Customer Ratings & Reviews

The LG xboom Grab portable Bluetooth speaker packs quite a punch for it's size. It sounds amazing and is packed with options and customizations available through the LG ThinQ app. For starters, to get the most out of this speaker you must connect it to the LG ThinQ app. This gives you access to a bunch of sound and lighting options. You also get access to LG Radio+. This also is how you get firmware updates, which mine had one available immediately after pairing the speaker with the app. the LG xboom Grab sounds amazing for it's size. For such a small speaker, it has a full sound to it, and good volume. You can also customize the sound to your liking. I have mine set to AI Sound, which to me sounds the best. There is also an AI room calibration option, which to me didn't make much of a difference, and since this speaker is going to be in many different locations and rooms, I decided to not use this option, but it's nice to have if you plan on leaving it in the same location all the time. The xboom also has RGB lighting. There are several presets, but you can also customize them through the app. You can also turn this off if RGB is not your thing. This speaker is IP67 rated, so you don't have to worry about it getting wet. This really comes in handy in outdoor settings. When the battery is fully charged you can get up 20 hours of power. The battery can be charged with the included USB-C to USB-C cord. The controls are all located on the top of speakers and are a good size and easy to determine what each one does. The LG xboom Grab also has a unique feature which is two elastic hangers. I can see being able to hang the speaker from bike handle bars, shower curtain, or a tree branch. The possibilities are endless. Last, but not least, it looks pretty cool.

This is lightweight and yet very powerful. It’s very easy to travel with. It’s slim and also looks nice. I simply connected the bluetooth to my phone and also to one of our laptops and it started playing. The sound and volume levels work well for how we use it. If we were having a party, it might not be loud enough but that's not why I got it. The set up is quick and simple and I used the QR code for the instructions and to install the app. I actually used it while riding the electric scooter by strapping it on. The two straps can be used in several different ways. I used it as a strap on my arm, took one piece out so it can strap on my scooter, and strapped it to our cooler handle at the beach a couple days ago. There are many ways to customize this little speaker, using the app. From light to sound, and sleep timer. Even setting up the lights with different effects and colors. It has a great function that we like, where, depending on the music that’s playing, the lighting changes to match it. Another useful function is the My Button that you can customize and save on the app, and can use the heart button on the xboom speaker to access. I would imagine one could use this without the app because it is really to help customize to use the speaker just how you want. It was working when I connected it to my bluetooth before I installed the app. The major options, like power, pause, play, bluetooth connection, volume are lined up on the speaker which makes it convenient to use. My charge seems to last about almost 24 hours before I needed to charge it again. The last time I used it, the charge was at 1% so I plugged the USB-C to my laptop and it was charging while I was using the speaker, that was nice and unexpected.

PROS: * The price is comparable to lower-quality Bluetooth speakers ($150) * Sound packs a punch for being so portable * Excellent app support (with a day-one firmware update) * Tactile buttons that have a lick to them and aren't "mushy." CONS: * The straps could be longer, but they're a great addition overall * Would be great to have an aux plug as an alternative to Bluetooth The LG Xboom Grab portable Bluetooth speaker is a blend of compactness and power. You may be surprised by its size when you unbox it, though. At least I was. The look is relatively modern, with red-accented colors that make it stand out from most other black brick speakers. Despite its small size (similar to an 18oz. water bottle), it delivers sound quality that truly exceeds my expectations. It won't replace a large speaker, obviously, but considering its portability, it packs a great punch. With a bit of customization to suit your sound preferences using the app, it will meet most of your needs for on-the-go sound. This speaker is designed specifically for portability, whether you're camping, at the park, in your backyard, or anywhere that lacks a power source for a larger speaker. The speaker is IP67-rated, so it's resistant to water, which makes it ideal for outdoor use. Users can unlock further sound options and customization features through the LG ThinQ app, improving the overall sound experience. By connecting the speaker to the app through Bluetooth, you gain access to a range of adjustments and lighting effects, transforming any space into a party (my kids, especially, enjoy the lights when the room is dark). What surprised me was LG Radio+, which provides you with your favorite radio stations. Additionally, firmware updates are easily accessible, making it easy to stay updated on each version LG releases. One notable feature of the LG Xboom Grab is its two elastic straps, which allow you to hang the speaker from anywhere, keeping it off the ground and out of the way on a table. It's perfect for camping, where you can hang it from your tent or a nearby tree, for example. The most crucial aspect of any speaker is sound. Right? Without music sounding good, what's the point of using it versus just your phone speaker? However, despite its compact size, the LG Grab produces a full, powerful sound with excellent volume. I listen to a wide range of genres, but I'm particularly drawn to independent rock and hip-hop. As a result, bass is important to me, but it also requires balance when listening to anything other than hip-hop. This speaker delivers on that. You can adjust it yourself, as I did, or you can set it to AI Sound mode, which uses its algorithm to output the best sound it thinks is suitable for the environment you're in. As I mentioned before, the LG Grab also features RGB lighting, with several preset options available, and you can customize these through the app. If you prefer a more straightforward look, you can opt to turn off the lighting. When fully charged, the battery can last up to 20 hours and can be charged using the included USB-C to USB-C cable (note that a brick is not included in the box, unfortunately). The controls are conveniently located on the top of the speaker, are well-sized, and are easy to identify. They're also tactile and "click," so you don't feel like you have to mash them like some other speakers I've had in the past. For $150, this speaker offers excellent value for its price. There are seemingly a limitless amount of portable speakers out there, but with this one, you know LG can back up its products with great support and app integration. It's solidly built, and the sound is excellent again. Some may expect it to outperform larger speakers, which it doesn't, but fortunately, LG offers two additional sizes in this same lineup. If this smallest one doesn't appeal to you, consider the larger ones, which will provide the same quality but a richer sound.

