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Reviews have proven that one of the best wireless earphones at the moment is Apple Airpods, but coughing out over $150 to get it isn’t something we could all comfortably do. There are several alternatives like the BeatsX, but this is on the high side as well. If you want a wireless headset with decent sound without breaking the bank, you won’t find it in Apple’s portfolio.
LG Tone Pro HBS-770 is a Bluetooth wireless headset that surprisingly offers a lot in terms of quality sound and nice features despite its price.
In the box
Apart from the headset itself, here are other items in the box:
- Extra ear gels
- A micro-USB cable
- User manuals and documentation
Nope, this doesn’t come with a carry case, you need to purchase that separately.
Form factor
LG Tone HBS-770 looks like previous C-shaped models in the Tone Pro HBS series worn around the back of the neck, with both ends housing the controls much thicker. A button and a slide switch are present on each control unit. On the right unit is an extra switch which powers the device on and off.
On both ends of each control unit is a magnet that holds the earbud in place. Each of these earbuds is connected to the corresponding control unit by a wire that looks rather too thin. This was my first concern the moment I opened the box but so far, this looks durable.
The good, the bad and everything else
Talk about comfort, LG Tone Pro HBS-770 has this. It sits comfortably at the back of the neck and the light weight makes it feel as if it’s not even there. It comes with medium-sized ear gels by default and these should fit in most people’s ears perfectly.
As for the build quality, you should be aware this isn’t the sturdy type of headset. The cables connecting both earbuds to the control units may be tough, but they look rather too thin in my opinion. As a matter of fact, I would advise getting a carry case to prevent accidental damage. You can’t just throw it in with other stuff in your bag and expect it to last.
As for the sound quality, LG Tone Pro offers surprisingly good sound quality. I was impressed a wireless headset could give such sound. Adjust your equalizer and you would be amazed at the result. I tried the headset with an iPhone and an Android device and it works pretty great.
On iOS, the call button on the left control unit starts Siri, and on Android, this button lets you use Google Now when pressed once. Hold this same button for some seconds and it dials the last entry in your call log. On Android, this button can be customized to call your favorite contact instead if you download and install the LG Tone & Talk app.
The slide switch on the left control unit works for the volume. If you push down and hold, the battery level is read out loud; push up and hold and you can turn vibration on and off. Yes, this earphone vibrates when there’s a call or notification.
This side too holds the power button and micro-USB port for charging.
The play/pause button on the right starts your music app and pauses music play, the slide switch skips to the next or previous track on Android or iOS depending on the direction you push it. When not used for music, push the slider up and hold and you get to hear your messages read out loud to you. The same switch also works for voice memos when pushed and held down. If you’re on Android, you should really get the LG Tone & Talk app as it lets you get more out of this cool headset.
It can be configured to read your notifications and you won’t need to pick up your phone each time the phone beeps. Of course, a smartwatch does this better but smartwatches are not for everyone, right?
As for battery life, LG Tone Pro lasts long enough. The music listening time is up to 10 hours and from my pattern of use and personal experience, I didn’t have to charge every day. If you’re a heavy user though, it still won’t die on you in the middle of the day.
What’s not so great about LG-Tone Pro HBS-770
On a particular Android device, the Phone audio feature didn’t work all the time even when used as the primary device. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn’t. There’s also some sort of latency when using Voice Over on iOS but gladly, this isn’t a feature I always use.
Conclusion
For the price, LG Tone Pro HBS-770 gives value for money and lets you have a quality wireless headset at a reasonable price. The pros greatly outweigh the cons. Like I mentioned earlier, you don’t want to throw it around, buying a carry case is recommended. I got my own unit for only $35 on eBay but you can get it cheaper on Amazon. On Jumia, the price is a bit on the higher side.
Find on Jumia (₦17,000)
