While Samsung is the largest display manufacturer in the world, they are ironically not the most popular brand for TVs in the world. That title can go to LG Electronics, the other South Korean giant. They make some of the best or most recommended TVs if you are into gaming too, like the LG C2. There is a follow up to one of the best gaming TVs you can find in 2022; the new LG C3.
To be fair, LG did not only launch the C3 OLED evo. They also launched the G3 OLED evo, and Z3 OLED evo. All of them come with LG’s brand new α9 Processor Gen6.
Before we go into detail to what each letter and number mean, we have to talk about the new processor they fit into their latest TVs. The new α9 Processor Gen6 is LG’s most powerful TV processor you can get from LG at this point. They have improved the AI-assisted Deep Learning tech that enhances picture and sound at the same time better than before. The new AI Picture Pro is supposed to offer better upscaling better than before with better tone mapping that brings out details and depth in upscaled images better than before. HDR is finer tuned too with the processor understanding faces and objects better allowing for more realistic reproduction of people’s faces. In terms of audio, LG’s new TVs delivers a virtual 9.1.2 surround sound experience even without a soundbar.
On the G3 OLED evo TVs, LG fitted their Brightness Booster Max technology that offers a new light control technology and light-boosting algorithms that makes the display 70% brighter than ever before. It is OLED technology, so the processor can also control brightness pixel by pixel to ensure that there are no colour bleeding even against completely black backgrounds. In that sense, you get an even better contrast with the G3 over the older G2. All of that in a thinner and more compact package that becomes rather seamless when you mount it on the wall.
LG’s new TVs are also more sustainable than ever. Thanks to modern OLED technology, the new Z3, G3, and C3 does not feature backlighting unit which means the TV requires less materials in their production. The TVs are also made with more recycled plastics and will be shipped with more eco-friendly packaging made with recyclable materials.
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
With the new TVs, there is also a new WebOS to come along. The new WebOS will come to some of LG’s existing TVs later in 2023. The new WebOS version features a new All New Home user interface (UI) with more personalization options and more intuitive designs. With the new UI, there is the new ‘Quick Cards’ feature that offers users an even more direct access to their favourite contents and services sorted automatically into different segments. There is also an AI Concierge feature that offers a curated list of contents based on the contents that users have consumed in the past and search enquiries.
Of course, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support comes with the new TVs. The Dolby Atmos support also integrates seamlessly to LG’s latest Soundbars with IMAX and DTS:X tuning. LG’s latest TVs comes with HDMI 2.1a standard ports that offers high-resolution and high refresh rate compatibility from the latest GPUs and gaming consoles. They are all G-SYNC and FreeSync Premium compatible. At the same time, the new TVs offer variable refresh rate that can be enabled from Game Optimiser interface.
Availability
LG’s new TV line-up is not yet available in the market. They are on showcase for CES 2023 though, so if you are in Las Vegas, you can drop by and got LG’s booth to see them. There are no availability dates specified yet on the new TVs. There are also no official pricing specified yet too.
Gaming monitors need to be fast. In the early days of fast gaming monitors, OLED technology is quite unheard of. The reason is because OLED panels can only go so fast in terms of refresh rate. While OLED monitors offer colour accuracy and vibrance like no other, they are rather dimwitted in terms of refresh rate until a few years ago. Now though, OLED panels are some of the most sought after in gaming. Pretty soon you are going to be able to get you hands on one with 240Hz in refresh rate, faster than anything that came before it.
The monitors in question are LG’s latest 27-inch and 45-inch models introduced for CES 2023. You get the new 27GR95QE and 45GR95QE gaming monitors. While both have their similarities, they are built to serve different segments.
Both gaming monitors offer 240Hz in terms of refresh rate. Both monitors also offer 0.3ms in GTG response time, faster than almost anything that you can find in the market currently. Both are also NVIDIA G-Sync and FreeSync Premium compatible, making them rather versatile for whatever GPU you might have in your PC. At the same time, they both offer a DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage of 98.5%, something even content creators can highly appreciate. Both are capable of producing images at HDR10 standards with a contrast ratio of 1,500,000:1 for a higher level of detail than any gaming monitor you can find in their classes. Of course, they both sport the latest HDMI 2.1 standard alongside a DisplayPort 1.4 port.
