A booming speaker with a twist: LG XBOOM 360 XO2 review

With a speaker and dedicated lamp light, the LG XBOOM 360 XO2 is an oddity among this year's best speakers, but it's certainly not short on excellent sound. Massive 360-degree sound packed into a mid-sized speaker with a unique aesthetic, the LG XBOOM 360 XO2's 40W output power took me by surprise upon initial use, with bass that is difficult to replicate in a speaker of its size, but there's more than just heavy bass that makes this speaker special.

This bassy Bluetooth speaker's intuitive onboard touch controls with LEDs and pleasing sound effects push the premium feel of the XO2 to new heights, and its customisable quality, including the speaker's EQ settings, make it an ideal choice for audiophiles and cosy enthusiasts alike.

But at £150, are there any catches to the XBOOM XO2 speaker? And is it viable for more than just music? The XO2 fits comfortably between its predecessor and its pricier upgrade with a little more sound to offer, as well as a larger size.

Tech writer and reviewer, Ryan Houghton, has decided to get to the bottom of whether the XO2 is worth buying, or whether it's better to grab the upgrade instead. He's tested countless speakers over the years and leaves no stone unturned in delivering a fair, unbiased review.

LG XBOOM XO2: the strangest speaker of the year?

Out of the gate, I found this speaker to be undoubtedly on the strange side. I'm not unfamiliar with the inclusion of lights on speakers for a party effect, but the ethos behind the XO2's conical light design is altogether different, it seems. Designed with mood and atmosphere in mind, the XO2's calming warmth and array of light settings is unlike any I've seen on a speaker.

LG's candle settings, as well as built-in calming sounds and meditation programs which are available on the app only push LG's attempt to make this speaker seem geared towards the average homeowner, with a couple of party settings for small gatherings.

The top of the speaker features a stunning array of touch-control buttons, which gives the XO2 one of the most aesthetically pleasing user interfaces on a speaker I've ever had the pleasure of using. A simple tap on the speaker causes the controls to appear, as well as a halo of light which changes dependent on the XO2's preset lighting.

The fabric coating around the XO2 creates a subtle aesthetic which bolsters the speaker's homely appeal, it blends well into furniture and looks especially refreshing near the television, or cosying up a corner. Sound emits in a 360-degree shape, which fills the room, and it's especially brilliant when positioned centrally in a lounge space.

Cranking up the speaker, you will immediately notice the strong bass level of the XO2, which packs a strong, tight punch when listening to an array of music, but it's particularly good with House, Electronic and other dance music with heavy bass.

The sweet spot for the XO2 volume is around the 50 per cent mark, maybe a little higher. Turning up beyond this point is impressively loud, but there are some notable issues, sound begins to distort, vocals and high frequencies are drowned in bass, and the sound develops a vibrational quality which is quite unpleasant after prolonged listening.

A deep dive into the XO2's sound

The LG XBOOM XO2 is not just a Bluetooth speaker for music, it's also perfect for cinematic sound. The XO2 sits comfortably on a tabletop, and thanks to its 360-degree sound, doesn't necessarily have to be pointed towards you like a typical home cinema setup with forward-firing speakers and a mass of cables beside it.

Contained inside the LG XBOOM XO2 is a 3-inch woofer, a 1-inch tweeter, and passive radiators, which work together to produce crisp, high-end vocals and bassy sounds that are perfect for a variety of music and other entertainment. The XO2's resonating bassy sound is impeccable compared to similarly-priced speakers and even the best TV soundbars.

In using the XO2 as a soundbar for my television and monitor, I found the 360-degree sound to create a good level of immersion, and out of thought for my neighbours, I could only justify listening at around 50-60 per cent volume. I found the XO2's ability to envelop the room in omnidirectional sound to be a real win for such a moderately sized speaker.

The XO2's lighting function: more than just a gimmick?

While I first found the XO2's built-in lighting mode to be a strange and otherwise useless feature – until the evening rolls in. It's not only nice to have a powerful speaker tucked away in the corner or beneath your television, but the fact that it doubles as a lamp works quite beautifully in setting mood, and having the power to control and adjust it from your smartphone is feels like sheer luxury.

