Both Amazon and Microsoft unveiled their new wireless earbuds this week. LG is setting itself apart with a unique feature.
The LG Tone+ Free wireless earbuds feature a bacteria-killing UV light in their case. The light kills any bacteria on the earbuds as they’re charged. Only LG seems to have an eye for hygiene, though it doesn’t solve ear wax build-up problems.
The LG wireless earbuds feature a touch-sensitive surface for controlling playback, calls, or other functions.
A simple pattern of taps makes it easy to make calls, control music playback, or use the Google Assistant. These earbuds also come with IPX4 water resistance, which is great for workouts. They get around six hours of life per charge, but LG didn’t specify how much life to expect from the bacteria-destroying case.
Six hours of battery life is a pretty significant improvement over LG’s previous effort. Those wireless earbuds only offered three hours of use.
The Tone+ Free earbuds will release exclusively in South Korea for now. The black versions will debut in October, while the white version will go on sale in November. These earbuds retail for around $215, but no word on a global release.
With Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Samsung stepping into the wireless earbuds ring — this space is getting crowded. All four of these companies are now offering competing products.
Amazon is hoping its Echo Buds will appeal to those who already have smart speakers. Those feature Bose active noise cancellation technology for less than $200 per pair. Meanwhile, Google is expected to unveil its second-generation Pixel Buds at an event later this month. It seems as though personal wireless audio products are the next category that will receive tons of attention.
Meanwhile, some users may be questioning whether wireless earbuds and headphones are the best route. Some simply prefer analog, cord-connected headphones, especially given the rampant privacy concerns created by wireless ‘smart’ technology.