Source: LG
Their difference lies in the shape and size of the panels. The 27-inch monitor is a flat screened 16:9 monitor that most gamers can appreciate. 27-inch is a rather standard size for gaming monitors and 16:9 is currently the most popular aspect ratio for most gamers. It is also the current standard size and aspect ratio in esports, which also means this would be suitable for most esports titles like Dota 2, or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). At the same time, its QHD (2,560 x 1,440) resolution is widely accepted as the most optimal resolution for displays at its size and for gaming purposes. Most GPUs today are also optimized for gaming at this resolution which also means that this might be the more popular option for the most serious gamers anyway.
If you want to take things a little further and get even more immersed in your games, you want the 45-inch behemoth that is the 45GR95QE. It is a curved display monitor with an 800R curvature (0.8m radius) That also means that it is more curved than almost anything that you might get in the market. Its shorter optimum distance also means you get to be closer to the action for an even more immersive experience than ever before. It packs WQHD (3,440 x 1440) resolution too to ensure that you still get all the details you need in the ultra-wide monitor.
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
LG’s UltraGear 27-inch and 45-inch OLED gaming monitors will be showcased in CES 2023 happening on the 5th of January 2023 all the way to the 8th of January 2023. There is no specific information regarding the market availability of the monitors currently. That also means we currently do not have any pricing information too. We are keeping our ears close to the ground for any updates though, so do watch this space. More information on LG’s range of UltraGear gaming monitors can be found on their website.
LG launches its latest solution for quicker, smarter and convenient laundry – the LG WashTower.
Fast, efficient and convenient laundry with the LG WashTower
It is the first fully integrated washer-dryer combo in Malaysia, offering space-efficiency and convenience in one sleek body. Contrary to the conventional washers and dryers sold as combos, the LG WashTower is operated with a single control panel and utilizes AI for crosstalk between the washer and dryer. LG believes that this is the solution for the biggest laundry challenge faced by customers – long washing and drying cycles.
Washer-Dryer teamwork for faster laundry
Space saving sleek body and minimalistic aesthetics
To address this challenge, LG has implemented Smart Pairing between the washer and dryer within the LG WashTower. With the Prepare to Dry feature, it automatically sets the optimal drying cycle based on the previous wash cycle. The washer sends signals to the dryer to begin pre-heating before the wash cycle completion, cutting down on the drying cycle time. The LG WashTower also saves time in the wash cycle using the TurboWash 360 feature, which uses increased water temperature and spray nozzles to jumpstart the wash cycle. Customers can expect and overall reduction of 30% for their laundry time with LG’s latest solution.
Safer and more convenient laundry with LG
While speed may be important, LG also cares about the safety of your clothes with the AI Direct Drive (AI DD) Technology. The WashTower is able to detect the best washing pattern based on the type of fabric. It will adjust the drum motions, water temperature and wash cycle time to help reduce fabric damage by 10 percent, as claimed by LG. With the Dual Inverter Heat Pump technology, drying temperatures can be adjusted based on the drying load and fabric softness to reduce fabric damage and also save energy consumption. All features and operations are accessed from the unified CenterControl panel found at the center of the WashTower. To make things more convenient, the LG WashTower can be also controlled remotely using the LG ThinQ application. It enables remote start or stop of the washing cycle, send notifications on cycle completions and reminders for scheduled maintenance.
A stylish pairing with the LG Laundry Duo
For that special suit, dress or teddy bear, the LG Styler can clean it all
LG is now offering the perfect partner to the LG WashTower, the LG Styler, as a package deal with special pricing. The LG Styler is an all-in-one garment steamer, sanitizer and dry cleaner. For garments that are too delicate for the standard washer-dryer cycles, the Styler is an alternative laundry solution. The highlight feature of the Styler is its Special Care Mode. These are tailor-made modes that can be downloaded through the ThinQ app for the cleaning of special garment types. The Styler would be the perfect laundry solution for suits, satin dresses, even hard to wash household items like pillows and teddy bears. There is also the gentle Dry mode, which uses low temperature drying that is faster than conventional air-drying. It even comes with a handy Pants Crease Care ironing system, where a presser helps hold your pants in place for easy, crease-free ironing.
Spacious interior for multiple garments and a handy Pants Crease Care system.
Pricing and availability
The LG WashTower is available now at RM13,999 while the LG Styler retails for RM 8,499. With the LG Laundry Duo promotion, you can get both at discounted prices of RM 12,999 and RM6,399 respectively. This promotion will be available with the LG Trio Bonanza Sale-brations from now until 31st December 2022. For more information on the LG WashTower and LG Styler, visit the LG Official website and follow LG’s official Facebook page.
