LG PL5 XBOOM portable Bluetooth speaker review

The portable Bluetooth speaker market is pretty cluttered these days, so it takes something special to stand out. In terms of design, the LG PL5 XBOOM certainly stands out, however, its sound quality isn’t quite up to the standard of the JBLs and UEs of the world.

If you’re not a total audiophile and simply want something to accompany you to parties and picnics, the LG PL5 XBOOM is a good option. LG’s inclusion of Meridian technology allows for high volumes without much distortion. However, we’d be lying if we said it boasted the best quality sound we’ve ever heard in a portable speaker. Trebles do just fine, but if you’re looking for something that makes the most of your bassy favourites, you may be disappointed with the depth of the PL5’s bass.

The speaker also comes with a Sound Boost mode, which, honestly, is far better than the standard mode. In standard, the sound has a bit of a muffled quality, but with Sound Boost turned on, it’s a far richer and more satisfying listening experience.

Those seeking a 360-degree speaker array will have to look elsewhere, but like the JBL FLIP 5, the PL5 XBOOM does a fine job of filling every corner with sound, no matter which direction it’s aimed at.

By far our favourite thing about the LG PL5 XBOOM is the ring-shaped LED lights adorning the two passive radiators. We always thought light-up speakers were a bit gimmicky, but LG’s minimalistic take on the trend is really refreshing. It’s also fun to see the lights vibrating like crazy when the volume is cranked right up.

The 890g rubberised build is solid and feels like good quality. It’s a great shower or poolside companion, with an IPX5 water resistance rating allowing it to handle the odd splash or sprinkle. However, given many other speakers in this price bracket are submersible up to one metre for 30 minutes, we’d love to see a higher rating in future models.

One thing the LG PL5 XBOOM has over most of its mid-sized cousins is its battery life. At 50% volume with no lights, you can get up to 18 hours of playback time out of it. For comparison’s sake, that’s three more hours than the UE BOOM 3 and six more than the JBL FLIP 5.

Another feature we love (even though it’s 2020 and hardly anyone uses it any more) is the inclusion of a 3.5mm jack. Long live AUX cable-passing parties.

There’s also a dedicated app which can be used to adjust (or turn off) the colour and speed of the LED lights, control Sound Boost mode and link other XBOOM speakers. If you’re not an app-y kinda person, no worries - everything you can do through the app can also be done via buttons on the device.

There’s nothing we hate about the LG PL5 XBOOM. It’s a decent speaker with some cool features and incredible battery life. But there is better money for value out there if you’re willing to sacrifice LED lights. If not, the PL5 XBOOM is well worth its $179 price tag, and even better when you can grab it for less.