If you’ve been using plug-in headphones for years and are finally ready to go wireless, the LG TONE Free T90S earbuds are a smart and surprisingly simple way to make the leap – especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Whether you’re walking the dog, hiking in the bush, running in the park or just strolling around the neighbourhood, these earbuds are packed with thoughtful features that feel made for real life.

Right away, you’ll appreciate how comfortable they are. LG redesigned the shape of the T90S in collaboration with a top Korean science university (POSTECH), and it shows. The earbuds are small, lightweight and fit securely. New oval-shaped ear tips adjust naturally to your ears, so they stay snug even if you’re moving around a lot, while helping block out background noise for a more peaceful listening experience.

If you’ve ever dealt with uncomfortable or loose-fitting earbuds on a jog or hike, you’ll notice the difference straight away. These are made for movement.

When it comes to sound, the T90S deliver. LG uses graphene – a lightweight but incredibly strong material – to make the speaker drivers inside each bud. That translates to cleaner, more detailed audio with less distortion, whether you’re listening to music, a podcast or a phone call. You don’t need to be an audiophile to enjoy it – it just sounds better. Richer bass, clearer vocals and more natural instruments make outdoor walks or trail runs more enjoyable.

And there’s a real sense of immersion thanks to Dolby Atmos, which is built right in. Even if your phone doesn’t officially support Dolby, the earbuds themselves do, meaning you get spatial audio on any device. On Android, head-tracking is supported too – turn your head and the sound subtly follows, keeping everything centred. It’s not just a gimmick – it actually makes your music feel more lifelike, like you’re standing in the middle of the sound rather than just hearing it in your ears.

Noise cancellation is another big win here. The T90S adapt to your surroundings using microphones both inside and outside the earbud. So if you’re walking in a quiet park, they’ll dial things down gently. If you’re suddenly hit by wind, traffic or a busy street, they’ll ramp the cancellation up to match. You don’t have to touch a thing – it just works.

For safety, there’s a Listening Mode that lets in outside sounds, like traffic noise or a cyclist coming up behind you, and a Conversation Mode that boosts voices when you’re chatting without needing to take the earbuds out.

Speaking of convenience, LG brought back a very clever feature: the charging case doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter. Let’s say you’re on a plane or at the gym and want to connect to a screen or treadmill that only has a headphone jack. Just plug the case in using the included cable, and your wireless earbuds instantly work like wired ones – without the wires. It’s perfect for travel, hotels, older tech or any time Bluetooth isn’t available.

Battery life is strong enough to support most outdoor adventures. You’ll get up to 9 hours on a single charge if you skip noise cancellation, and a total of up to 36 hours with the charging case. But with ANC on (which most people will use), expect around 5 hours per charge, with 15-20 extra hours from the case. That’s still a full day’s worth of sound, even if you’re out and about for hours.

And when it’s time to recharge, the UVnano case steps in again – literally cleaning the earbuds with ultraviolet light while they charge, killing 99.9 per cent of bacteria in just 10 minutes. After a hot day out or a sweaty trail run, that’s a pretty nice bonus.

Calls are handled smartly too. There are three microphones in each earbud plus a sensor that detects how loud or quiet you’re being, filtering out background noise to keep your voice clear. You can even use ‘Whisper Mode’ by holding the right earbud to your mouth like a mic if you want to talk discreetly. It’s perfect for quick chats in public without shouting into thin air.

Pairing and switching between devices is easy. You can connect the T90S to two devices at once (like a tablet and your phone), and store up to five devices in the app, so you’re not constantly unpairing and re-pairing things. The app also gives you handy controls to tweak your sound, set up profiles and adjust ANC – although you don’t have to use the app at all if you don’t want to.

All of this is wrapped up in a sleek, portable design that’s more pocketable than past models and doesn’t look like AirPods. And it comes at a competitive price too. While some top-tier noise cancelling earbuds can cost upwards of $400, the LG TONE Free T90S lands closer to $299, giving you plenty of bang for your buck.

So if you’re looking to upgrade from your old wired headphones, the LG T90S is an excellent starting point. They sound great, feel good and bring useful extras you didn’t know you needed – like auto-adjusting noise cancellation, a cleaner case and audio that adapts to your surroundings. While there are still earbuds out there with even better audio or more polish, LG’s offering hits a sweet spot that’s especially appealing for active users who want something reliable and feature-rich for everyday life outdoors.

You can find more information here. To purchase, jump online or check with your local electronics retailer.

Tips for running with the LG T90S

1. Use the right ear tips for a secure fit
   The T90S comes with multiple sizes of oval-shaped ear tips. Try a few to find the ones that give a snug but comfortable seal. A proper fit stops the earbuds from bouncing or slipping out during a run.
2. Activate ‘Listening Mode’ for awareness
   Turn on Listening Mode in the LG app or via the touch controls. This lets in just enough outside sound so you’re aware of cars, cyclists or other runners around you – especially important in urban or trail environments.
3. Use the whisper feature for quick calls
   Need to take a quick call mid-run? Use Whisper Mode: pop out the right earbud and hold it near your mouth. Your voice will come through clearly even if you’re not speaking loudly or stopping to talk.
4. Avoid swiping – these use taps
   The T90S uses tap-based controls rather than swipe gestures. You can customise these in the app for things like play/pause or volume, so there’s no fiddling while you’re in motion.
5. Don’t forget water resistance
   With IPX4 water resistance, these earbuds are protected from sweat and light rain, so no need to panic if the weather turns mid-run. Just avoid dunking them in water.

Tips for hiking with the LG T90S

1. Let ANC adapt as you hike
   Whether you’re walking through a breezy trail or a noisy lookout, the adaptive noise cancellation adjusts automatically. You don’t have to keep switching modes – just enjoy the peace and your surroundings.
2. Use Dolby Atmos for immersive nature listening
   If you’re listening to ambient music or nature-inspired tracks, Dolby Atmos with head tracking adds a sense of spaciousness. It feels like the sound is all around you – not just in your ears.
3. Stay safe with Conversation Mode
   Meeting other hikers or passing through shared paths? Use Conversation Mode to clearly hear someone without removing your earbuds.
4. Bring the case for backup
   For longer hikes, throw the case in your backpack. Even if you’re out for hours, the fast top-ups (5 min = 1 hour of play) and UV cleaning help keep your earbuds ready and clean for the return leg.
5. Use the Plug & Play feature on the trail
   Bringing a GPS device or action cam with an AUX jack? You can use the case as a wireless adapter, so you’re not limited to Bluetooth devices only.