Before LG releases their new LG monitor that you see here, the only manufacturer you could get a smart monitor that works like TV, but for PCs, is Samsung. If you have not known yet, Samsung’s SMART monitors for PCs work pretty much like their smart TVs. You get Tizen OS for smart TV, you can install all sorts of apps for the TV, and work it exactly like a TV, even without a PC connected to it.
While they are the only one producing monitors of this kind, we think that the product comes with a lot of potential for smaller working set-ups and even homes. The larger sized smart monitor at 32-inch offers 4K resolution and affordable entertainment option for those who are looking for a dual function display in a smaller space. You do not need to get a separate TV box or Chromecast for it, and that makes it a viable TV replacement at a much smaller and digestible form factor.
Samsung’s position as one of the biggest names in smart TVs is a big plus for the to produce PC monitors with their proprietary TV Operating System (OS) too. So comes the question, what about others? What about LG? LG answers with this one, the 32SQ780S.
Source: LG
The new SMART Monitor, as LG names it, is a new 32-inch monitor for the PC. Its 32-inch VA panel offers 4K UHD resolution, perfectly in line with the latest of smart TVs. Serving it natively is LG’s WebOS 22 that also powers LG’s latest large form factor TVs. The 32-inch 4K monitor also offers 90% in DCI-P3 colour gamut with HDR10 support for the best in-class entertainment experience. WebOS 22 gives you access to apps like Netflix and YouTube without even being connected to any PC or consoles. At the same time, the built-in 5-watt dual channel stereo speakers should be a good enough audio source for users.
With WebOS, the LG SMART Monitor is not just an entertainment hub too. It can be your smart home hub with ThinQ hub. You can control any compatible smart home appliances with no fuss. While it does not offer Chromecast natively, you can still project your smartphone to the display via MiraCast.
The best part of the LG SMART Monitor is the fact that the monitor comes with LG’s clever Ergo Stand that gives the LG monitor flexibility like no other for monitors in its class. With the stand, you not only save table space and real estate for a larger working surface and storage. You also get to put or orient your monitor in any way you like for your working or entertainment comfort.
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
The 32-inch 4K 32SQ780S UHG LG SMART Monitor will be available in early November 2022 in the United States first. They say that other markets should follow soon after, that includes Malaysia. There is no official pricing that has been provided yet at least for Malaysia. You can expect them to price the monitor at about the same price as Samsung’s offerings.
Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFT in short, has been all the rage these days. Technically, it is no more than a digital asset with a unique digital signature attached to it. That also means that each NFT can be created as unique products of their own thanks to the wonders of a technology we call blockchain. It is the same technology that birthed cryptocurrencies that we know today.
While NFTs in grander schemes of things may not seem like a significant thing, it is a digital artists paradise. The ability to attach unique digital signatures to their creations means that they can create a digital artwork that can only be used by people who own the digital signature. Anyone who has the artwork in their smartphones without the digital signatures are technically thieves or using duplicates. It is kind of like viewing the Mona Lisa in its final resting place in the Louvre Museum in Paris, and a replica of it in Malaysia’s National Museum; they are different things.
Source: LG
NFT artwork is regarded as the modern art market today. The best part about NFT art is that because they are non-tangible, you can view them and display them anywhere you want them. You can set them to your smartphone’s wallpaper, if you like. Samsung and LG think that you might want them on your TVs.
Samsung announced a few months ago that their TVs will be one way of proudly displaying the NFT that you might have purchased. We think that the Samsung The Frame TV line-up will be the perfect place to properly display your beautifully and uniquely made NFT for times to come. LG also agrees with that and announced that their upcoming and existing TVs with WebOS 5.0 will be an NFT gateway for its users.
Source: LG
When you update your compatible TVs with WebOS 5.0, you get a new app on the TV interface. The app is called LG Art Lab and it is LGs one stop shop for all things NFT for your TV. You can buy and even sell NFTs on the marketplace. Your bought NFTs can be displayed on your TV as a wallpaper or screen saver. The portal also has a countdown function for new NFTs that are being released or scheduled to be released. The first of which is dropping on the 22nd of September 2022.