The primary light source from the XO2 comes from its cone-like light, which hovers above the metal grill of the speaker. This ultra-modern aesthetic is sure to divide shoppers, it's easy to love or hate, but I've found that the design has quickly grown on me. The downward-facing position of the light casts an inviting glow around the speaker itself, which you'd hardly expect to find in a speaker of its price.

Touch controls and the LG XBOOM app

Touching the top surface of the XBOOM XO2 unveils an array of buttons, from lighting controls to volume and Bluetooth. It's incredibly pleasing when tapping the touch display, when a high-pitched 'ping' noise sounds, it's a subtle addition which again pushes the XBOOM XO2's premium user experience to new heights, despite its fairly reasonable price-point.

The buttons are responsive and work well, despite touch buttons being a little less responsive than tactile, physical rubber buttons as you might find in a budget speaker. Much like the lighting feature, the touch controls are another added bonus to the speaker's impressive design and strong build quality.

If you're interested in a finer degree of control for the LG XBOOM XO2, then downloading the app is a wise decision. Containing a selection of preset modes and controls for sound optimisation, lighting, and even some EQ balancing modes, the XO2 isn't short on controls for tweaking countless aspects of the speaker to make it truly your own.

The app itself is slick and smooth, and I've not had any issues in using it. Each major setting to tweak is under tabs with built-in preferences to toggle through, so learning how to navigate the app is a breeze.

Battery life and usage

One of the unfortunately weaker aspects of the LG XBOOM XO2 is its battery life, which certainly suffers after prolonged use. Taking an especially long time to charge, around four hours in total, the battery life of the XO2 never seems quite to meet its promise of 'up to 15 hours'. During testing, I used the lighting feature of the XO2 almost constantly, and it seemingly had a large impact on the speaker's overall battery life.

I'd certainly recommend, especially if you're hosting a party or binge-watching a television series, that you give the XO2 its own dedicated plug during use. If not, it's fairly likely that your speaker will die, and the proceeding faff of having to reconnect Bluetooth is bound to cause some disgruntled sighs from guests.

Bluetooth connectivity

Running with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, the latest version of Bluetooth, the LG XBOOM XO2 is fantastic, with a strong connection range and rapid connection times for new users. There's also the added benefit of the XO2's multiple connections option, allowing you to pair multiple XO2 speakers simultaneously.

Though I've not tested the XO2 whilst connected to two speakers simultaneously, as I only have one, it's certainly an impressive feature which is great, not only for sound, but also atmosphere, considering the XBOOM XO2's lighting capabilities.

One slight gripe I have with the connectivity of the XO2 is when you're connected to one device and are trying to connect to another. Multiple devices cannot be connected at once, which is a bit of a shame when you're switching from a smartphone to a television or desktop PC. Like many speakers, whatever device you're using must be disconnected in order to access the speaker, which is a minor, but slightly clunky inconvenience.

Any downsides?

Though I have strong, positive thoughts of the speaker overall, there are certain aspects which I believe can be improved with later iterations and models. The main downside in my experience, has to be its sound at higher volumes.

Distortion at high volumes

The most notable downside of the LG XBOOM XO2 has to be its distortion at higher volumes, which is unfortunately quite noticeable at higher volumes. Listening to particularly bassy music, such as The Prodigy or any other bass-fuelled electronic music is relatively undeterred by the bass distortion, but when listening to something softer and subtler, such as jazz music where the sound of the double bass is prominent, vocals and high-frequency sounds become muddied and mostly lost. There's even a noticeable dip in the overall sound quality as if the very speaker is struggling to support the sound.

Yes, high volume is impressive, but it's almost at the cost of the speaker's health. Heavier bass means more power consumption, so there's also a bit of a drop in battery life when listening with extensive bass too.

Battery life

The overall battery life of the XO2 speaker is, from my experience, fairly poor compared even to cheaper speakers on the market. Having tested plenty of speakers, some much smaller than the XO2 itself, I've definitely noticed a poorer battery life than typical speakers.

