LG TONE Free T90S long-term review: next-generation Bluetooth earbuds?

LG has launched new Bluetooth earbuds, the TONE Free T90S. LG kindly provided them to me. I decided to make a video about them because I see two really cool highlights: a special 3D sound feature and the case, which solves two problems at once.

Bluetooth earbuds have become an essential part of my life. I use them nonstop for phone calls at the office and on the go, for music and podcasts on walks, and when I work out. That is why it matters to me that they sit comfortably in my ear.

Fit, ANC, and design

You can spot the technological fit right away: the buds have a small fin at the bottom that belongs in the ear just the same way. This makes for a perfect fit. Four silicone tips in different sizes are included. Active noise cancelling only works properly with a good fit, and as you would expect from LG, it is really good. Even on a plane I can listen to music and podcasts in peace, because ambient noise is almost completely blocked out.

I like the design of the T90S a lot. They come in black and white. What I like a bit less is that with my small ears they stick out relatively far and you can clearly see them from the front. They are problematic for sleeping on your side because they press into the ear.

Call quality

I make a lot of phone calls for work and only ever through earbuds, so I don’t have to wedge the phone between my ear and shoulder. The call quality is impressive, thanks to a three-microphone system and a voice pickup unit that separates your voice from loud background noise and brings it forward.

Sound with Dolby Atmos and head tracking

The sound quality is impressive too. The first highlight is a really great 3D sound. The buds have built-in Dolby Atmos and Dolby Head Tracking. When you move your head, the earbuds register it, and the sound seems to come from the direction of your device. Many Bluetooth earbuds have that. With the T90S, though, the 3D sound is so incredible that the audio surrounds you and you are right in the middle of it, like at a concert or in a stadium.

In the TONE Free app you can personalize the experience: you set a reverb of varying strength, so you feel like you are standing in a big room where music is playing. I have never experienced that on other Bluetooth earbuds.

App and controls

• Equalizer to shape the sound the way you like
• My Best Fit test, which shows which silicone tip fits best
• Touch gestures: In the app you assign functions to one tap, two taps, three taps, and touch and hold, separately for left and right. I set the same gestures for both sides.
• Wear detection
• Multipairing: For example, I connect my MacBook and smartphone, or smartphone and tablet, at the same time. It switches between the devices automatically.

The case: UV cleaning and transmitter

Previous cases charge the earbuds and store them. With the TONE Free, besides the charging function, which also works wirelessly, there are two more useful functions.

1. UV nano feature: When you open the case, a blue ambient light glows. It is a reminder that the silicone tips and speaker membranes are being cleaned with UV light. 99.9% of E. coli and other bacteria are eliminated within 10 minutes of putting the earbuds in. This does not replace regular cleaning, because UV light does not remove earwax or dirt. I still think it is cool.
2. Bluetooth transmitter: You can connect older devices without Bluetooth to the case by cable. Flip the switch, and the charging case becomes a transmitter. That way you can, for example, play sound from a treadmill or from the screen on a plane through the earbuds.

This shows that companies like LG invest in research and development instead of selling old wine in new bottles at higher prices every year.

Price and verdict

The TONE Free T90S have a recommended retail price (RRP) of €229. That is not little. Considering the outstanding sound, the 3D sound experience, and the features of the charging case, though, I consider the price more justified than with the competition, which launches equally expensive buds with not even a third of the features. The value for money is right for me. If the price settles at around €200 over time, the T90S would be an absolute no-brainer for me.