Unlike other NFTs though, the LG Art Lab does not operate on top of Ethereum or other popular blockchain technology. In fact, Art lab does not on top of blockchain at all. Instead, the platform is based on Hedera, a hashgraph network. LG claims that the Hedera network is much more efficient than blockchain based networks.
To purchase your NFTs on the Art Lab, you do have to have a an existing Wallypto app. You simply scan a QR code provided by Art Lab for a particular NFT to purchase it with the Wallypto app. You also need to own some USD Coin, a sort of stablecoin that is supposedly pegged to US Dollar.
Source: LG
The LG Art Lab is still rather new, which means that there may not be too much happening within the marketplace currently. LG says that they are going to be adding NFTs from artists on a monthly basis too. If you are a budding NFT artist, you might be able to sell some of your work on the marketplace too.
There is a caveat though. The LG Art Lab is currently only accessible to U.S. customers. In that case, if you are trying to find the NFT trading platform on your LG TVs in Malaysia, you might not be able to find Art Lab even after you have updated to WebOS 5.0.
Whenever manufacturers shout about their new monitor products recently, it is always about gaming and their new monitors are made for them. Products made for the creative professionals and productivity are not hard to find. They just rarely get attention these days. Manufacturers tend to quietly add new monitors to their line-up because of that.
LG’s new monitor deserves attention though. Not it is not some breakthrough thoroughbred with some exclusive display tuning that makes it the brightest most clear display on the market. Technically, there is nothing new about the monitor. The display panel is the same type as most displays out in the market currently. There is something different about this monitor though; it is shaped rather differently from other monitors you can find in the market.
No, it is not a round display, nor is it a pentagonal shaped monitor. There are still four sides to make it a rectangle, just not the regular display rectangle. It boasts an aspect ratio of 16:18, which also means that it is a tall display, and it is almost square-ish in shape.
Source: LG
If you think about it, the display size is really a combination of two 16:9 displays stacked on top of each other. This form factor also eliminates the bottom bezel of the top display when you stack it up. The design is not without its reasons though.
The expansive LG DualUp Monitor Ergo display comes with LG’s Nano IPS panel that should offer vibrant colours and excellent contrast ratio. Important when you are going to be using it most of the day for work. The panel boasts dual QHD resolution (2,560 x 2,880) for good measure too. In that sense, movies should look excellent on it, save for the two very large black bars you will get when you watch movies on the display the size of two 21.5-inch displays stacked on top of one another.
Source: LG
The design of the DualUp Monitor Ergo is such to save as much desk real estate as possible. It is also the most ergonomic way of working with two displays, since you do not really have to turn your neck or body around to read through your documents or scroll through emails. At the same time, you get more real estate for your documents, which is always nice. On top of that, to reduce the strain on your neck even more, the LG DualUp Monitor Ergo comes with LG’s Ergo Stand that mounts and clamps directly on the table for not just more desk real estate. It also allows you to swivel and position your display in any configuration you prefer or can think of.
The LG DualUp Monitor Ergo comes with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. It also packs USB Type-C thunderbolt and display port for an added versatility for the modern thin-and-light laptops. There is also USB 3.0 ports for you to work with. You can even rely on its two 7W built-in speakers with WavesMaxxAudio to enjoy music.
To protect your eyes, the LG DualUp Monitor Ergo comes with built-in ambient LightSensor to automatically adjust the display’s brightness accordingly. Live Color Low Blue Light also ensures that blue light emissions are reduced. To allow for a more flexible working environment, the monitor also packs a Picture-by-Picture mode to divide your area of work on the display real estate.
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
The LG DualUp Monitor Ergo is now available via LG’ authorized retailers nationwide or their online stores on Shopee and Lazada. It will set you back MYR 2,948, which is still considered rather premium. You are getting LG’s Ergo Stand though, and you are investing in an ergonomic set up for long term use case. For more information on the LG DualUp Monitor Ergo display, you can check out LG’s website.
There are a few ways to live healthy. You can exercise and control your diet. To ensure your home is well protected and the air you breathe at home is clean and pure, you can buy air purifiers, or air-conditioning units that comes with air cleaning functions. But there is one thing that you always forget, a rather basic thing that we all need to survive; our water.
Water is a pretty basic consumable that we take for granted sometimes. With the constant water supply cuts in Selangor, Malaysia, you might grow to appreciate the constant flow of water you might find in your home. That said, access to clean water in Malaysia is rather abundant. Still, clean water is not drinking water. For that you want a water purifier, or some sort of filter to ensure that the water that flows out of your tap is safe to consume.
