LG’s new true wireless earbuds feature a privacy-conscious “whisper mode”

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LG’s new Tone Free FP wireless earbuds feature a “whisper mode” where you can place the right earbud next to your mouth during calls to use it as a dedicated microphone. It’s a neat, privacy-conscious feature for those moments when you don’t want to talk loud enough to be picked up by the earbuds in your ears.

There are three new earbuds in the lineup – the FP5, FP8 and FP9 – and they share a lot of the same specs. They are all noise-canceling, have three microphones per earbud, and have an IPX4 water resistance rating to withstand light splashes. Their ear stem is 4.4mm shorter than previous LG models, and they’ve improved drivers and diaphragms that LG claims provide more bass without compromising clarity. Headphone spatial processing and 3D Sound Stage provide an audio experience that surrounds the listener.

FP9 earphones, whose case acts as a wireless transmitter, Photo: LG

However, there are individual features that are exclusive to one or two headphones. The most interesting ones are reserved for the FP9 earbuds, whose case can double as a wireless transmitter to allow the earbuds to be used with non-Bluetooth devices. With a USB-C to aux cable, the case can be connected to anything from a game console to an in-flight entertainment system, eliminating the need to use a separate Bluetooth adapter. It’s similar to what we saw with the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 earbuds earlier this year.

The FP8 and FP9 earphones feature LG’s bacteria-killing UV technology, which the company says can kill 99.9 percent of bacteria on the earphones’ mesh in five minutes to reduce the chance of developing inner ear infections. These two headphones also have an improved battery life compared to the FP5, and can operate for 10 hours when charged, or up to 24 hours when used with the charging case (the FP5 is rated for 8 and 22 hours, respectively). Only the FP8 model supports wireless charging.

LG’s new true wireless earbuds will be available starting this month in “major markets” at a yet-to-be-announced price.

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