LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 TWS Review: Expensive, but Exquisite

Almost all wireless earphones are very similar, regardless of whether they are of the same brand or different. They are not similar just by their looks but also by their features and functions. It is true that wireless earphones, despite having almost similar looks, come in a different price range. Also, as you move up in the price segment, you won't find any exceptional features from other earphones, but the quality and features get better in higher price segment earphones.

But, the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 TWS earphones are not very common and stand out from the crowd because of some extraordinary features. It is not only equipped with a number of features, but it also comes with a charging special case, i.e., an UVnano case (UVnano charging cradle). This case eliminates all the bacteria from the earphones which may be present on it and gives the user a hygienic listening experience. Because of this, earphones were in high demand during the period of the pandemic (COVID-19) as people were very conscious about their hygiene during then.

However, a point to be noted here is that the price of the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 earphones is quite high compared to other earphones from notable brands. The listing cost (or MRP) of the earphones is Rs. 29,990, which is not affordable for low-to-mid-range customer segments. As it falls in this price range of Rs. 30,000, AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM3 automatically become the main competitors. If you are looking for a wireless earphone in this range and LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 TWS Earphone is one of your choices, then it would be better to get proper information about it.

Design and Build

The design and the build quality of the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 earphones are very impressive. Right after opening the box, the user will get to know about its aesthetic look, which not only looks very pleasing to the eye but is also very unique in the segment. The case of the earphones is of a compact size and stands out from the case of other TWS earphones.

What makes the build quality of the earphones remarkable is that the plastic that LG has used to make these is of very high quality, which gives these earphones a very solid feel. The case looks very glossy and therefore looks very elegant. However, as it has a glossy surface, the case might get scratched, which may later turn the case unappealing.

Talking about the design of the earphones, they come with a very minimalistic approach, making them more appreciable. However, the branding of "TONE" on the lid does not look that good, and the LG could have done better in terms of branding. The case includes two LED indicators; one is responsible for showing the charging status of the earphones, and the other is for the UVnano functionality. There is also a button on the side of the case for single pairing.

However, the opening mechanism is not as satisfactory as expected due to the price range, but the closure of the lid is comparatively better as it closes with a satisfying thump sound. Inside the case, the earphones are placed very clearly and accompanied by mood lighting that illuminates as soon as the user opens the lid.

The design of the earbuds is very similar to AirPods Pro. Therefore, people who like the design of AirPods Pro will not mind this, but for those who are looking for a different design from AirPods Pro, the design of LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 TWS earbuds may disappoint them. However, it's worth mentioning that the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 earphones seem to be a bit less sturdy than the rival Apple AirPods Pro, which is a bit disappointing considering the higher price tag.

Comfort and Fit

The comfort and fit of any earbuds are as important as their sound quality. The LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 earphones are very comfortable to wear and provide users with a very pleasant quality experience in terms of their fit.

Nowadays, we often hear that using earbuds can lead to hearing loss, but users of the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 earphones need not worry about it as they can wear these for long hours, and there will be no inconvenience or ear fatigue. Since it fits snugly to any ear type, it won't cause any pain or discomfort, which is undoubtedly a great aspect of this earbud from LG.

These earbuds come with silicone ear tips, making it comfortable for any ears to fit in them. The default pair of ear tips fit almost all sizes of ears. However, if the user still wants to change the tip of the earbuds, they can do so as the earbuds come with a few extra tips of different sizes, and users can change the default ear tips as per their preference and comfort.

Overall, it would not be wrong to say that these LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 earbuds provide a better fit than any other earphones and even the AirPods Pro. However, even though these earphones offer a better fit than the AirPods Pro, it lacks some of the features offered by the AirPods Pro. One such feature is equalization, which can make a noticeable difference in comfort for those accustomed to it. Likewise, if the users are accustomed to the feature of pressure balance of AirPods Pro, then they are surely going to miss it in LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 while using it. However, people who have never used AirPods Pro will not miss such features much.

Sound Quality

As the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 is priced at Rs. 29,990, all the users planning to purchase these earphones will surely have high expectations with the sound quality of it. In the same price segment, these earphones have competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM3 and AirPods Pro, which users can consider alike.

However, it would not be wrong to say that LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 meets the users' expectations in terms of its sound quality as it offers a quality sound experience. These earphones offer a wide soundstage, which makes them more popular among other earphones in this price range. The balance between the highs, mids and lows is maintained well, making sure that no particular frequency overpowers the others.

We can say that the sound quality of LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 is just as good as Airpods Pro. However, if we talk about the sound quality of the overall category in premium segment earphones, the Sony earbuds are in first place, but the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 is definitely in second place. Furthermore, in terms of sound quality, the third place belongs to AirPods Pro.