The problem with most water purifiers though is the constant servicing that is required. You cannot do it yourself too in most cases. You need to get someone to come in and replace all the filters, clean out the tank, and then bill you for it, on top of however much you are already paying for the water purifier itself. Not LG’s latest PuriCare Tankless water purifier.
There is nothing wrong with having someone to come and change your filters or clean out your tank. It costs some of your time though. You need to wait at home for someone to come, wait for them to leave before you can be out and about again. Modern water purifiers are also rather complex machines that requires some know how to service, which also means you have no choice but to engage the service providers to change and clean water purifier.
LG’s latest PuriCare water purifier eliminates the need for a service person. The new rig is designed to ensure that even you can change the filters in just a few minutes. It is completely toolless too, to make it even simpler to maintain on your own.
LG’s Tankless technology is nothing new. They launched the technology a couple of years ago to eliminate the need for tank maintenance whenever the rig needs servicing. The benefit of a tankless system is also to ensure that there is no microorganism build up in the tank that will affect the quality of the dispensed water. What is clever is that the machine can dispense hot and cold water all the same.
Water from the LG PuriCare purifier goes through a 4-stage All Puri Filter System that eliminates microorganisms, 99.99% norovirus, and heavy metals like mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, iron, copper, aluminium, manganese, and zinc that are all quite hazardous if consumed in excess amounts. The clever technology inside the compact machine also allows you to have hot water and cold water instantly without needing a tank to store both cold and hot water at the same time.
The new LG PuriCare self-service tankless water purifier system will set you back MYR 3,200 and comes with 2 years’ worth of filter subscriptions sent every six months to your doorstep. If you still want someone to come by and help you change the filters, it will set you back MYR 4,000. You can get the water purifier in your house for just MYR 60 a month though for a 7-year subscription self-service plan. You can choose between Navy Blue, Silver, and White colour options. If you want to know more about the LG PuriCare tankless water purifier, you can head over to their website.
LG is known for many things. They are one of the biggest names in home entertainment, especially televisions. They also make excellent home appliances like washing machines and water purifiers. That should mean they make great audio gear, right? Sure, they make sound bars and speakers. We own their XBOOM PL5s and we love them here at techENT. But they hardly make headphones, until now
Their strong partnership with Meridian, a British audio engineering house, has produced the LG TONE Free. This one we have in our hands is one of LG’s latest True Wireless earbuds. Not to be confused with other LG TONE Free earphones, this is the FP8. It will also set you back MYR 1,099 at full retail price.
Its asking price puts it next to the Sony WF-1000XM4. LG also offers Active Noise Cancelling feature here. But they are betting on another thing that Sony does not have with this headphone. The LG Free Tone FP8 is supposed to be more hygienic than any other True Wireless headphones you can find.
So, is it worth MYR 1,099? Does the “hygiene” feature alone make up the asking price? Should you even get this pair of headphones over others, if you are in the market for one? We find out.
Design
First, the LG TONE Free is not one pair of headphones. The naming scheme applies to a range of earphones from LG. Their website does not help much with clarifying the products either. We are not here to comment on websites though.
There is an entirely different problem with the hardware. It looks identical to whichever Tone Free products you pick, save for the HBS-FN7. They also look like Apple’s AirPods Pro, with a slightly tweaked stem.
LG claims that the unique “ergonomic” Concha-Shaped design is based on a design study of hundreds of ears. It is designed to conform to the shape of your ear and ensure a good and secure fit. We recommend that you try it first before making any conclusions. There is a nipple on the earbuds itself. It points out where to tap when you want to interact with the device.
Thankfully, the charging case looks nothing like an Apple Product. It looks more like a pebble you can find on a river’s bed. It is simplistic, minimal even. We must say, we quite like the look of the case itself.
Both the earbuds and the case are covered in a matte finish that repels fingerprint well. Not so well against scuffs and scratches though, the bottom of our review unit is full of scratches after a month of use. It is also a wireless charging case, which is always nice to have. The interior feels a little more durable though with a nice rough finish with LG’s logo on the cap, and Meridian logo on the base.
Hardware
Just because it looks similar to the Apple AirPods Pro does not mean that they are built the same though. They offer differing drivers and enhancements to make them what they are.
