LG XBoom Go XG2T review: a hardy yet small Bluetooth speaker primed for all environments

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: two-minute review

The LG XBoom Go XG2T is an ultra-durable mini Bluetooth speaker that’s ideal for taking out on the go. This mini waterproof speaker offers military-grade protection against the elements – pretty hardcore. But how does it sound? Let’s find out…

With a lot of small speakers, audio quality can be middling at best. But the LG XBoom Go XG2T puts out a pretty solid sonic performance. Is it the most talented-sounding speaker on the market? No. But it offers commendable all-round clarity and impressive volume levels, especially with the Sound Boost EQ option enabled.

You may expect a big, bass-heavy sound from the LG XBoom Go XG2T – I mean, it’s literally in the name – but you won’t actually find booming bass here. Bass is adequately punchy, but it’s not the most controlled or deep sounding. Again, that’s pretty common with these mini speakers, but still, it may be a little underwhelming for those expecting a hard-hitting low-end output. If big bass is what you’re after, check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for a punchier alternative.

Of course, sound is always number one, but it’s not everything. Thankfully, this speaker is extremely strong on the design front. It has a unique build, which includes a lace for attaching the speaker to a bag and four feet on its reverse side so the speaker can play upfiring audio. It’s also passed a series of tests that render it military-grade protected, not to mention an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, which makes it fit for any outdoor space, even the beach or pool.

Another nice inclusion is companion app compatibility, which enables EQ adjustment and Healing Therapy, which lets you listen to calming sounds – don’t worry, there’s a sleep timer included if you start to feel a bit drowsy while listening. One slight hiccup features-wise is battery life. The 10 hours maximum may sound good, but with Sound Boost on – which gives a serious leg-up to the speaker’s power – and volume above 50%, the battery will deplete considerably quicker.

Overall, this is a good small-sized speaker. Sure, you may have to charge it up semi-regularly, and sound quality isn’t top-tier, but you get generally clear audio, incredible durability, and an attractive design. Price-wise, this is great value if you can grab it on sale – but its list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89 may be slightly high against some competitors.

So, is the LG XBoom Go XG2T a speaker worth considering? Absolutely – that is if you want a travel-friendly small speaker that can slip into a bag for excursions. The biggest problem with the XG2T has more to do with the quality of its competitors. Options like the JBL Clip 5 and Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 are absolutely fantastic small speakers, with awesome audio and equally mighty waterproofing. If you’re all in on the XG2T’s design I’d say it’s worth buying on sale, otherwise, the aforementioned alternatives may just edge it out. More on those in the ‘Also Consider’ section.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: price and release date

• $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89
• Launched in March 2024

The LG XBoom Go XG2T was released back in March 2024 with a fairly moderate list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89. However, if you’re in the US or UK you shouldn’t expect to pay anywhere near as much as that for it now. I’ve already spotted this lil’ fella available for less than $35 / £40.

That price is very much in line with some top-tier small portable speakers, such as the JBL Clip 5, which I’ve seen go on sale for less than $50 / £40 in recent months. Sometimes, this speaker can be found in a 2-pack at retailers such as Costco, which may be an even more cost-efficient option for those seeking louder, more room-filling sound.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: specs

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: features

• Nifty companion app
• Pairing, multi-point and all essential options are here
• Average at best battery life

As is often the case with LG, you get a very solid companion app to assist you in your experience with the XG2T. It’s equipped with all the crucial tools you’d want from a modern Bluetooth speaker, including multi-point for connecting two devices at once and Party Link for connecting multiple speakers at once.

Another inclusion you’d expect to see is EQ settings, which are also here. Unfortunately, I found them to be a bit mixed, quality-wise. I did like the inclusion of a six-band equalizer, which offers a bit more customization than the slightly larger Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2, for instance. But other than that things are a bit thin. The only other presets are Standard or Sound Boost. I wish there were a few more presets for particular moods or music genres, as you see with a lot of Sony’s speakers, for example.

But allow me to loop back to Sound Boost. This is a feature you can activate on the speaker itself or via the LG XBoom app. Essentially, it amplifies volume output and provides a bit more of a kick, especially in the low-frequency range. I’ll go into more detail about sound later, but for such a small speaker, the added power is very much a welcome addition.

On top of all the classic inclusions, the XG2T has some fun stuff to play around with. Healing Therapy plays from a set list of calming sounds, such as ‘A Still Summer Night with Insect Sounds’ or ‘The Sleepy Sounds of the Deep Sea,’ which did entice me, I can’t lie. You can set a sleep timer alongside these, just in case you drift off before an important meeting. Is this gimmicky? Sure, a little bit. Did I like it anyway? Yes, I did.

But let’s finish by tackling one of the key areas for any speaker – battery life. This speaker won’t be able to survive too long, although that’s pretty common for models of this size. LG says you get a maximum of 10 hours of playtime, which is pretty average. But here’s the thing – that’s only if you’re playing at 50% or lower with Sound Boost or EQ settings off. Fine-tune your audio and crank the volume up and you can expect the battery to drain much faster, meaning you’ll definitely want a full charge before taking it out and about.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: sound quality

• Clear overall audio
• Bass isn’t booming
• Can get impressively loud, but you’ll compromise on quality

With a lot of these small-sized portable speakers, you get pretty disappointing quality in exchange for a highly compact build. Is that the case with the LG XBoom Go XG2T? Not exactly, but you’ll certainly have to make some sacrifices.

