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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The LG Xboom Buds Plus are available in Black for $180.
- Their charging case features a germ-killing UV light.
- The charging case also doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter.
LG’s collaboration with musician will.i.am includes several earbuds and Bluetooth speakers under the Xboom namesake, but a recent launch is the most intriguing one I’ve seen so far. The new Buds Plus advertise a self-cleaning charging case with a built-in Bluetooth transmitter. LG announced these earbuds last fall, but availability seemed to be delayed until now.
Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How the latest standard is changing audio right before our eyes
Alongside those flashy features, the Buds Plus also include 10mm graphene drivers, six microphones for active noise cancellation, adaptive EQ, an IPX4 water resistance rating, up to 30 hours of playtime, and Bluetooth LE Audio compatibility.
Based on an early product review from Reddit, the Buds Plus’ built-in Bluetooth transmitter requires a proprietary USB-C-to-3.5mm cable for non-wireless audio sources, such as a treadmill or in-flight entertainment system. Still, using the earbuds case as the transmitter eliminates the need for Bluetooth dongles.
Also: This Bluetooth Auracast receiver made me take my home theater setup much more seriously
According to LG, the Buds Plus’ charging case features the company’s UVnano technology, which eliminates 99.99% of bacteria on the earbuds’ ear gels and speaker mesh. In the fine print, LG mentions bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and that the UV function only works when the charging case is connected to the power cable.
Bluetooth LE Audio, which includes features such as the LC3 codec and Auracast, is only available with a compatible pair of headphones and smartphone. In the US, iPhones do not support these wireless technologies, and Samsung often blocks the LC3 codec in favor of its proprietary Samsung Seamless Codec for music streaming. Google’s Pixel smartphones support both Bluetooth LE Audio features.
The LG Xboom Buds Plus are now available to purchase in Black for $180.