LG TONE Free FP8
Driver Unit
Dynamic 8Φ
Frequency Response
Unspecified
Headphone type
Wireless Earbuds
Battery
68mAh x 2 (earbuds) 380mAh (charging case) Max. 6 hrs (ANC On) / Max. 10 hrs (ANC Off) Up to 15 hrs (w/ charging case/ANC On) Up to 24 hrs (w/ charging case/ANC Off)
Miscellaneous
Bluetooth 5.2 Active Noise Cancelling IPX4 Wireless Charging Google Fast Pair/Swift Pair Digital MEMS Mic Meridian sound/EQ
Features
The good thing about Bluetooth earphones like the LG Tone Free are that they are feature packed. You also have to remember you are paying MYR 1,099 for it. It should come feature packed at that price.
IPX4
Water resistance is quite common with most wireless earphones today. This one comes with IPX4 certification, meaning it can take on sweat or even the rain and cold. You might want to hold off swimming with it though.
We have done some running with the earbuds and it seems to deal with sweat well. Silicone type tips are great too because they are much easier to clean. At the same time, true to what LG claims, the earphones stay in your ears without too much of a fuss even with violent head movements. This also may vary from ear to ear.
Whisper Mode
By default, this function is turned off. You can toggle it on or off from the App which we will talk about later. According to the app’s description and illustration, it is to be used in trains.
We think that Whisper Mode can be used when you require a little bit more privacy and subtlety. The public transport is one of them, yes. You do have to use both earphones for this function to work though. The primary mic for calls is also placed in the right earbud, so you want to bring it closer to the mouth.
It works to a certain extent. It works in a noisy environment, but you do want to make sure that you are keeping your voice a little lower when you put the mic right to you your mouth. Yes, you can use it in a library too; just do not annoy your librarian and other patrons.
LG Tone Free App
We appreciate companion apps for any Bluetooth device connected to your smartphone. Thankfully LG TONE Free FP8 connects with the LG TONE Free App.
Everything on the app is intuitive enough that we do not have to guess how to work the main functions. The only one we got a little lost with is in changing the touchpad function. Then again, there are not that many submenus on the app; so that was rectified quickly as well.
There is a dedicated manual section that guides users on the basic workings of the LG TONE Free FP8. It even teaches you how to get UVnano sanitisation going. This also works with other LG TONE Free products, we assume.
Of course, like many headphone apps, the app also features its own equaliser and presets to work with. We mostly toggle between Natural, 3D Sound, and Immersive modes most. For noise cancelling, you can choose between transparency mode, noise cancelling mode, or turn it off completely. You can also check the battery levels of each bud and the case of the LG Tone Free FP8.
UVnano Sanitisation
The party piece of the LG TONE Free FP8 is its UVnano function. It is technically a UV based sanitisation mechanism built into the case. It radiates UV light on to the ear tip section of both earphones.
LG claims that the UVnano technology kills up to 99.9% of bacteria and germs on the parts of the earbuds that matter. It does not clean your earphones from visible dirt and grime though. We do not have any instruments to test their claim, so we will take LG’s word for it.
LG also says that the silicone ear tips they used are made from hypoallergenic materials to ensure that you are ultimately comfortable wearing the earphones. Paired to the bacteria cleaning technology, it might be okay sharing the earbuds with someone else. At the same time, it ensures you have a healthy ear while having a good time.
Quick Pair & Fast Pair
Like any other Quick Pair and Fast Pair enabled devices, you can simply open the case, take out the earbuds, and your smartphone or Bluetooth enabled PC instantly asks you to pair with the headphones. We set up the LG Tone Free FP8 with our Android smartphone in less than 5 seconds. Even getting things going with LG TONE Free app is quick and with very little nuance.
Performance
The meat of an earphone is always its drivers and sound quality. But for a pair of Bluetooth earphones, it does more than just play music. It must be your handsfree kit. The earbuds must also be able to last an entire plane journey.
Calls
In terms of making calls, the report of using the earbuds from the other end of the line is that it sounds mighty clear. Because the connection notice on the earbuds is just a quick ping, your conversations does not get cut off. Our friends have reported that 2e sound natural, as though we are working with the smartphones built-in hardware.
While you can use either earbud for listening, the main voice mic is placed in the right earbud. That is also why Whisper Mode only works with the right earbud as the mic. This also means that it is still better for you to use the right earbud to make calls and have conversations. Using just the left earbud did not allow us to have very good conversations with the earphones.
