will.i.am designed these bargain earbuds and you can tell

If you're in the market for a pair of the best earbuds, the sheer volume of options on the market can be quite intimidating. There's an option for every style, budget and use case, which can quickly become overwhelming.

If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. Here at T3, we've been reviewing the cutting edge of audio equipment for almost 30 years, with the current team enjoying more than a century of combined experience in the industry.

Recently, I've been testing the LG xBoom buds – a pair of more affordable earbuds which were tuned by legendary Black Eyed Peas singer, will.i.am. Do they offer enough to set them apart? There's only one way to find out. Let's get it started!

LG xBoom buds review: Price and availability

The LG xBoom buds retail for £119.99 in the UK. Other markets can pick up the buds for €129 / US$110. There is currently no listing for the buds on the Australian version of the site.

The buds were unveiled early in 2025, with the first units hitting the market later in the year.

LG xBoom buds review: Design and Features

First things first, let's talk design. These buds certainly aren't the worst looking things out there, though you'd probably struggle to pick them out of a lineup, too.

Perfectly middle-of-the-road, and rather unassuming on the whole, you'll enjoy these if you're not into the showier side of life. The case is also nicely done, with a small footprint which your bag or pocket will enjoy profusely.

Fortunately, there's a lot more to shout about in the features than in the design stakes. That starts with the drivers, which are graphene-coated to reduce distortion.

Elsewhere, you'll find IPX4 water resistance, making these a solid pick for those who wear earbuds at the gym, or out in the rain. They should last well, too, with 10 hours of listening on a single charge, and a further 20 hours from the case.

ANC is also on offer, with up to 35dB slated on the spec sheet. And of course, the audio performance has been tuned by will.i.am – so you'd hope they sound pretty darn good.

LG xBoom buds review: Performance

In the ear, you'll first be wowed by the xBoom buds' sonic performance. Audio quality is stellar no matter what you're pumping through them.

Bass response is definitely given a little more attention here, with low end rumble neatly controlled and punchy. It might leaving you thinking, "where is the love (for treble frequencies)?", but fear not – the overall profile is agreeable, and the app allows for a good degree of customisation for those so inclined.

It's not the prettiest app in the world, but it does get the job done. You'll have access to the noise cancellation, EQ settings and other settings adjustment in the app, which means you can keep tabs on just about every aspect of the experience.

Speaking of the noise cancellation, that's one place where I'd mark these down. It's okay, but it's nothing worth writing home about – if you've used a proper pair of noise cancelling buds, you'll notice the difference quickly.

LG xBoom buds review: Verdict

In short, if you want killer earbuds without busting the bank, the LG xBoom buds are well worth your attention. Audio quality is stellar, with a sonic profile that really doesn't need much fiddling to get to your liking.

ANC performance does let it down slightly, but it's never going to be perfect at this price point. Personally, I'd rather have better sound quality than ANC, so it's far from a dealbreaker.

LG xBoom buds review: Also Consider

If you're shopping in the circa £100 region, the Nothing Ear is worth a listen. The technology start up has always had strong value in its earbuds, and these are no different.

Elsewhere, the OnePlus Buds 3 – or indeed the recently released and yet to be reviewed Buds 3 – are a killer option, with a great blend of sound quality and ANC performance.

A classic pick in this price range is the Sony WF-C710N. Those are the safe bet for most people, and will serve up decent competition here.