LG XBoom Buds Plus: An Honest Review of a Capable Daily Driver
Wireless EarbudsWhat the LG XBoom Buds Plus Is Built to Do
The wireless earbud market is crowded with options that promise premium sound at every price point, making it genuinely difficult to separate the contenders from the also-rans. The LG XBoom Buds Plus enters this space with specific priorities: solid active noise cancellation, a full day's battery across the case, and a hygiene feature you won't find on most competitors. Whether those priorities match yours is exactly what this review is designed to help you figure out.
Design and Build: Lightweight, Secure, and Ready for Active Use
At just over ten grams per earbud, the XBoom Buds Plus sits comfortably in the lightweight tier of true wireless earbuds. That matters more than most people realize — heavier earbuds fatigue your ears over long sessions, and anything north of twelve grams starts to feel noticeable after an hour. LG has kept things trim here.
The fit is the classic in-ear style, meaning the earbud seats inside your ear canal with a silicone tip creating a physical seal. This isn't just about comfort — that seal is the foundation of both the passive noise isolation and the bass response. For anyone who has only used open-fit or clip-on earbuds before, in-ear takes a short adjustment period but typically pays off with better sound quality and significantly more noise blocking.
Wingtips are included in the box — small anchor pieces that hook into the ridge of your outer ear to prevent the earbuds from shifting during movement. If your ears tend to reject standard earbuds during exercise, this is a meaningful inclusion, not an afterthought.
The IPX4 rating certifies protection against water splashing from any direction. Running in light rain and powering through intense workouts are both covered. What IPX4 does not cover is submersion — these are not swimming earbuds.
Build at a Glance
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True Wireless
No cables between earbuds whatsoever -
In-Ear Fit with Wingtips
Secure anchor pieces included in the box -
IPX4 Sweat Resistant
Gym and light rain certified -
Stereo Drivers
Independent left and right audio channels -
Travel Bag Included
Ready to carry straight out of the box
UV Sanitization: Practical Hygiene Built Into the Case
The charging case houses a built-in UV light that sanitizes the earbud surfaces each time you store them. Ultraviolet light at the correct wavelength disrupts the DNA of bacteria and other microorganisms — cleaning your earbuds without chemicals, sprays, or any separate step. Because earbuds sit inside your ear canal for hours at a time in a warm, slightly moist environment, bacterial accumulation is a real and overlooked concern. This feature works passively while the earbuds charge, requiring nothing from you. It sounds like a marketing line until you think about what a standard charging case doesn't do.
Sound Quality: An Honest Assessment
The XBoom Buds Plus uses a 10mm dynamic driver covering the full 20Hz–20,000Hz audible range. Here is what that means in practice — and where the specifications tell only half the story.
Active Noise Cancellation
ANC works by using microphones to sample ambient sound and generating an opposing signal that neutralizes it before it reaches your ears. The XBoom Buds Plus deploys six microphones across both earbuds — a high count for this category that allows the system to build a more accurate picture of the surrounding sound environment.
Low, rumbling sounds like air conditioning, airplane engines, and office HVAC are where ANC earbuds consistently excel, and a six-microphone array handles these scenarios well. The hardware count signals this is not a token ANC implementation — it is a genuine, dedicated system.
Driver Size and Passive Isolation
The 10mm dynamic driver is a standard, proven size for in-ear earbuds. Larger drivers can physically move more air — generally translating to more capable bass — and at 10mm, the XBoom Buds Plus is in good company with many well-regarded earbuds at similar and higher price points.
The physical seal from the in-ear fit does double duty: it blocks ambient sound passively before ANC even gets involved, and it creates the physical conditions necessary for natural bass response. This combination of passive isolation plus active cancellation is the right foundation for focused listening.