Receiving calls is a matter of just tapping either nipple on each earbud. The audio transmitted through the earphone is also mighty clear in typical phone calls. Both earbuds transmit the caller’s voice loud and clear. This makes an excellent pair of earphones for not only regular calls, but for video conferencing as well.
Active Noise Cancelling
One of the main selling points of this pair of earphones is also its Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) feature. In the app, you can set it to high, low, off, or ambient sound mode. Ambient sound mode is separated into conversation mode and listening mode.
In ambient sound mode, you hear everything as though you suddenly have super hearing for some reason in conversation mode. Conversation mode tends to amplify the mid-frequencies, where human voice sits. That means that you tend to hear a lot of things a lot louder too unfortunately, and it can be distracting when you are not having a conversation.
In listening mode things are a bit more natural sounding to the ear though with a subtle but noticeable hiss. We would prefer to use listening mode in most situations. It is especially useful when you are strolling down busy streets.
Then there is noise cancelling. It is not quite as good as its direct competition. While it does pretty much drown out most things around you, there are plenty of noise that still escapes the noise cancelling and makes it in your ear. As I type this review on the laptop, I can hear my keyboards clacking away, mouse clicks still visible, I can even have conversations with others, albeit limited.
The ANC algorithm is acceptable enough though. You start playing a music and it will drown out the noise a bit more. It is not made to just act as an earplug.
Meridian Tuning
LG’s TONE Free sounds excellent for podcasts. We listened to F1 Nation on Spotify and the vocals sounds rich and full. It sounds like a traditional radio experience and we quite like that. The low-end of the voice is clear and apparent with the voices. There is a lack of crispiness in the voice though.
The lack of crispiness is more apparent when you are listening to music. We used Tidal to listen to most of our music because Tidal offers higher bitrate than Spotify. Listening to Lost Without You by Freya Ridings is still enjoyable do not get us wrong. There is some loss of velvetiness in her voice with the earphones though. We kept the earphones set to natural for all our tests.
We played the Final Fantasy VII Medley by Video Game Orchestra, 3 Hour Drive by Alicia Keys, Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra, and Circles by Post Malone to put the earphones through its paces. There is no lack of punch in the low frequencies. There is a good definition of the basses as well, which is impressive enough for earphones this size. The low-frequency notes feel quite full and satisfying enough that you can enjoy EDM, Hip Hop, and Pop titles.
With others, you do find that there is some lack of definition in the mid and treble frequencies. The notes in those regions sound almost muddled, suppressed. We suspect that it is also because LG and Meridian chose a punchier tuning to enhance the bass experience. That is not to say that they sound bad though, they are still quite enjoyable.
To be fair, we are a little spoiled by the Sony WF-1000XM4’s sound quality for its asking price. If you do not have that to compare to, the LG Tone Free FP8 sounds excellent enough. You can enjoy your music and podcasts with not too much of an issue.
Battery Life
LG quoted 6 hours in battery life with ANC on. You can extend it to 10 hours if you turn off Noise Cancelling, but why would you? In our use case, we have not used it for more than three hours at a time. A quick look at the app’s battery indicates that at 70% volume, the LG Tone Free FP8 has used up about 50% of battery life in just a little less than three hours. If our math is correct, you should be able to get close to six hours of battery life with ANC on.
The case is supposed to give the LG Tone Free FP8 another one and a half extra charges. A quick pop into the case and the earphones charge quickly enough that you are not going to be out of action for too long. Because we never ran the battery dry, we never had to wait for more than 30 minutes to get the earbuds to fully charge. We find that we tend to leave the case on our wireless charging pad to keep it charged.
The LG Tone Free FP8 – Good, not Great
The LG Tone Free FP8 is a good pair of earphones to work with. It sounds good all around. While the bass-heavy profile does suppress vocals and trebles a little bit, listening to any kind of music is still a pleasurable experience. Noise cancelling is good enough to filter out plenty of sounds. Podcasts sounds reasonably good as well, so there is that.
For MYR 1,099 though, it goes directly against Sony’s WF-1000XM4. The LG’s Noise Cancelling algorithm cannot be compared to the Sony’s. To be fair, Sony’s noise cancelling technology is ahead of any in the industry currently.
Where the LG sounds a little supressed, the Sony sounds excellent. LG’s offering does offer a punchy low frequency, but its direct competitor does it better too. On paper, the Sony also offers a better battery life.