Whether this is largely due to the speaker's additional features, its touch controls or lighting, it's difficult to say, but the gauge of 15 hours provided by LG seems, in my opinion, somewhat inaccurate. Perhaps lowering the overall volume, disabling the lights features and reducing bass output might provide more battery life, but there's no question that a little more longevity would make this speaker a more viable, dependable choice, especially for parties or outdoor events.

Price and competition

In terms of price, I believe that the XO2 is one of the best on the market, not only for the sheer volume of features, but also for its strong audio output and lighting capabilities. The overall aesthetic and user experience of the XO2 is astounding, it feels like a speaker that should be almost double its price, and its modern design certainly pushes the boat in terms of value.

It's undoubtedly one of the most unique speakers I've ever tested, and though some may find the inclusion of the light to be gimmicky, I've found that it grows on you, having the lamp-light functionality, especially late into the evening, is a blessing, and it really helps to cosy up rooms or excite with its party mode.

In terms of the LG XBOOM XO2's competition, it's hard to find a speaker that has quite the same range of features that the XO2 has, but in terms of price and performance, the JBL Charge 5 speaker is the most comparable. Around the same audio output power, but not nearly as visually appealing, the JBL Charge 5 is known for its strong bass and impressive balance. Its overall sound might prove to be challenging for the XO2 to beat, especially considering its bass distortion at high volumes, but it's still as impressive as ever for its price.

LG's XBOOM 360 XO3, despite appearances, is a predecessor to the XO2, is significantly larger and more powerful but is almost double the price with certain retailers. The XO2, in my opinion, is the stronger options for television setups considering its much smaller size, but for overall sound output, the XO3 is a stronger option with an almost 24-hour battery life, according to LG.

Who is it for?

The LG XBOOM 360 XO2 is for music enthusiasts and cinephiles alike looking for the ultimate bassy boom to their speakers. It's certainly an oddity of a speaker when considering its lamp functionality, but the strong lighting functions also give rooms a calm, warm atmosphere.

The XO2 is for shoppers who love feature-full technology, and ultra-modern designs, and the XO2 is no stranger to features. It's mid-price range makes the XO2 perfectly ideal for multiple speaker setups, which is what it's intended for.

Would we recommend it?

Considering how reasonably priced this speaker is, and how excellent its sound quality is, particularly at lower levels, I'd certainly recommend the XO2 speaker for any audiophile to enjoy. It's a visually engaging speaker, with plenty to appreciate about its design and lighting features, and its Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity makes it fantastic for parties, where the DJ might not always be directly near a speaker.

Having said that, there are issues with the speaker itself, the audio distortion at higher levels and its lower-than-expected battery life are factors to consider when choosing a speaker. But its positives greatly outshine its negatives in my opinion.

More items to consider

If you're interested in this speaker but are looking for some other options, check out our other favourites:

Who tested it?

Ryan Houghton is a tech writer and reviewer for What's The Best, where he has tested countless speakers before. Ryan loves excellent audio quality and will provide his unbiased opinion in reviewing speakers or any technology for that matter.

How the product was tested

The LG XBOOM 360 XO2 was tested through constant listening for a good deal of time, it became my primary speaker for music and television. I explored each and every feature of the XBOOM XO2 to ensure it lives up to its promise. I also tested its battery life by fully charging the speaker and using it constantly to ensure my testing is accurate.

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Ryan Houghton is a commercial content writer for What’s The Best, known best for his expertise in gaming, with a particular soft spot for PC gaming, audio tech, televisions and smartphones.

Diligently writing for What’s The Best for almost two years, there are very few tech products Ryan hasn’t had his hands on to review; televisions, headphones, folding phones and even LEGO, if it’s nerdy, he’ll be there.

His well-versed history as one of the resident techies at What’s The Best has kept him keen to uncover the very best deals, savings and offers for those in need of a cracking deal to upgrade their setup.

In his downtime, Ryan most likely has his nose buried in a fantasy book, or his eyes glued to a screen whilst playing a tough-as-nails Soulslike or leisurely RPG, indulging in most forms of escapism where possible.

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