LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: a hardy but small Bluetooth speaker primed for all environments
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: two-minute assessment
The LG XBoom Go XG2T is an ultra-durable mini Bluetooth speaker that’s ultimate for taking out on the go. This mini waterproof speaker presents military-grade safety towards the weather – fairly hardcore. However how does it sound? Let’s discover out…
With quite a lot of small audio system, audio high quality will be middling at greatest. However the LG XBoom Go XG2T places out a fairly stable sonic efficiency. Is it essentially the most talented-sounding speaker in the marketplace? No. However it presents commendable all-round readability and spectacular quantity ranges, particularly with the Sound Enhance EQ choice enabled.
You might count on a giant, bass-heavy sound from the LG XBoom Go XG2T – I imply, it is actually within the title – however you will not truly discover booming bass right here. Bass is sufficiently punchy, but it surely’s not essentially the most managed or deep sounding. Once more, that’s fairly widespread with these mini audio system, however nonetheless, it might be just a little underwhelming for these anticipating a hard-hitting low-end output. If huge bass is what you’re after, take a look at our information to one of the best Bluetooth audio system for a punchier different.
After all, sound is all the time primary, but it surely’s not the whole lot. Fortunately, this speaker is extraordinarily robust on the design entrance. It has a novel construct, which features a lace for attaching the speaker to a bag and 4 ft on its reverse aspect so the speaker can play upfiring audio. It’s additionally handed a collection of checks that render it military-grade protected, to not point out an IP67 dustproof and waterproof score, which makes it match for any outside house, even the seaside or pool.
One other good inclusion is companion app compatibility, which permits EQ adjustment and Therapeutic Remedy, which helps you to hearken to calming sounds – don’t fear, there’s a sleep timer included in the event you begin to really feel a bit drowsy whereas listening. One slight hiccup features-wise is battery life. The ten hours most might sound good, however with Sound Enhance on – which provides a critical leg-up to the speaker’s energy – and quantity above 50%, the battery will deplete significantly faster.
Total, it is a good small-sized speaker. Positive, you will have to cost it up semi-regularly, and sound high quality isn’t top-tier, however you get usually clear audio, unimaginable sturdiness, and a pretty design. Worth-wise, that is nice worth in the event you can seize it on sale – however its checklist worth of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89 could also be barely excessive towards some opponents.
So, is the LG XBoom Go XG2T a speaker value contemplating? Completely – that’s if you need a travel-friendly small speaker that may slip right into a bag for excursions. The largest drawback with the XG2T has extra to do with the standard of its opponents. Choices just like the JBL Clip 5 and Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 are completely incredible small audio system, with superior audio and equally mighty waterproofing. When you’re all in on the XG2T’s design I’d say it’s value shopping for on sale, in any other case, the aforementioned options may edge it out. Extra on these within the ‘Additionally Take into account’ part.
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: worth and launch date
- $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89
- Launched in March 2024
The LG XBoom Go XG2T was launched again in March 2024 with a reasonably reasonable checklist worth of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89. Nevertheless, in the event you’re within the US or UK you shouldn’t count on to pay wherever close to as a lot as that for it now. I’ve already noticed this lil’ fella obtainable for lower than $35 / £40.
That worth may be very a lot consistent with some top-tier small moveable audio system, such because the JBL Clip 5, which I’ve seen go on sale for lower than $50 / £40 in current months. Generally, this speaker will be present in a 2-pack at retailers equivalent to Costco, which can be an much more cost-efficient choice for these in search of louder, extra room-filling sound.
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: specs
| Drivers | 1.5-inch woofer; passive radiator |
| Dimensions | 3.7 x 3.9 x 1.8 inches / 94 x 99.1 x 45.7mm |
| Weight | 0.7lbs / 317.5g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery life | 10 hours |
| Waterproofing | IP67 |
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: options
- Nifty companion app
- Pairing, multi-point and all important choices are right here
- Common at greatest battery life
As is commonly the case with LG, you get a really stable companion app to help you in your expertise with the XG2T. It’s geared up with all of the essential instruments you’d need from a contemporary Bluetooth speaker, together with multi-point for connecting two gadgets directly and Occasion Hyperlink for connecting a number of audio system directly.
