LG’s Tone+ Free are true wireless earbuds for germaphobes

By Simon Cohen October 3, 2019

This must be true wireless earbud season. Hot on the heels of Amazon’s Echo Buds, and Microsoft’s Surface Earbuds, we now have LG’s new Tone+ Free, the South Korean giant’s latest version of its true wireless earbuds. Without hands-free access to a voice assistant, massive battery life, or noise-cancellation, their killer feature is literally a killer feature: Inside the charging case, LG has included what it calls a UVnano function, that kills bacteria through the use of ultraviolet light.

LG doesn’t offer any stats on just how many (or what kinds) of bacteria are harbored by a typical set of true wireless earbuds, but we suspect that if you’re a germaphobe, “none” might be too many.

Related Videos

Beyond the Tone+ Free’s unique antibacterial system, these new earbuds are fairly conventional. They last a claimed six hours on a charge, which is more than Apple’s AirPods and the new Echo Buds, but still significantly less than many others in the market including the Surface Buds and the Powerbeats Pro. Should your Tone+ Free earbuds die, LG says you can gain an hour’s worth of play time after the earbuds spend only five minutes inside that killer case. LG hasn’t said how much juice is contained in the charging case, or how the UVnano function affects overall battery life.

You get access to Google Assistant via a long-press of one of the touch-sensitive outer surfaces, and the earbuds are rated IPX4, for decent protection from sweaty workouts. LG says the Tone+ Free’s audio has been tuned by Meridian Audio and provides a 3D listening experience. The microphones are equipped with noise-canceling technology for clearer calls, and presumably for fewer problems when using Google Assistant.

The earbuds come in black at launch but will be joined by a white version in November. The Tone+ Free are only destined for the South Korean market (for now), where they will sell for 259,999 won (roughly $215), which is a little more expensive than the $199 Apple AirPods with the wireless charging case option. But really, can you put a price on the peace of mind that comes from knowing your earbuds are bacteria-free? We didn’t think so.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Audio / Video

Nothing might launch new hi-res earbuds at CES under the XO brand

Particles by XO leaked render.

With two models under its belt -- the Ear 1 and the Ear Stick -- Carl Pei's Nothing brand is no stranger to wireless earbuds. But the maverick smartphone company might be planning something a little different for 2023. It seems as though it's readying its third model of wireless earbuds, according to a tweet from developer Kuba Wojciechowski that was reported by 91mobiles.com. Wojciechowski claims to have found references within Nothing's firmware and also managed to unearth what are claimed to be renders of the as-yet-unannounced product.

Known as "Particles by XO," the wireless earbuds have a unique, peanut-like shape reminiscent of the Sony LinkBuds. Though unlike the LinkBuds, which use a doughnut-shaped driver that allows external sounds to be heard clearly, the Particles use a traditional ear canal-sealing design. The report suggests that these will be active noise-canceling buds, which is consistent with the silicone-tipped design.

Audio / Video

These are the wireless earbuds I’m taking on a beach vacation

Woman by pool with Apple AirPods earbuds and an e-reader.

I have not done any serious traveling since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. But I can't take it anymore. The sun, surf, and scuba are all calling my name, and I'm heading back to the Caribbean. And along with the usual choices regarding clothing, swimwear, cameras, and reading material, I'm faced with a far more serious question: which earbuds or headphones should I take?

Let me start by acknowledging that having a choice of devices is unusual. Especially given the breadth of my choices. A perk of being a reviewer is having access to a huge assortment of audio gear; most folks only own one set of earbuds and, maybe, a set of headphones too. But. hopefully. my evaluation process will be helpful anyway -- if you're in the market for new headphones or earbuds, this might help solidify your choice.
To headphone or not to headphone?

Audio / Video

Audio-Technica’s new flagship earbuds sanitize themselves after every use

Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 earbuds in charging case.

Audio-Technica has been in the personal audio game for 60 years, but that doesn't mean it can't learn a thing or two from newer competitors. The company's newest wireless earbuds -- the $299 ATH-TWX9 -- borrow a feature that LG first debuted on its own line of earbuds: sterilization of bacteria and viruses using UV light. They're available from Amazon and other retailers.

When you pop the ATH-TWX9 back in their charging case, a UV light system engages, and with a little help from something called "mirror processing," the company says bacteria and viruses will be eliminated from the surface of the earbuds. It's not entirely clear whether that means just the eartips, or the whole earbud, but the fine print is careful to point out that while the system is more than 99% effective against E. coli and bacteriophage viruses, and more than 90% effective against Staphylococcus aureus, it won't kill all bacteria and viruses, and Audio-Technica doesn't know how well it protects against the virus that causes COVID-19.