{"id":296577,"date":"2025-06-16T07:02:52","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T07:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/are-the-lg-tone-free-t90s-the-only-earbuds-youll-ever-need\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T07:02:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T07:02:52","slug":"are-the-lg-tone-free-t90s-the-only-earbuds-youll-ever-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=296577","title":{"rendered":"Are The LG Tone Free T90S the Only Earbuds You\u2019ll Ever Need?"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n
\"Are<\/p>\n

\n
\n
LG Tone Free T90S Earbuds<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Performance<\/div>\n
80<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Design<\/div>\n
90<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Comfort<\/div>\n
90<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Sustainability<\/div>\n
20<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Price<\/div>\n
70<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Pros<\/div>\n
Long battery life with fast charging<\/div>\n
Huge variety in audio control options<\/div>\n
Great ambient mode options<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Cons<\/div>\n
Touch controls are inconsistent and frustrating<\/div>\n
Not ideal for side sleepers<\/div>\n
Expensive<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
70<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Buy now<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Gear Editor Jess tried the LG Tone Free T90s Earbuds on the trail, at work, on planes, and in bed to figure out if they\u2019re the ultimate all-rounder for Explorers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get one thing out of the way \u2013 I don\u2019t think music is needed in nature. Nature has a unique music all of its own, and it’s half the reason I love spending time in it.\u00a0 I want to hear the birds, the trees, and water trickling over rocks \u2013 not Mambo No. 5. So why people take earphones and block it all out has baffled me for years.<\/p>\n

But then I got given these earbuds to test, and suddenly I had to be all open-minded. Sigh.<\/p>\n

I mapped out all the future opportunities I had to use them, planned to visit familiar spots so I wouldn\u2019t miss out on new nature noises (yes, ridiculous), and lectured myself repeatedly on the importance of staying neutral.<\/p>\n

My mission? Find out if the LG Tone Free T90s Dolby Atmos Wireless Earbuds<\/a> are any good, and if they deserve a spot in the outdoors.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

First mission: don’t lose any of the million accessories…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Why I\u2019m the Right Person To Review These Earbuds<\/h2>\n

Aside from the fact that I might just be the last person in Melbourne not in possession of a pair of AirPods, finding a reviewer for a product that genuinely doesn\u2019t think the product is necessary is rare. So you can count on the fact that I\u2019m not biased.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong. I listen to music, I just haven\u2019t joined the wireless train (all my earphones have strings), and I reserve private earbud listening for inside the house, coworking offices, or long trips on trains and planes.<\/p>\n

While I\u2019ve never paired music with nature, I\u2019m no stranger to both and have spent significant time reviewing outdoor gear and enjoying the outdoors. Coupled with my undying determination to review a product thoroughly and my awareness that I really shouldn\u2019t be too harsh while absolutely wanting to be, you can be assured that I\u2019ll be triple-checking not just every criticism but every complimentary comment I make about these.<\/p>\n

Quick Specifications<\/h2>\n

Price:<\/strong> $399
\nWeight (earbuds):<\/strong> 5.7g each
\nWeight (recharging case):<\/strong> 43g
\nBattery Life:<\/strong> Up to 9 hours (buds), 36 hours (with case that can recharge them)
\nCharge Type:<\/strong> USB-C + wireless charging
\nWater Resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 (splash resistant)
\nConnectivity:<\/strong> Bluetooth 5.3
\nNoise Cancellation:<\/strong> Adaptive ANC + Ambient Mode
\nAudio:<\/strong> Dolby Atmos, including head-tracking spatial audio
\nUnexpected feature:<\/strong> Self-cleaning antibacterial travel case (whaaaat?!)
\nColours:<\/strong> Black<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Handy left and right labels make it simple for earphone noobs like me<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Performance<\/h2>\n

The App<\/h3>\n

The earbuds work best when used in tandem with the LG Tone App. This allows you to adjust presets (tap once for next song, twice for volume down etc.) change audio effects, add or remove noise cancellation, and a heck of a lot more.<\/p>\n

Initially, I was pretty dubious about having to use an app as well as the earbuds\u00a0\u2013 does listening to music really need to be this complicated? \u2013 but with some patience and experimentation, I\u2019ve now got it working like clockwork, and I\u2019ve grown to really love it.<\/p>\n