One other inclusion you’d count on to see is EQ settings, that are additionally right here. Sadly, I discovered them to be a bit combined, quality-wise. I did just like the inclusion of a six-band equalizer, which presents a bit extra customization than the marginally bigger Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2, as an illustration. However apart from that issues are a bit skinny. The one different presets are Customary or Sound Enhance. I want there have been a number of extra presets for explicit moods or music genres, as you see with quite a lot of Sony’s audio system, for instance.
However enable me to loop again to Sound Enhance. It is a characteristic you may activate on the speaker itself or through the LG XBoom app. Primarily, it amplifies quantity output and offers a bit extra of a kick, particularly within the low-frequency vary. I’ll go into extra element about sound later, however for such a small speaker, the added energy may be very a lot a welcome addition.
On prime of all of the traditional inclusions, the XG2T has some enjoyable stuff to mess around with. Therapeutic Remedy performs from a set checklist of calming sounds, equivalent to ‘A Nonetheless Summer season Evening with Insect Sounds’ or ‘The Sleepy Sounds of the Deep Sea,’ which did entice me, I can’t lie. You’ll be able to set a sleep timer alongside these, simply in case you drift off earlier than an necessary assembly. Is that this gimmicky? Positive, just a little bit. Did I prefer it anyway? Sure, I did.
However let’s end by tackling one of many key areas for any speaker – battery life. This speaker gained’t be capable of survive too lengthy, though that’s fairly widespread for fashions of this measurement. LG says you get a most of 10 hours of playtime, which is fairly common. However right here’s the factor – that’s provided that you’re enjoying at 50% or decrease with Sound Enhance or EQ settings off. Effective-tune your audio and crank the quantity up and you’ll count on the battery to empty a lot sooner, which means you’ll undoubtedly desire a full cost earlier than taking it out and about.
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: sound high quality
- Clear total audio
- Bass isn’t booming
- Can get impressively loud, however you’ll compromise on high quality
With quite a lot of these small-sized moveable audio system, you get fairly disappointing high quality in change for a extremely compact construct. Is that the case with the LG XBoom Go XG2T? Not precisely, however you’ll actually need to make some sacrifices.
First, I believed the general audio high quality was stable, with respectable mids audible from the offset. As an example, I attempted Nothing Can Come Between Us by Sade and located that vocals have been clear within the total combine at round 50-60% quantity and didn’t get distorted or drowned out by different mid-range or low-frequency sounds. If something, I believed that bass was missing. There was, fortunately, a part-solution right here – Sound Enhance mode. This amps up the quantity and provides a bit extra meat within the low finish, which was very a lot wanted. With this mode on, the bass was okay for a small-sized speaker, however nonetheless not precisely “booming” as LG has marketed.
I in contrast the XG2T to the JBL Clip 5 and located the latter presents meatier and clearer bass output. As an example, the drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X was replicated with extra depth and impression with the Clip 5, even when using Sound Enhance mode on the XG2T. What the XG2T did provide, nevertheless, was a bit extra readability within the mids – vocals sounded clear and total output was properly balanced, particularly with the speaker positioned on its ft.
Nevertheless, the vocals sounded a contact harsh when the speaker was hung up and angled towards me, and that wasn’t the one time I felt the audio high quality suffered. Once I cranked up the quantity to the 80%-100% mark, songs acquired swamped by an virtually underwater impact, marked by muddied, tinny audio output. Don’t get me flawed, this mini speaker can actually get loud for its measurement, but it surely gained’t sound nice on the prime of its vary.
Having stated that, I do wish to give the XG2T its flowers. It could not sound one of the best at prime volumes or sure angles, however that is fairly customary for a small-sized speaker. And after I in contrast it to the Sony SRS-XB100, the XG2T outperformed it by a major margin. For instance, I tuned into On a regular basis by Jamiroquai on the XG2T and located that strings have been well-balanced within the combine and hi-hats sounded sharp and responsive. Once I listened to it on the XB-100, bass ranges have been stronger, however the low finish wasn’t too clear, making for a bloated, messy total sound.
So, you do get pretty nuanced, clear sound from the XG2T in comparison with some small-sized opponents, however you continue to can’t count on wonderful audio. Bass is fairly underwhelming, even when utilizing Sound Enhance and element is missing – particularly at prime volumes.
