Although they appear to be the perfect all-arounders based on their characteristics, they are not quite as good as they appear on paper. The various sound modes are hit and miss, the noise cancellation falls short of the benchmarks set by similarly priced competitors, the call quality is inconsistent, and the touch controls on the earbuds are also hit and miss. We were unimpressed by LG’s Tone Free FP8 headphones due to their poor audio quality, middling active noise cancellation, and confusing companion app. also you can check our article on LG Tone Free T90 review. Less than a year later, LG is back with the almost identical Tone Free T90, which is just slightly more expensive. These truly wireless noise-cancelling earphones compete in a competitive market yet offer strong audio and a few useful Dolby spatial audio features. Their case’s ability to enable wireless charging and serve as a Bluetooth transmitter for wired audio sources is another feature we enjoy. But ultimately, for this price range, we advise you to invest in Sony’s $279.99 WF-1000XM4 earphones because they have better sound and much more effective ANC.
LG Tone Free T90 review: Design
The LG Tone Free T90Q is a “long stem” smartphone that is available in black or white. Apple invented this design, and numerous manufacturers have subsequently copied it. They are constructed properly, as is the LG way, from premium, shiny, and even fairly tactile plastic, and owing to three different sizes of medical-grade silicone eartips, they are adaptable to almost any ear. The earbuds themselves are small and light enough to wear for hours on end without discomfort, measuring 28x22x25mm and just over 5g. They come with a discreet, lightweight charging case that measures 55x55x30mm and weighs 39g. This case can easily fit in the palm of your hand or even a small pocket.
Comfort
The Tone Free T90 continues the series’ tradition of comfort and performs similarly to its forerunners. Long listening sessions can be enjoyed before growing weary because the cavity rests comfortably on the concha. Before giving our ears a break, we frequently utilised the buds for three hours straight and hardly ever felt any soreness. Along with reliable fit, expect. To keep the buds stable, the medical-grade, hypoallergenic ear gels create a respectable seal. The ear tip fit test that LG finally created, called Test My Best Fit, offers precise analysis for the best fit. It could determine when the buds needed to be adjusted or when they were properly locked in.
LG Tone Free T90 review: Connectivity
Using Bluetooth 5.3 and the SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive audio codecs, the LG TONE Free T90Q establishes a connection. The 3.5mm side should go into the analogue device, the USB-C side into the case, and the Wireless Mode switch on the left side of the case should be pushed to the right to connect the earbuds to an analogue device. Additionally, the LG TONE Free T90Q supports Bluetooth multipoint, enabling simultaneous connections to two devices. To use multipoint in the LG TONE Free app, you must turn it on. Ensure that the TONE Free T9Q0 is not linked to any other devices before pairing it with a second device. After that, you can switch between them by pairing it with your original device. With the TONE Free T90Q, multipoint isn’t particularly fluid. There are a few seconds of silence while switching between my phone and our laptop.
Noise cancelling
With the exception of the highest sound frequencies, the Tone Free T90Q does an excellent job of ANC. With ANC mode activated, you’ll notice that everything is much quieter, whether it be the constant drone of a fan, the roar of traffic or construction, or other noises. It’s difficult to determine which of the AirPods Pro and the T90Q performs better because they are so similar. However, if you’re looking for the best ANC at this price, we still recommend the Technics EAH-AZ60. No wireless earbuds have been able to match the AirPods Pro’s transparency, and the same is true of the Tone Free. Nevertheless, it is still more than sufficient for letting in the sounds that matter, such as a conversation or simply all of the small cues that keep you safe while navigating a busy intersection. It is quick and simple to switch between the two modes, and you may select between ANC, transparency, off, or any two of those options inside the Tone Free app. you can read our article on LG Tone Free T90 review.
