ZDNET’s key findings
- The LG XBoom 360 XO2 is a great Bluetooth speaker for professional chillers, loungers and relaxers. It is available for $197.
- Highlights include a focus on calming mood lighting and an elegant design.
- Below-average battery life and a lack of advanced features might make this speaker too basic for some.
There’s nothing better than a reliable Bluetooth speaker that allows for portable listening in style. These days, many Bluetooth speaker manufacturers focus on making their speakers suitable for outdoor use, opting for angular, rugged designs with dust and water resistance for use at the beach or while hiking.
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However, if you never take your Bluetooth speakers outside, you probably don’t want the main selling point of your new speaker to be that it can survive the apocalypse. I want my speaker to look like it belongs in my house, not my local REI.
If you are like me, you will be the latest LG XBoom 360 XO2 Bluetooth speaker that I will refer to as the XO2 speaker so as not to confuse it with the many speakers in LG’s XBoom 360 range. I’ve been using it for a month as the soundtrack to my evenings at home, so let me explain why it’s the best speaker for couch potatoes and professional slackers.
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The XO2 speaker sounds great and has plenty of EQ settings to help you tailor the sound to your personal preferences. You can choose preset EQ settings or customize the sound with a five-band equalizer in the LG XBoom companion app.
The XO2 doesn’t have the same clarity as speakers like Apple’s HomePod or the Sonos Era 100, but those speakers stream audio over Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, which improves audio quality. The XO2 doesn’t support fancy audio features like spatial audio, so if you want a no-fuss listening experience, this is your place.
When I want to relax and listen to music at home, I usually queue up songs on my Sonos Arc soundbar. The AirPlay compatibility is handy because notifications don’t interrupt my music. The Arc is huge, though, which makes it a hassle to move from one room to another. And don’t even get me started on using the Sonos app to notify it that I’ve changed rooms.
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The XO2 has an interesting shape that resembles a small patio lantern. The flat top houses touch controls that let you play/pause tracks, adjust volume, and change lighting settings with a quick tap.
I listened to albums like John Mayer’s Space for squares, Frank Ocean’s Blond, and Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto while I cooked, cleaned, and read books on my couch. The XO2 has a pronounced bass response, but the bass lines didn’t overwhelm the soothing instrumental sounds I wanted during my evening relaxation.
Although Beats and Bose have perfected the art of designing unassuming Bluetooth speakers, the XO2 boasts one key feature that sets it apart from the crowd: mood lighting. Many speakers offer a series of multi-colored, flashing LEDs for party purposes, but the XO2 focuses on lighting for relaxed jam sessions.
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The XBoom 360 app lets you choose your light setting, with options that mimic the calming morning sun or peaceful sunset. There’s a candlelight option for optimal serene mood. There are also party light settings, but I didn’t get around to using them.
The XO2 is designed for outdoor use and has an IP55 rating, making it waterproof against rain showers or splashes while having fun by the pool. With 15 hours of continuous playback, the XO2 speaker doesn’t have as much lifespan as other speakers in a similar price range, so you’ll have to choose between ambience or battery life.
Buying advice from ZDNET
If you want a portable speaker that can set the mood for any mood you want, especially for quieter solo jam sessions at home, then the LG XBoom 360 XO2 is the right choice. Its unobtrusive design fits into any home decor and at the same time ensures a pleasant listening experience.
The XO2 is perfect for listening in bed or on the couch. Its simplicity and lack of advanced controls make it the ideal device for people who don’t want their calendar, voice assistant, or digital reminders to interrupt their evening podcast or solo album listening party.
If you want more from your speaker, such as AirPlay compatibility, audio streaming over Wi-Fi and voice assistant features, the XO2 is not for you. Sonos One 100 or the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) are more suitable for you, but remember that they require a power source.
If you want a speaker with more battery capacity, increased water resistance and an equally upscale look without mood lighting, you should consider the Beats Pill (2024).