When it comes to adjusting things like noise cancellation, sound effects, and head tracking features the app is baller. It responds quickly. It\u2019s also great for checking battery life (down to each individual earbud and the charging case) so you know exactly how much time you have left.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For people prone to losing things, there\u2019s even a \u2018find my earbud\u2019 feature. This relies on the earbuds being in Bluetooth range (10m, but I managed to get 23m at home before it dropped out!). I can see this being super useful if you drop them at a campsite as the buds are black and would be hard to see among leaves\/dirt etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

Touch Controls<\/h3>\n

This is where the review takes a negative turn. I\u2019m happy with basic functionality, so it doesn\u2019t hugely bother me that these controls are a bit whack. But if you\u2019re wanting to go Matrix-level and tip tap your earbuds with precision without consulting the app or your phone, you\u2019re in for a world of frustration.<\/p>\n

The app allows you to customise taps on both the left and right earbud to control things like skipping songs, pause\/play, volume adjustments, power, previous\/next song etc.<\/p>\n

Receiving and ending a phone call (tap once to receive and twice to end) aren\u2019t adjustable but if a call comes in you either need to answer or reject it so it renders other functions moot.<\/p>\n

Despite setting custom controls in the app I found the tapping system very glitchy. Sometimes I\u2019d tap three times but only two would be registered and instead of skipping songs I suddenly found the volume had dropped way lower instead. In some instances I\u2019d try to reject a call but it\u2019d immediately accept my first tap (and disregard the second!) and answer instead.<\/p>\n

This signal confusion happened enough times to be too annoying to continue battling, so I\u2019ve gone back to changing songs, volume, and audio settings on my phone. Not ideal if you\u2019re counting on this feature. Pretty annoying at the gym or when hiking and not wanting to grab your phone out.<\/p>\n

Sound Quality<\/h3>\n

Granted, I\u2019m used to very shitty quality sound from cheap wired earphones, but the sound quality from these robust little earbuds was astounding. Not only did songs I\u2019ve listened to for years take on a new depth and richness, but the noise-cancelling feature meant it felt like it was me and the music alone in the world.<\/p>\n

The earbuds have five different audio options to choose from \u2013 immersive, natural, bass boost, treble boost, and 3D sound stage. If in doubt about which is best, natural is the one you want to choose as it\u2019s suitable for most types of music.<\/p>\n

Treble Boost is best for jazz, classical, and vocal performances. Bass Boost is best for pop and electronica, and 3D Sound Stage is ideal for watching sport or movies. Immersive is great for music and gives a surround sound effect. Each sounded distinctly different and I\u2019ve grown to really enjoying customising the settings to suit what I\u2019m listening to.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Note, if you don’t put them back in the case when you’re done listening you will need to turn them off in the app (otherwise the battery will continue to drain)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Head Tracking<\/h3>\n

The head-tracking tech legit made it feel like the sound was coming from in front of me. It was a bit intense for podcasts, but it was awesome and immersive for ASMR ocean sounds and birdsong, and favourite tunes I blasted while exercising.<\/p>\n

Noise Cancellation<\/h3>\n

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on the T90S is solid, especially given how light and comfy they are. I wore them on a train next to a group of teens on a school excursion and heard nothing but nature on the spotify \u2018calming forest, bird, and nature sounds\u2019 playlist. At home it\u2019ll block out the aircon when I\u2019m sitting directly underneath it, and the droning static sound of a plane disappears entirely.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong> Pretend You\u2019re Outside With These Soothing Nature Sounds<\/a><\/p>\n

This is one feature I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d use \u2013 as someone often wandering around on my own, safety is never far from the front of my mind \u2013 but I\u2019ve been surprised by how often I\u2019ve turned it on. It\u2019s a remarkably effective way to shut out the world, when it\u2019s safe to do so. At home, on crowded transport, and in co-working spaces it\u2019s perfect.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a feature I\u2019d use when hiking alone or even before bed in my tent. If you\u2019re using them to block out a pesky snorer, I\u2019d definitely put ambient mode on just so you can hear if someone calls your name or something similar. Sure, you might still hear some snores, but it\u2019ll be greatly mufffled compared to no earbuds, and you\u2019ll still be aware enough of your surroundings to respond to an emergency.<\/p>\n