Audio performance
The audio specifications of the Tone Free T90 are comparable to those of high-end wireless headphones. It supports aptX Adaptive codec, configurable EQ settings, a low latency mode, and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Head Tracking. We’re also talking about Bluetooth transmission at a “24-bit” rate. The result is captivating, richly textured audio that enhances every media content (e.g., music, movies, games, podcasts). Let’s start with LG’s expansive and in-depth soundstage. In Phoenix’s “Run Run Run” beginning, we could hear part of the acoustic guitar’s click leak. That proved that the buds were tuned to pick up even the smallest flaws and nuances in recordings. Returning to the tune, the high-pitched strings were well-balanced and the percussion was represented beautifully (those hand claps were powerful). The hammering rhythms and dense synths in songs like Justin Timberlake’s “Summer Love” demonstrate how much of an influence the bottom end has on uplifting jams. But the midrange really stole the show, giving the singer’s vocals more prominence and concentration. Credit goes to LG’s equalization, which was created in association with Meridian, a leading UK audio company. In addition to being able to customize their own sound profiles using the 8-band EQ, listeners also have access to five top-notch presets that improve sound in various ways. Every single one of the five—Introducing (the default), Natural, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and 3D Sound Stage—performs precisely as suggested. On ballads and podcasts, Natural expertly highlights vocals, and 3D Sound enhanced the realism of crowd interactions during live performances. The Tone Free T90 offers a larger 3D listening experience than the AirPods Pro 2. We can’t think of any spatial audio-enabled wireless earphones that let you choose whether to use head tracking or not to experience 360-degree sound. These flowers do. No matter which option you select, the sound experience is natural, however for music and movies, the Virtual Head Tracking Mode felt more lifelike. The hairs on our arms stood up as we watched the Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul battle scene in “Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” Every lightsaber clash felt intense, and both weapons’ humming sounds were engrossing. It also had excellent head-turning accuracy, switching sounds from the left to the right bud and vice versa as we turned our heads.
LG Tone Free T90 review: Call performance
The T90Q’s microphones do a great job of maintaining your voice, producing a rich, resonant sound that sounds more natural and less like you’re speaking into a metal pipe. It can still handle circumstances outside, but the sound quality is at its optimum when you’re inside and it’s reasonably quiet; it just has some trouble when nearby sounds become too loud. Fortunately, wind turned out to be very well controlled, and switching to transparency mid-call to hear your own voice more clearly is simple.
Battery and charging
LG has been secretive regarding its battery life, simply stating that it lasts for 9 hours with ANC turned off. This is more than plenty for occasional use during the week (est. 3 days before recharge). If you use noise cancelling all of the time, you’ll need to recharge them more frequently. In our tests, headphones with ANC on tapped out after 5.5 hours. Battery life was reduced by 1.5 hours by additional factors like 3D audio and high volume. Depending on how you use the earbuds, the charging case can support wireless charging for up to 29 hours. A quick charge of 10 minutes produces an hour of listening time. also you will learn our article on LG Tone Free T90 review.
Price and availability
On LG’s website, the Tone Free T90 is offered for $229 (£199/AU$330). There are only black and white colour options available. A wireless charging case, USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to 3.5mm cables, three sets of various-sized tips, and a handbook are all included in the box. These earbuds cost a bit more than mid-range standouts like the Sennheiser CX Plus ($180) and Beats Fit Pro ($199), two products that offer outstanding noise cancellation and sound, the latter of which has spatial audio. The case has about three full charges left in it, and the battery life is a decent nine hours with ANC off, reducing to more like five if it’s on. The T90Q is compatible with both fast charging and Qi-certified wireless charging, and a five-minute charge lasts for an hour of use. They are also less expensive than market leaders like the Sony WF-1000XM4 and AirPods Pro 2 ($279 and $279, respectively).
Conclusion
The Tone Free T90 has a ton of features, many of which are unusual, like Bluetooth transmission and bacteria-killing UV technology, that make it difficult not to be impressed. Sadly, many of those features have restrictions. Dolby Atmos increases immersion to a respectable extent, but wireless earbuds can only so much in terms of delivering a surround sound format made for multi-channel speaker systems. Dolby Head Tracking also performs well, but it isn’t used discreetly and is best reserved for watching videos.
