LG Tone Free True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds T90 are at 14% on Amazon. They are accessible at $196. The Buds offers active noise cancelling Earbuds. They come in two colors Black and White. LG is back with the slightly more expensive and nearly identical (design-wise) Tone Free T90 less than a year later. These noise-cancelling true wireless earphones enter a crowded field, but they deliver solid audio and a few cool Dolby spatial audio features.
We also like the fact that their case supports wireless charging and can be used as a Bluetooth transmitter for wired audio sources. These buds resemble previous Tone Free releases, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The long-stem silhouette, as well as the sturdy, all-plastic frame, remain. Details like the tiny, debossed touch sensor and mic return stand out. The IPX4 rating, which provides the buds with standard levels of sweat and water resistance, has not changed.
LG has had a long relationship with Meridian, and the T90 features five Meridian-tuned EQ presets: Immersive, Natural, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and 3D Sound Stage. The bass and treble boosting modes function properly, and the Immersive mode does a good job of broadening what is otherwise a relatively narrow soundstage. The 3D Sound Stage mode proved too artificially processed for my tastes while listening to music, adding incongruous spatial effects to tracks, which is to be expected given it’s intended use for watching movies and sports.
LG has been coy about battery life, only listing it with ANC turned off: 9 hours. This is more than enough for a week’s worth of moderate use. If you use noise cancellation all the time, you’ll need to recharge them more frequently. With ANC turned on, my testing revealed that buds tapped out after about 5.5 hours. Other factors, such as 3D audio and high volume, cut battery life by 1.5 hours.
The charging case in the shape of a hockey puck is the real eye-catcher. It’s one of the coolest designs in the category because it’s extremely compact, lightweight, and feels good in the hand. The entire construction is made of solid plastic, though the matte finish is prone to scratches and scuffs. This version of the case is distinct in that it has a switch on the side that activates a cool wireless feature.
LG’s Tone Free T90 sports a surprising variety of functions, including Bluetooth communication and bacteria-killing UV technology. Many of those features have drawbacks. Dolby Atmos offers some immersion, but wireless earbuds can only deliver a surround sound format built for multi-channel speaker systems. Dolby Head Tracking works well but isn’t subtle and is best used for video.