- Sound high quality rating: 3.5/5
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: design
- Distinctive, rugged-looking speaker
- ‘Navy-grade’ safety towards the weather
- Lace can be utilized to hold or connect it
One thing that is positive to immediately seize folks’s consideration is the XG2T’s unique-looking design. It is available in a diminutive, curved, square-shaped shell, with a lace connected to the aspect. This lace will be adjusted and connected to something from a bag to a hook – you might even sling it on a tree department when out within the woods. A lace isn’t one thing I’ve seen from an entire lot of audio system earlier than, so LG scores effectively for originality.
The speaker’s outer casing is fairly hardy, in spite of everything, LG claims that the XG2T meets US army requirements. To again up this declare, the speaker handed seven sturdiness checks towards: mud, excessive temperatures, rain, salt fog, shock, vibration, and water immersion. It’s going to be unsurprising, then, that this speaker holds the IP67 mud and waterproof score, which means it is effectively geared up for any outside house, even the ocean or a swimming pool. That is a staple design characteristic of any speaker that desires to make it into our checklist of one of the best waterproof audio system.
One other unorthodox design alternative is a quantity wheel on the aspect of the speaker, versus buttons or related. I discovered this to be fairly cool-looking and responsive too. Notably, there’s an influence button and a play/pause button on the entrance of the speaker. Practicalities apart, I additionally discovered the black and crimson coloration mixture to be very interesting – the comparatively low-key coloration coding suiting the speaker’s ruggedness to a tee.
One small criticism, although. I might have cherished it if the speaker may stand upright with out my hand supporting it. It could possibly sit on 4 ft for upfiring sound, however this isn’t all the time ultimate. The choice to have forward-firing audio could be the icing on the cake right here, however I’m absolutely glad with the design in any other case.
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: worth
- Nice worth when on sale
- Strong sound for the cash you pay
- Not value it at full worth, for my part
Is the LG XBoom Go XG2T value your money when it’s at full worth? Maybe not. That’s to not say it’s approach overpriced, however there are far too many small-sized choices with lower cost tags on the market.
Take into account the discounted price it’s recurrently obtainable for and the image completely adjustments, although. When you can nab this for lower than $40 / £40 / AU$70, I feel it is a respectable choice. Audio is under no circumstances excellent, however for a tiny Bluetooth speaker like this, it’s greater than satisfactory. You additionally get an ultra-durable, enticing design and a pleasant assortment of options to mess around with.
So, once more, in the event you can seize the XG2T on sale – which shouldn’t be a uncommon incidence at this stage – then it’s a very robust worth choice.
Ought to I purchase the LG XBoom Go XG2T?
| Attributes | Notes | Ranking |
| Options | Strong companion app with restricted EQ presets and middling at greatest battery. | 3.5/5 |
| Sound high quality | Decently clear all-round audio, bass doesn’t precisely ‘Growth’. | 3.5/5 |
| Design | Rugged design with helpful lace and military-grade safety. | 4.5/5 |
| Worth | Record worth is a contact excessive, but it surely’s usually on sale for a incredible cut-price. | 4/5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: additionally think about
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | LG XBoom Go XG2T | JBL Clip 5 | Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 |
| Worth | $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89 | $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95 | $60 / £60 (round AU$86) |
| Drivers | 1.5-inch woofer; passive radiator | 1x Built-in class D digital amplifiers | Unspecified |
| Dimensions | 3.7 x 3.9 x 1.8 inches / 94 x 99.1 x 45.7mm | 3.4 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches / 86 x 134.5 x 46 mm | 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.7 inches / 99.8 x 99.8 x 42.9mm |
| Weight | 0.7lbs / 317.5g | 0.6lbs / 285g | 0.7lbs / 315g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery life | 10 hours | 12 hours | 12 hours |
| Waterproofing | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 |
LG XBoom Go XG2T assessment: how I examined
- Examined for one week
- Predominantly utilized in music testing house at Future Labs
- Primarily listened with Tidal on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
I spent hours listening to music on the LG XBoom Go XG2T. I attempted the speaker in a number of environments however primarily used it in our music testing room at Future Labs to greatest choose the audio high quality and assess the accuracy of battery life claims.
When listening to tunes, I predominantly tapped into Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, the place I streamed tracks from our fastidiously curated TechRadar reference playlist, in addition to my private library. I additionally used a spread of small-sized audio system for comparability, together with the Sony SRS-XB100 and JBL Clip 4.
- First reviewed: December 2024
- Learn extra about how we check
