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LG TONE Free HBS-FN6
July 15, 2020
$99 USD
54.6 x 54.6 x 27.5mm (case)
5.3g (earbud)
39g (case)
HBS-FN6
IPX4
The LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 is simple to use, and does as its name promises: frees users so they may go about, uninhibited by cables. LG kept it simple all the way down to the color variants—black or white. In a time when true wireless earphones are being dropped in droves, is Meridian Audio tuning enough to make LG’s buds shine, or will they grow cold in the shadow of their direct competition?
Editor’s note: this LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 review was updated on December 21, 2020, to reflect changes in pricing.
Who should get the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6?
- General consumers should get these earbuds, because they are unquestionably comfortable and IPX4-rated, so they’re ready for an impromptu workout or downpour.
- Hygienic listeners may be eased by knowing that the UVnano case is rated to kill up to 99.9% of S. aureus and E. coli bacteria on the earbuds.
Editor’s note: this LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 review was written while using firmware version 1.31.1.
Using the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6
LG’s perfectly circular charging case hides scratches and scuffs well, and features a toned down design—though not as minimal as the Apple AirPods. A long indentation along the seam made it easy to open the case, even single-handedly. To manually pair the headset, you’ll have to inch your thumb to a button offset from the LED indicator, both of which are nestled below the case’s seam.
Opening the case leaves a greater impression than the exterior design: two blue-tinted LEDs momentarily alight the silicone ear tips. No matter how many times I opened the case, the blue glow consistently impressed me. The blue lights, however, are purely decorative and have nothing to do with the UVnano technology.
These rival the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus as the most comfortable earbuds around.
UVnano technology is just LG’s version of two UV lights that were tested by TÜV SÜD, and proven to kill 99.9% of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. For this to work, close the lid for 10 minutes to complete the UV exposure cycle. This is dandy, and could even aid in preventing ear infections, but we still recommend physically cleaning your earbuds on a routine basis. Doing so will remove physical debris that may catch in the nozzle mesh, or find its way into your ear canals.
The earbuds feature dedicated nozzles and silicone ear tips (small, medium, large), and the ear tip material is extremely comfortable. I wore the earbuds until the batteries died without any signs of discomfort. Each earbud has a touch panel which only consists of the upper-quarter of the stems. This small area led to a lot of misfires, especially when walking around. I mean a lot: eventually, I stopped relying on the touch controls and used my phone instead.
Should you get the LG TONE Free app?
The LG TONE Free app offers immediate access to firmware updates, no matter what operating system you use. This is important for wireless headsets, because it elongates the lifecycle of a given product and convenience tweaks along the way. Its layout is easy to understand, and the user manual is front-and-center for you to refer back to anytime.
In order to enable Google Assistant access, you must get the LG TONE Free app.
Other features include equalizer settings: you can choose from four Meridian presets (Immersive, Bass Boost, Natural, Treble Boost), or create two of your own presets. You may also choose between three degrees of ambient passthrough intensity, adjust the volume, remap the touch controls, and lock the touchpads altogether. Incoming notifications can also be read aloud, but you must enable systems permissions for data collection.
Connection stability isn’t flawless
Bluetooth 5.0 firmware doesn’t guarantee perfect wireless performance, as demonstrated by the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6: when I was outside the connection hiccuped a few times every hour. Another drawback, albeit an unsurprising one, is the lack of Bluetooth multipoint support. You may only connect to one device at a time, and switching must be done manually.
High-quality Bluetooth codec support is limited to AAC, and this works very well with iPhones but not so well with Androids. We have an entire breakdown of why headsets that only support SBC and AAC shouldn’t be used with Android, but in sum, it’s not the codec’s fault. Instead, Android doesn’t efficiently decode AAC which leads to latency, inconsistent streaming rates, and the introduction of unwanted noise (compression artifacts) into your music.
This won’t ruin your experience by any means, especially if you have older ears or have attended many concerts sans-earplugs. Even still, it’s hard to discern the difference between Bluetooth codec qualities unless you’re in ideal conditions. Anyone Android user who fancies themself a critical listener won’t be satisfied with just AAC support.
How long does the battery last?
We subjected the earbuds to our standard battery test, a constant 75dB(SPL) output, and they lasted exactly 5 hours, which is one hour short of the specified 6-hour playtime. The earphones may be fast charged: five minutes in the case yields one hour of playtime, and the USB-C charging case provides an additional two charge cycles.
In total you should get anywhere from 15-18 hours of use from the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 before you need to search for a USB-C cable. You may also use any Qi wireless charger to top the case up, but doing so will likely be slower than by cable. Interestingly, I was able to charge the case atop my Samsung Galaxy S10e with Wireless PowerShare enabled.
Does Meridian Audio tuning help sound quality?
Meridian Audio did a very good job tuning these earphones for the audio enthusiast. The problem is that we consumers are trained to consider a 5-15dB bass emphasis normal, so when we encounter accurately reproduced low notes, our brains perceive it as woefully inaccurate. All this is to say, the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 sound very good and handle a variety of music well; though, clarity isn’t quite as good as the price tag may suggest.
Some listeners may perceive the lows of the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 to be under-emphasized, when in reality its bass reproduction is quite accurate.