There is one thing that the LG offers that even the likes of Sony does not. They offer built-in UV sanitisation technology with UVnano. It keeps your earphones free from bacteria no matter how you use it at least. It still does not eliminate the need to clean your earphones from time to time though.
Does the UVnano technology justify its full retail price of MYR 1,099? We believe it might. That said, this is not a pair of earphones for us. But it does not mean that the LG is completely horrible mismatch to the market. We think it is made for those who has sensitive skin or ears, those who tend to get irritation in their ear when they start using in-ear monitor type earphones. It is made for those that needs to obsessively clean their earphones every time they use it. It is made for them to enjoy tracks while knowing that they will not have any hygiene issues after. For them, this works, and works well.
LG Electronics should need no introduction by now. They are one of the foremost electronics companies in the world. What most do not realise though is that LG is also one of the most foremost manufacturers in the world of home and high-end audio. At the same time, their TVs are some of the best selling in the world.
Combine their knowhow in making great audio products and immersive technology, and you have some of the best sound bars money can buy. The sound bars that LG makes are not just great sounding though. They look amazing and they can fit any home décor.
They just announced their new compact sound bar that is the LG Éclair QP5. It is tiny, a mere 296mm in width. It is only a third of the width of LG’s previously most compact soundbar that is the SP8YA. Comparing it to regular sound bars, it might as well be a quarter the size.
Source: LG
It is still a 3.1.2 sound bar though, for that all important surround sound experience you can only get from a soundbar. It is not just a regular 3.1.2 experience though. LG has perfected this soundbar with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support for the most complete audio experience alongside the powerful subwoofer that comes with the Éclair set up.
There is a reason why the LG Éclair is named the way it is. Its elongated oval shape resembles that of an Éclair. The chic and song design really fits the décor of a modern home, especially in smaller apartment units where space comes at a premium.
The soundbar is a clever one too. With LG AI Sound Pro, contents are analysed, processed, and presented to you in the best settings. It even has 4K pass-through support to allow users to enjoy 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision contents with the LG Éclair.
The Meridian technology soundbar also comes with eARC support via HDMI for lossless 5.1-channel, 7.1-channel, and other immersive audio formats on the soundbar itself. It works vest with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible mediums of course. Of course, the LG Éclair soundbar works best with LG TVs.
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
There are no mentions on its availability in Malaysia. The LG Éclair is already available in select regions across Europe. We do think that the Éclair is a fitting product for Malaysian homes though. More information on the LG Éclair can be found on LG’s website.
In the new era, every consumer has different needs and requirements toward television and LG Electronics (LG) has unveiled its first QNED Mini LED Television (TV). Nam Ho-jun, senior vice president of R&D at LG’s Home Entertainment Company said that the newest models of television, the QNED series, are premium level home entertainment options for the consumers. Of course, the new TV also allows consumer to improve the LCD TV space in their house.
LG Electronics claims that the new QNED Mini LED TV is the premium tier of the LCD TV line-up. It also represents a great leap forward in LCD TV picture quality. The QNED Mini LED TV is built-in with the a new panel structure that merges quantum dot and NanoCell technologies with Mini LED light source which produces a better picture performance and even wider color gamut and even better contrasts. The advanced panel is able to provide a vivid viewing experience for the user in the LCD space.
The new panel construction is supposed to produce incredible looking color thanks to the advance LED backlighting that provides better contrast and deeper black. Also, the new QNED Mini LED TV packs up to 30000 tiny LEDs, 2500 separate control zone, and advanced local dimming technology that able to enhance contrast, shadow detail, and incredible peak brightness.
The QNED Mini LED TV also boasts a contrast ratio of 1000000:1 display. The also boast excellent HDR image quality thanks to the never seen before contrast and deep blacks. Moreover, QNED Mini LED TV is equipped with a 120 Hz refresh rate for some next generation console readiness. Without a doubt, the new QNED Mini LED TV is the new flagship TV from LG.
Price and availability
LG is launching 10 new 4K and 8K TVs through 2021. The largest size of TV that will be available for 2021 from LG goes up to 86-inch currently. Consumers may explore the LG’s top-of-the-line 86-inch 8K television during the CES 2021, LG virtual exhibition booth, starting January 11. For more information, you can look at LG’s CES 2021 announcement.