Codec Support: Where Audiophiles Need to Pay Attention
The XBoom Buds Plus supports AAC and the universal SBC baseline — and that is it. For most listeners this is sufficient. For those who want to stream lossless audio from a compatible Android device or a high-resolution music service, the absence of LDAC and related codecs is a real constraint.
| Codec | Supported | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| AAC | Apple's preferred codec — ideal for iPhone users and most streaming services | |
| SBC | Universal Bluetooth baseline — functional, fully compatible with all devices | |
| LDAC | Sony's lossless codec — required for high-res audio streaming on Android | |
| aptX / aptX HD | Qualcomm's enhanced quality codecs — not included here | |
| LE Audio | Next-generation Bluetooth audio standard — absent | |
| Dolby Atmos / Spatial Audio | Immersive audio formats — this is a stereo-only product |
Battery Life: More Than Enough for a Full Workday
The XBoom Buds Plus delivers one of the stronger endurance packages in its category — and the charging setup is genuinely convenient across multiple scenarios.
Covers a full workday, a long-haul flight, or two extended gym sessions back to back without touching the case
A 25% reduction — expected and within the normal range for ANC earbuds at this tier; still enough for most full workdays
The case holds two full recharges — roughly three full days of use before the entire system needs to be plugged in
Fast charging supported — a lunchtime plug-in meaningfully extends your afternoon without waiting long
Charging Options: Wired, Wireless, and Fast
Connectivity: Modern Bluetooth With Smart Additions
Bluetooth 5.4 is among the newest versions in consumer earbuds today, bringing more stable connections, reduced power draw, and better interference handling in crowded environments like open offices and public transit.
Key Connectivity Features
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Multipoint — Two Devices Simultaneously
Connect to both your laptop and phone at once. When a call arrives on your phone while listening through your laptop, the earbuds switch automatically. Once you use this daily, going back feels like a step backward.
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Fast Pairing
Open the case near a compatible Android device and pairing completes in seconds — no navigating Bluetooth menus on initial setup.
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Auracast Support
An emerging Bluetooth standard enabling public audio broadcasts from compatible venues — airports, gyms, and conference spaces. Infrastructure is rolling out, but having hardware support now future-proofs these earbuds.
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Ambient Sound Mode
Pass-through audio lets you hear surroundings without removing the earbuds — useful at crossings, in stores, or any time someone needs your attention.
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Find My Earbuds
A useful safety net for earbuds small enough to disappear between couch cushions or inside jacket pockets.
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No NFC Pairing
Android users accustomed to NFC tap-to-pair will need to pair manually the first time. Not a major loss, but worth noting.
Controls and Feedback
On-earbud controls are touch-based, with the control panel built into the earbud body. Voice prompts provide audio feedback for connection status and battery levels — no companion app needed to understand what the earbuds are doing. The mute function lets you silence your microphone instantly during calls with a single tap, which is particularly useful during meetings.
Connectivity Quick Reference
Microphone Performance: Six Mics Working Together
Six microphones is a high count for any earbud in this category — and the system is specifically configured to filter background noise from your voice feed, not only from your listening experience.
More microphones allow the system to build a more accurate picture of the surrounding sound environment — for ANC and call clarity simultaneously
Why the Count Matters for Real-World Calls
Most earbuds at this tier use two to four microphones. Doubling that count has a tangible effect on how clearly you are heard in noisy environments. In open offices, on streets, and in cafés, the array isolates your voice and reduces ambient noise for the person on the other end. The practical difference is being clearly understood versus having to repeat yourself.
The noise-canceling microphone configuration works independently from the ANC system — one filters sound coming in, the other filters sound going out on calls. Both operate at the same time.
Full headset capability included. The XBoom Buds Plus handles voice calls independently — not just music playback. The microphone array and mute function make this a credible daily work tool, not simply a listening device.
Who Should Buy the LG XBoom Buds Plus — and Who Should Not
No earbud is the right answer for every buyer. Here is an honest breakdown of who gets the most from this product, and who should keep looking.
Built for These Users
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Commuters and Office Workers
ANC, full-day battery, multipoint connection, and a strong microphone array address almost everything this use case demands. UV sanitization is a quietly useful bonus for those wearing earbuds for extended hours daily.
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Fitness-Focused Users
The IPX4 rating, wingtips for secure fit, and endurance that outlasts most workout sessions make these a capable gym companion. Not dedicated sports earbuds, but they handle fitness use confidently.