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The sub-bass emphasis barely hits the threshold of perceptibility, but affects that tangible oomph we so enjoy in pop and hip-hop genres. The midrange brings out vocal and instrumental parts, making it easier for us to perceive detail.
Passive isolation is good and can be attributed to the angled nozzles and malleable ear tip material. It never took effort to get a good fit with these earbuds; it just happened, every time. If the pre-installed medium ear tips don’t work for you, try out the alternatives. Doing so is well worth it because it improves audio quality and can even protect your hearing: you’re less likely to increase the volume to dangerous levels if the ear tips create an effective barrier between you and the outside world.
Lows, mids, and highs
The song Uncharted by Sara Bareilles begins with a popular F-C-G-Am intro on the piano, and these chords come through clearly in the first verse without masking Bareilles’ vocals. I appreciated the light touch on bass alterations when listening to Uncharted: the slamming of Bareilles’ fingers to play the F chords in the second half of the first verse resonates loudly, as it should, without impeding the reproduction of her voice.
Minor auditory masking occurs during the choruses, as is to be expected during particularly racketous portions of a song. To hear this, skip ahead to 1:44: it becomes nearly impossible to hear any detail from the secondary electric guitar because of how the kick drum, vocals, and main guitar mask it. Cymbal hits can also be difficult to perceive which may be heard during the end of the third verse (2:26).
Can I use the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 for phone calls?
Yes, LG outfitted each earbud with a dual-microphones for clear vocal transmission, and it relays fine audio.
There is one major problem with the microphone system, though: it fails to suppress background noise. When on the phone with my mother, she noted that my placing of scissors in a wooden drawer sounded as loud as my voice. Keep this in mind if you’re a multitasker when you take calls.
LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 microphone demo:
How does the microphone sound to you?
Should you buy the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6?
If you’re a fan of LG’s design and trust its products, then yes, the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 is a good buy. The UVnano charging case, while cool, won’t replace the need to scrub the earbuds, but is good for those who need some peace of mind. Ultimately, the reason anyone should buy these earbuds is for their sound quality and comfort. Critical listeners who want something portable will enjoy what the LG TONE Free earbuds offer, despite the lack of aptX streaming.
Right now, the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 is available for just $99 USD. If you’re looking to buy an affordable pair of true wireless earbuds under $100, now is the time to hit checkout on your Amazon cart.
Listeners who don’t need the fancy UVnano charging case should save a few bucks and get the LG TONE Free HBS-FN5W. Alternatively you can save even more money by forgoing wireless charging and bacteria-killing capabilities with the LG TONE Free HBS-FN4N.
Consider alternatives from Samsung or Anker SoundCore
Maybe LG’s true wireless earphones don’t appeal to you, that’s fine. We’re living in a golden age of true wireless earbuds, and two great alternatives to the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6: the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus and Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2, both of which are more affordable than LG’s buds.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus are even smaller than LG’s and are tuned by AKG, another famed audio company. Its high-quality Bluetooth codec support is also limited to AAC, but Samsung Galaxy smartphone owners will benefit from the Samsung Scalable Codec. Microphone quality is better with the Galaxy Buds Plus, and the touch controls have the opposite problem: they’re a bit too sensitive.
Even cheaper are the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 true wireless earphones which also feature a stemmed design with touch panels. The touch controls are a tad more responsive than what I experienced with the LG TONE Free headset. Anker SoundCore’s buds are the only ones listed to include aptX support; though, the default sound signature strays the farthest from accurate. It’s bass-heavy sound is noticeable, but easily mitigated in the SoundCore application. The earphones are IPX5 water-resistant, and like all the buds discussed in this LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 review, the Liberty Air 2 support quick charging.
Frequently asked questions about the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6
Finicky branding aside, the only difference between these earbuds lie in their bundled charging case. The LG Tone Free HBS-FN4 sports a bog-standard case that charges via USB-C. Meanwhile, the LG Tone Free HBS-FN5W gives you the option to charge the case via USB-C or wireless charging pad. Lastly, the LG Tone HBS-FN6 comes with the company’s UVnano wireless charging case that claims to reduce bacteria on the earbuds between uses.
Yes. The LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 feature an IPX4 water resistance rating, meaning that you aren’t likely to cause any damage from sweat, regardless of how intense your workouts may be. If you’re open to alternatives, check out our list of the best workout earbuds!
In some ways, yes. Because of the use of silicon ear tips, the LG TONE Free HBS-FN6 is able to create a proper seal with your ears, resulting in better isolation, thus leading to improved sound quality. This is in contrast to Apple’s one-size-fits-all approach to the AirPods, which may not properly fit everyone’s ears. Also, its IPX4 rating make the LG ‘buds more durable than the AirPods, which don’t have any form of sweat or water resistance rating.
Yes, the LG Tone Free HBS-FN6 earphones work just as well with an iPhone as they do with Android devices. In fact, iPhone users have an edge over Android users because the headset supports AAC for high-quality, reliable, and lag-free streaming on iOS devices. Not all Android phones work well with the AAC codec, so its performance isn’t nearly as reliable on Android as it is on iOS. The app experience is identical, and you may update firmware no matter your operating system.