First, I thought the overall audio quality was solid, with decent mids audible from the offset. For instance, I tried Nothing Can Come Between Us by Sade and found that vocals were clear in the overall mix at around 50-60% volume and didn’t get distorted or drowned out by other mid-range or low-frequency sounds. If anything, I thought that bass was lacking. There was, thankfully, a part-solution here – Sound Boost mode. This amps up the volume and adds a bit more meat in the low end, which was very much needed. With this mode on, the bass was okay for a small-sized speaker, but still not exactly “booming” as LG has advertised.

I compared the XG2T to the JBL Clip 5 and found the latter offers meatier and clearer bass output. For instance, the drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X was replicated with more depth and impact with the Clip 5, even when utilizing Sound Boost mode on the XG2T. What the XG2T did offer, however, was a bit more clarity in the mids – vocals sounded clean and overall output was nicely balanced, especially with the speaker placed on its feet.

However, the vocals sounded a touch harsh when the speaker was hung up and angled toward me, and that wasn’t the only time I felt the audio quality suffered. When I cranked up the volume to the 80%-100% mark, songs got swamped by an almost underwater effect, marked by muddied, tinny audio output. Don’t get me wrong, this mini speaker can certainly get loud for its size, but it won’t sound great at the top of its range.

Having said that, I do want to give the XG2T its flowers. It may not sound the best at top volumes or certain angles, but this is pretty standard for a small-sized speaker. And when I compared it to the Sony SRS-XB100, the XG2T outperformed it by a significant margin. For example, I tuned into Everyday by Jamiroquai on the XG2T and found that strings were well-balanced in the mix and hi-hats sounded sharp and responsive. When I listened to it on the XB-100, bass levels were stronger, but the low end wasn’t too clear, making for a bloated, messy overall sound.

So, you do get fairly nuanced, clear sound from the XG2T compared to some small-sized competitors, but you still can’t expect amazing audio. Bass is pretty underwhelming, even when using Sound Boost and detail is lacking – especially at top volumes.

• Sound quality score: 3.5/5

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: design

• Unique, rugged-looking speaker
• ‘Military-grade’ protection against the elements
• Lace can be used to hang or attach it

Something that’s sure to instantly grab people’s attention is the XG2T’s unique-looking design. It comes in a diminutive, curved, square-shaped shell, with a lace attached to the side. This lace can be adjusted and attached to anything from a bag to a hook – you could even sling it on a tree branch when out in the woods. A lace isn’t something I’ve seen from a whole lot of speakers before, so LG scores well for originality.

The speaker’s outer casing is pretty hardy, after all, LG claims that the XG2T meets US military standards. To back up this claim, the speaker passed seven durability tests against: dust, high temperatures, rain, salt fog, shock, vibration, and water immersion. It’ll be unsurprising, then, that this speaker holds the IP67 dust and waterproof rating, meaning it’s well equipped for any outdoor space, even the sea or a swimming pool. That’s a staple design feature of any speaker that wants to make it into our list of the best waterproof speakers.

Another unorthodox design choice is a volume wheel on the side of the speaker, as opposed to buttons or similar. I found this to be pretty cool-looking and responsive too. Notably, there’s a power button and a play/pause button on the front of the speaker. Practicalities aside, I also found the black and red color combination to be very appealing – the relatively low-key color coding suiting the speaker’s ruggedness to a tee.

One small criticism, though. I would have loved it if the speaker could stand upright without my hand supporting it. It can sit on four feet for upfiring sound, but this isn’t always ideal. The option to have forward-firing audio would be the icing on the cake here, but I’m fully satisfied with the design otherwise.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: value

• Great price when on sale
• Solid sound for the money you pay
• Not worth it at full price, in my view

Is the LG XBoom Go XG2T worth your cash when it’s at full price? Perhaps not. That’s not to say it’s way overpriced, but there are far too many small-sized options with lower price tags out there.

Consider the discounted cost it’s regularly available for and the picture totally changes, though. If you can nab this for less than $40 / £40 / AU$70, I think it’s a decent option. Audio is by no means perfect, but for a tiny Bluetooth speaker like this, it’s more than passable. You also get an ultra-durable, attractive design and a nice assortment of features to play around with.

So, again, if you can grab the XG2T on sale – which shouldn’t be a rare occurrence at this stage – then it is a very strong value option.

Should I buy the LG XBoom Go XG2T?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: also consider

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: how I tested

• Tested for one week
• Predominantly used in music testing space at Future Labs
• Mainly listened with Tidal on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I spent hours listening to music on the LG XBoom Go XG2T. I tried the speaker in a few environments but mainly used it in our music testing room at Future Labs to best judge the audio quality and assess the accuracy of battery life claims.

When listening to tunes, I predominantly tapped into Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, where I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, as well as my personal library. I also used a range of small-sized speakers for comparison, including the Sony SRS-XB100 and JBL Clip 4.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test