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Multi-Device Users
Anyone moving between a laptop, phone, and tablet throughout the day will appreciate automatic multipoint switching without constant manual re-pairing.
Look Elsewhere If You Need...
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Lossless Audio Streaming
If you subscribe to a high-resolution music service and want to hear the full benefit of that library, the absence of LDAC is a genuine constraint. Look specifically for earbuds with LDAC support.
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Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos
Apple Spatial Audio users and those who regularly watch Dolby Atmos content will find this feature absent. The XBoom Buds Plus is a stereo product and does not pretend otherwise.
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Maximum ANC at Any Cost
Sony and Bose have engineered specific earbuds almost entirely around best-in-class noise cancellation. If ANC strength is your single non-negotiable, those purpose-built options remain the more focused choice.
Competitive Positioning: How It Stacks Up
The XBoom Buds Plus competes strongly on endurance, microphone count, and hygiene features — while conceding ground on codec support and spatial audio compared to alternatives in the same range.
| Feature | LG XBoom Buds Plus | Mid-Range ANC Competitor | Audiophile-Focused Competitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancellation | |||
| Microphone Count | 6 | 2–4 | 2–4 |
| UV Sanitization | |||
| Wireless Charging | Sometimes | Sometimes | |
| Lossless Codec (LDAC / aptX HD) | Sometimes | ||
| Multipoint Devices | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Earbud Battery (ANC Off) | 10 hours | 6–8 hours | 6–10 hours |
| Spatial Audio | Sometimes | Sometimes | |
| Auracast | Rare | Rare |
Strengths and Weaknesses
No product earns a recommendation without earning its criticism first. Here is where the XBoom Buds Plus genuinely delivers — and where it genuinely falls short.
What It Does Well
Ten hours of playback is above average for the category, and the combination of wireless charging, fast charging, and USB-C wired backup means you almost never face a dead-earbud situation through poor planning. The system's thirty-hour total endurance covers roughly three full days without plugging anything in — a genuinely useful real-world buffer.
The six-microphone array stands out in a meaningful way. Most earbuds at this tier use two to four microphones; doubling that count has a tangible effect on how clearly you are heard in noisy environments — one of the most overlooked specs when buying earbuds for work or calls.
The UV sanitization in the charging case should be more common across the industry and is genuinely useful — not a spec-sheet gimmick. The Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, wireless charging, and Auracast support all signal a product designed with the near future in mind, not just today's checkboxes.
Where It Falls Short
The codec situation is the most significant compromise. Limiting support to AAC and SBC in an era where LDAC and LE Audio are increasingly common is a deliberate choice, and it excludes a meaningful segment of buyers. The ceiling on audio quality is lower than comparably priced competitors who include high-resolution codec support.
The absence of spatial audio is a related limitation. For users in the Apple ecosystem who regularly watch spatially encoded content, or those who prefer immersive gaming and video, this will register as a missing feature rather than an acceptable omission.
The 10-meter Bluetooth range is standard for the category, but worth noting for anyone who expects to wander far from their source device. And for those who prioritize maximum ANC engineering above all else, purpose-built options from category leaders remain the more focused choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions real buyers search for before making a decision — answered directly.
A Confident Recommendation for the Right Buyer
Buy It If
- You need a full-workday earbud for commuting or desk work
- Call clarity in noisy environments matters to you
- You juggle multiple devices throughout the day
- Earbud hygiene is something you think about
- You use an iPhone or standard streaming services
Skip It If
- You stream lossless audio and need LDAC support
- Dolby Atmos or Spatial Audio is part of your daily routine
- Maximum ANC is your single non-negotiable priority
- You are an audiophile seeking the highest fidelity ceiling
The LG XBoom Buds Plus is a well-rounded daily driver earbud that earns its place in a crowded market through strong endurance, a genuinely useful hygiene feature, and a microphone array that outperforms its tier. The Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, wireless charging, and Auracast support all signal a product designed with the near future in mind.
For the majority of daily listeners who want reliable, comfortable earbuds that last a full workday and handle calls with clarity — the LG XBoom Buds Plus is a confident, well-earned recommendation.
