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ZDNET Highlights
- The LG Xboom Buds Plus are available in black for $180.
- Their charging case features germ-killing UV light.
- The charging case also works as a Bluetooth transmitter.
LG’s collaboration with musician will.i.am It includes a number of earbuds and Bluetooth speakers under the Xboom name, but the latest launch is the most interesting I’ve seen so far. The new Buds Plus are advertised to have a self-cleaning charging case with a built-in Bluetooth transmitter. LG announced these earbuds last fall, but availability has been delayed until now.
Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How the latest standard is changing audio before our eyes
Along with those attractive 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 one Initial 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 like a treadmill or in-flight entertainment system. Still, using the earbuds case as a transmitter eliminates the need for a Bluetooth dongle.
Also: This Bluetooth Auracast receiver made me take my home theater setup more seriously
According to LG, the charging case of the Buds Plus features the company’s UVNano technology, which eliminates 99.99% of bacteria on the ear gel and speaker mesh of the earbuds. In the fine print, LG mentions bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the UV function only works when the charging case is connected to the power cable.
Bluetooth LE audio, which includes features like the LC3 codec and Auracast, is only available with a compatible pair of headphones and a 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 for purchase in black for $180.