Battery Life<\/h3>\n

LG says you\u2019ll get up to 9 hours on a single charge, with another 27 hours from the case (for 36 hours total), and I reckon that\u2019s pretty accurate. I\u2019ve used them in fits and bursts over multiple weeks (returning them to the charging case each time), and the first time I charged the case again was three weeks in. They easily handle a full day of work without needing to go in the case, and that\u2019s including taking phone calls.<\/p>\n

The battery indicator lights on the case let you know if charge is dropping through the use of green, orange, and red lights, and the app will give you an eta of time left.<\/p>\n

Bonus points are granted for the fast-charging capability too. Chuck the buds in the case in for five minutes and you\u2019ll get an hour of playback straight away. This is perfect if you\u2019re outdoors \u2013 it\u2019s just enough time to pee and refill your Nalgene.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fully charged and ready to go!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/h3>\n

Connectivity<\/h3>\n

Bluetooth 5.3, baby. Translation: fast, stable, and super easy to pair. I swapped from my phone to laptop to iPad like a tech-savvy wizard (ask my colleagues and you\u2019ll be swamped with confirmation that I am most definitely not, and will never be described this way!), and never experienced a drop.<\/p>\n

Phone calls came through with way better sound than I\u2019m used to on my Google Pixel mobile and initial pairing was ridiculously easy. If your patience with technology is razor thin like mine, these aren\u2019t annoying in the slightest. I haven\u2019t wanted to throw them in a drawer and forget about them once. Cannot say the same about my laptop, phone, fitbit, or smartwatch.<\/p>\n

Comfort<\/h2>\n

I was a little skeptical about comfort and nervous to wear these without my safety cords attached, but the fit is honestly dreamy \u2013 I\u2019ve worn them for hours on walks outdoors and they haven\u2019t come close to falling out.<\/p>\n

When wearing them all day while working, I\u2019ve genuinely forgotton they were even in my ears multiple times. The silicon ear gels hold them in place and provide a complete seal \u2013 definitely helping the noise cancellation feature.<\/p>\n

Am I comfortable with the lack of cords? Honestly, not yet. But I\u2019m aware that\u2019s a me thing and not a fundamental problem with these earbuds. I was expecting them to be endlessly falling out of my ears but that hasn\u2019t been a problem at all.<\/p>\n

The only time these aren\u2019t great are when you\u2019re trying to sleep or laying on your side \u2013 they fall out really easily which gets annoying. This is particularly grating for me as I\u2019ve found they\u2019re fantastic for blocking out the nightly possum parkour at my place, but I\u2019m a side sleeper.<\/p>\n

Potentially using different sized ear gels would combat this but the size I\u2019ve got in otherwise works perfectly so I\u2019m hesitant to compromise fit for just one application.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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The case definitely makes me feel more comfy about the lack of cords<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Design<\/h2>\n

The LG Tone Free T90s earbuds are slick. The matte black finish looks classy without screaming tech bro, and they\u2019re small enough to chuck in any hipbelt pocket or side compartment (though I always store them in the case).<\/p>\n

The case is innovative and tough, and I\u2019m very confident throwing it in my pack knowing my earbuds won\u2019t be damaged while inside. It\u2019s on the heavier side thanks to the inbuilt battery, but it\u2019s a small price to pay for earbuds that will easily last you a 2-3 day weekend hike without needing to be recharged at the wall.<\/p>\n

But this case is packing more than just extra juice. LG describes it as UVnano and it supposedly kills 99.9% of bacteria on the speaker mesh while charging. Do I know if it works? No. Do I like knowing my ear gunk isn\u2019t breeding a microscopic colony? Absolutely. Just going to have to trust them on that point but it\u2019s not a common feature and I\u2019m all for it. Especially if I drop my earbuds outside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pretty cool feature for earbuds that accompany you on the trail<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The case is also pocket-sized and doubles as a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) with a USB-C to aux cable provided, meaning you can plug into devices without Bluetooth and effectively use the charging case as a dongle beaming the sound out via Bluetooth to your wireless earbuds.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t hugely helpful for the outdoors, but in theory it works for plane screens, old MP3 players\/iPods, and gym treadmills etc. This is a super clever feature that I\u2019m very keen to try it out, but I haven’t been able to find the right application yet! (Incidentally, if you’ve tried, please let us know in the comments.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here’s a handy demo from LG. Hands free audio on the plane thanks to the handy case!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sustainability<\/h2>\n

