.

Design and Features: A Fusion of Form and Function

The LG Tone Free T90S are a testament to the brand’s commitment to both aesthetics and functionality. The earbuds’ design is minimalist yet refined, with a smooth, glossy finish that feels premium to the touch. The inclusion of small, integrated wings on each earbud provides an added layer of stability, ensuring they stay snugly in place even during vigorous activities. I found the fit to be exceptionally secure, whether I was navigating bustling city streets or engaging in intense workouts.

One of the standout features of the T90S is the UVnano+ technology integrated into the charging case. This innovative system utilizes ultraviolet light to eliminate bacteria and germs that may accumulate on the earbuds’ speaker mesh and ear gels. While this might not be a primary concern for everyone, it’s a welcome addition for those who prioritize hygiene or share their earbuds with others.

The T90S also boasts an IPX4 water resistance rating, making them impervious to sweat and light rain. This added durability ensures that you can enjoy your music worry-free, regardless of the weather or your activity level.

Connectivity and Controls: Seamless Integration

The LG Tone Free T90S utilize Bluetooth 5.3 for a stable and reliable wireless connection. I experienced no dropouts or connectivity issues during my testing, even in environments with high wireless interference. The earbuds also support multipoint connectivity, allowing you to seamlessly switch between two paired devices, such as your smartphone and laptop.

The touch controls on the T90S are intuitive and responsive, allowing you to manage playback, adjust volume, toggle between noise cancellation modes, and summon your voice assistant with a few simple taps. The controls are customizable through the LG Tone Free app, giving you the flexibility to tailor them to your preferences.

Sound Quality: A Symphony of Detail and Clarity

At the heart of any great pair of earbuds lies their sound quality, and the LG Tone Free T90S do not disappoint. The audio performance is characterized by a balanced and detailed sound signature that excels across a wide range of genres. The earbuds deliver crisp highs, rich mids, and a punchy bass response that adds depth and impact to your music.

I found the T90S to be particularly adept at handling complex musical arrangements, with each instrument and vocal clearly defined within the soundstage. Whether I was listening to intricate classical pieces or high-energy electronic tracks, the earbuds consistently delivered a nuanced and engaging listening experience.

The T90S also support Dolby Atmos and Dolby Head Tracking, technologies that add a spatial dimension to your audio. Dolby Atmos creates a sense of immersion, placing sounds around you as if you were in a movie theater or concert hall. Dolby Head Tracking further enhances this effect by adjusting the soundstage in relation to your head movements, creating a more natural and realistic listening experience. While these features are most impactful when watching videos or playing games, they also add a subtle yet noticeable enhancement to music listening.

Noise Cancellation and Ambient Sound Mode: Finding Your Focus

The LG Tone Free T90S feature active noise cancellation (ANC) to help you block out distractions and immerse yourself in your audio. While the ANC is not the most powerful on the market, it effectively reduces low-frequency noises like engine hum and air conditioning, creating a more tranquil listening environment. I found the ANC to be particularly useful in office settings and on public transportation, where it helped me focus on my work or relax with my music.

The T90S also offer an Ambient Sound mode that allows you to hear your surroundings without removing the earbuds. This is a handy feature for situations where you need to be aware of your environment, such as when crossing the street or having a quick conversation. The Ambient Sound mode can be adjusted through the LG Tone Free app, allowing you to fine-tune the level of external noise that you hear.

LG Tone Free App: Your Personal Sound Studio

The LG Tone Free app is a valuable companion to the T90S, providing a range of customization options and additional features. The app allows you to adjust the EQ settings, toggle between noise cancellation modes, customize the touch controls, and even locate your earbuds if you misplace them.

One of the standout features of the app is the ability to create custom EQ presets. This allows you to tailor the sound signature of the T90S to your individual preferences or specific genres of music. The app also offers a selection of pre-defined EQ presets, including Immersive, Natural, Bass Boost, and 3D Sound Stage, giving you a quick and easy way to adjust the sound.

Battery Life: Powering Your Sonic Adventures

The LG Tone Free T90S offer a respectable battery life, providing up to 9 hours of continuous playback on a single charge with ANC turned off. With ANC enabled, the battery life drops to around 5 hours, which is still sufficient for most daily commutes or workouts. The charging case provides an additional 27 hours of battery life with ANC off and 15 hours with ANC on, ensuring that you can enjoy your music for extended periods without worrying about running out of power.

The charging case supports both wired and wireless charging, giving you the flexibility to top up the battery using a USB-C cable or a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad. The case also features a quick charge function that provides an hour of playback with just a 5-minute charge, perfect for those times when you need a quick boost.

Final Verdict: A Harmonious Blend of Features and Performance

The LG Tone Free T90S are a compelling option in the true wireless earbuds market, offering a well-rounded package that combines innovative features, solid sound quality, and a comfortable fit. The earbuds excel in several key areas, including their compact and lightweight design, intuitive touch controls, and effective noise cancellation. The addition of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Head Tracking further enhances the listening experience, adding a spatial dimension to your audio.

While the ANC is not the most powerful available and the battery life with ANC enabled could be better, these minor drawbacks are outweighed by the T90S’s many strengths. The earbuds’ balanced sound signature, customizable EQ settings, and unique features like UVnano+ cleaning and multipoint connectivity make them a versatile and appealing choice for a wide range of users.