Music Control and Interactions

One of the most demanded features of any wireless earphone is the feature of music control. If the customers are spending this amount of money on earphones, they surely deserve an earphone that can easily and conveniently control the music playback, offering more controlling options.

LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 offers touch sensors very similar to Airpods, rather than pressure-sensitive stems, which AirPods Pro offers. However, whether a user like this design or not depends on their personal preferences and can vary from user to user. Following are some of the music control functions which come bundled with the touch sensor of LG Tone Free HBS-FN7:

• A single tap on either side earbud can play or pause the music and is also used to attend the call.
• Double tap on the right earbud allows you to increase the volume and can also end the call.
• Double tap on the left earbud can also end the call and decrease the volume.
• A triple tap on either side earbud can be used to play the next song on the list.
• Long presses on either earbud can be used toggle noise cancellation.

However, the users also get options to customize these touch functions with the help of a Tone Free App application. Both Android and iOS users can access this app. This app allows the users to set the controls of the earphones according to their needs and preferences.

App Control

To access all the features of the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 and customize its functions as per the user's personal preference, there is an app that the user needs to download. The name of the application is the LG Tone Free app. However, it is not mandatory for all the users of LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 to download this app; it is not needed unless they want to customize it.

However, in order to check the battery level of the case or the earphones, the application is required as the LED indicator on the case of the earphones only shows the range of values. Notably, the app allows the users to customize the touching sensor functions of the earphones. Additionally, the user can also turn on the noise cancellation mode directly from the application.

Noise Cancellation

If you look at the price of these earphones, it is Rs. 30,000. In this segment, it is highly expected that it comes with the feature of noise cancellation capabilities, and it does offer this function. However, when compared to industry-leading options like the Sony WF-1000XM3 and the AirPods Pro, the noise cancellation feature of the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 earbud practically doesn't match up.

For more clarification on the noise cancellation feature of the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7, it can be said that it works quite well and is not disappointing. However, compared to its competitors, which are Airpods Pro and Sony, it falls slightly short in noise cancellation feature performance.

If the volume level is high, then in such a situation, these earphones block external sounds effectively, but when the volume level is low, they fail to diminish the external noise as effectively as it does at high volume. Some reviews have been received from the users regarding the noise cancellation feature of LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 and under those reviews, it has been said that while wearing these earphones, the users on the other side were able to hear the typing sound from the caller's side. This, however, is not the case with AirPods Pro.

UVnano Compatibility

One of the major and unique features of the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 is its built-in UV sterilization technology in the charging case. LG claims about the UV Sterilization Technology feature in its earphones that it is capable of killing 99% of the bacteria and germs present on the earphones in just 10 minutes.

However, what is important to note is that the UVnano feature of these earphones works only when the case of the earphones is put on charging. It could be seen as one of its drawbacks as it limits the use of this feature. However, most of the other earphones do not offer this feature at all, and this is what makes it different and a unique option for customers. At a time when everyone is becoming more conscious about hygiene and cleanliness, this feature makes this earphone a somewhat worthwhile option.

Connectivity

Regarding connectivity, these earphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0, a reliable standard to ensure seamless wireless connections. Additionally, they support Google Fast Pair, allowing for quick pairing with compatible smartphones. It's worth mentioning that they also support AAC and SBC codecs, so you can enjoy high-quality audio streaming. Also, if you have a specific scenario where you need to use just one earphone at a time, these earphones offer that flexibility as well.

Battery

According to LG, both the earphones and the charging case have their own separate batteries. The earphones have a 55mAH power battery, and the case comes with a 390mAH power battery. As these two come with their own separate battery, therefore, it increases the battery life as a whole of the earphones. The company claims a full battery backup of 21 hours (including the case) on a full charge.

From the reviews received by the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 users, it can be derived that it can consistently give around 4 hours of usage with ANC turned on. However, the user may need to charge the earphone using the case on long trips or extended flights. Thankfully, the charging case provides an additional two charge cycles.

When it comes to recharging, the charging case can be conveniently charged either through a USB Type-C cable (included in the box) or wirelessly. The case takes approximately 2 hours to fully charge from 0%, while the case can charge the earbuds themselves in around an hour completely.

LG Tone Free HBS-FN7: Should You Buy?

The LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 price range is undoubtedly on the high side. In fact, the AirPods Pro is not as costly as the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7. The LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 is priced at Rs. 29,990, whereas you can get AirPods Pro at Rs. 24,990. At the same time, Sony's popular earphones WF-1000XM3 with better noise cancellation and superior quality will cost you only Rs. 19,990.

The LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 is indeed very impressive due to its unique features, but still, it fails to justify its high price tag. There is a high chance that users will go for the Sony WF-1000XM3, which will save them around Rs. 10,000 and provide them with better sound quality and top-notch noise cancellation features. The only scenario where the LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 might be worth considering over offerings from Sony and Apple is if you specifically need the UV feature or prefer a compact carrying case.