Like a lot of tech companies, LG is a bit vague on this front. There\u2019s no clear info on recycled materials or carbon impact, and the closest thing I found to a sustainability policy on their website was a reference to a commitment to \u2018Jeong-do management\u2019 \u2013 something LG describes as their \u2018unique application of ethics\u2019. It was pretty vague. The bigger focus is clearly on quality products and efficiency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately I had to evaluate the product itself, and the earbuds feel durable \u2013 I didn\u2019t feel like I had to baby them in the tent or worry about light rain. Less breakage = less landfill, so there\u2019s still something to be said for making a quality product.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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The all important Nalgene size comparison \u2013 yep, they’re small<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Price<\/h2>\n

At $399, they\u2019re not cheap. But you\u2019re not just buying headphones \u2013 you\u2019re buying spatial audio, UV cleaning, wireless charging, excellent battery life, and a whole lot more tech that I’m not even fully across despite having used these for months. Would I pay this much for an upgrade from my wired pair? Honestly, probably not. It’s a massive jump. I can’t deny the value is well represented by the price, but if you’re not chasing a mega upgrade, you can probably achieve your audio dreams for less.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re someone who uses earbuds every day (for work, hikes, flights, commutes, and podcasting yourself to sleep), the LG Tone Free T90S Dolby Atmos Wireless Earbuds are worth the splurge.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re like me and still quite happy with your wired earphones, these will be an adjustment. If I weren\u2019t reviewing them, I probably would have called it quits and not taken the time to investigate the app and customisation options enough for me to see (and enjoy) the benefits. But I\u2019m very glad I did. If you\u2019re keen for an upgraded sound, I can absolutely recommend these.<\/p>\n

While I\u2019m still not sold that we need these outside, they are nice to make daily walks along very familiar tracks more interesting. Music and the added weight of the case won\u2019t make your pack lighter, but it can make it feel lighter and sometimes that\u2019s all you need.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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I didn’t think I’d love these as much as I now do. Genuinely a very high quality and useful product<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

LG Tone Free T90S Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n

Is it perfect? No. Is it way better than my crappy old wired earphones? Hell yes. But for the price, it\u2019d want to be.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re after buds that sound incredible, fit snug, and double as a tiny ear hygiene station, the LG Tone Free T90S might be a good investment. They\u2019re not rugged speakers you can hang off your pack, and you\u2019ll need to be mindful about how easy they are to lose if you drop them, but for blocking out transport noise, solo walks on familiar trails, and blocking out snorers in overnight group hiking huts, they deliver quality sound, and noise cancellation.<\/p>\n

I maintain that earbuds aren\u2019t strictly necessary, but if music is a non-negotiable for you, then you might as well go all in and do it properly.<\/span><\/p>\n

FAQs for LG Tone Free T90S Earbuds<\/h2>\n

Are the LG Tone Free T90S earbuds waterproof?<\/h3>\n

Not fully \u2013 they\u2019re IPX4 rated, which means they can handle splashes and sweat but definitely not a dunk in the creek.<\/p>\n

Can you use the LG Tone Free T90S on a plane?<\/h3>\n

Yes! You can plug the case into the seat\u2019s aux port using the included USB-C to 3.5mm cable and use the earbuds wirelessly. Welcome to the future. Well, unless you\u2019re me and continually get lumped with low-budget planes with no TV or ports. Looking forward to the day I can test this feature in the air.<\/p>\n

Does the UVnano feature actually work?<\/h3>\n

LG claims it kills 99.9% of bacteria on the speaker mesh in five minutes. I didn\u2019t swab my ears pre- and post-test, but it glows blue and feels very futuristic.<\/p>\n

Can you sleep in them?<\/h3>\n

Yes, if you\u2019re a back sleeper. They\u2019re very light and comfy, but not ideal for side-sleepers unless you like pressing hard plastic into your skull all night. They also fall out really easily when on your side.<\/p>\n

Are they good for hiking?<\/h3>\n

Definitely. Just make sure that you use the ambient mode for situational awareness.<\/p>\n

More Outdoor Tech Reviews<\/h2>\n