The LG XBOOM speaker is a pretty decent choice. Upon opening it, I really liked its feel,it's the perfect size for portability and quite lightweight. The Bluetooth connection was easy to establish, and I encountered no issues at all. There are two apps to download, the LG ThinQ app and the XBOOM app. Unfortunately, I found the XBOOM app to be useless because it kept redirecting me to the LG ThinQ app, which was confusing. Eventually, I was able to use the LG ThinQ app. Personally, I don't find it necessary, as I typically use speakers just for music listening through my favorite streaming services. However, the LG ThinQ app does offer a lot of free content, including music stations and podcasts, which I really appreciated. The LG XBOOM Grab speaker also features customizable lighting that you can adjust or turn off completely. One of my favorite features is the “My Button” settings, which allows you to save up to ten of your favorite audio stations on the app. By simply pressing the heart button on the speaker, you can quickly access those saved stations. The sound quality is pretty good in a closed environment, but once I took it outdoors, it wasn't as loud, which was a disappointment. It also comes with two built in straps, which are handy if you want to hang it anywhere. The battery life seems impressive,I've been using it for the past few days and have only charged it once, and it’s still going strong. If you're looking for a small speaker that isn't overly powerful, then this is a great option. However, I don't think it’s loud enough for a party, it’s better suited for relaxing and casual use.

As a cyclist, what struck me first was how perfectly the LG xboom Grab fits into a standard water bottle cage. For such a compact speaker, it packs an impressive punch - easily powering a full day of cruising with up to 20 hours of playtime. My second impression? The two built-in elastic straps. Thoughtfully designed and seamlessly integrated, they're ideal for attaching the xboom to just about anything - bike frames, backpacks, hammock lines… you name it. With IP67 dust and water resistance and MIL-STD-810H certification for shock, temperature, and immersion, this little beast is made to handle the rigors of mountain biking, hiking, boating, and bonfire nights alike. Setup out of the box was effortless: power it on, pair it, and go. LG also offers companion apps that let you fine-tune everything to your liking. Audio-wise, it’s an overachiever. The Peerless racetrack-style woofer, 16mm tweeter, and dual side radiators create surprising space efficiency and a wider soundstage than you'd expect from a speaker this size - vibrant, immersive, and downright fun. Even though it's made to move, I find myself using the LG xboom at my desk more than I expected. It just sounds that good. Likes: - “xboom by will.i.am” tuning - sharply dialed in - Elastic strap loops - great for creative mounting - Tactile control buttons - Easy-to-use track selector for play/pause/skip - Rock-solid Bluetooth connectivity, even at 200+ feet - Bluetooth 5.2 support - Tasteful LED lighting - just enough flair - EQ options via LG app: 1. Standard 2. Bass Boost 3. Voice Enhance 4. AI Sound 5. Custom (fully adjustable) As an audiophile with everything from towers to outdoor systems at home, I’ve got high standards. That said, LG's latest portable offering genuinely impressed me. It delivers good music and has earned a permanent spot on my desk.

This little speaker packs a punch. This portable speaker is great for on the go for a beach day or sitting next to the pool. The setup is super easy. My phone picked up the speaker easily. If you download the LG app, it includes more features for the speaker. It includes a preset equalizer function and even radio station that can be played for free. This is a great way to test out the speaker. It also comes with a thin light function that can also be customized on the app. It has many colors to choose from or you can use them all. The manufacturer states the battery can last up to 20 hrs on a full charge however, I'm sure it depends on how loud you listen to the music and if the light feature is used. The speaker charges with a USB-C port. A cable is included without a power wall adapter. The manufacturer also states the speaker is splash proof. The speaker is loud enough to fill a small space with music. The bass is as expected coming from a small speaker. Overall, this speaker is great for a quick trip, picnic or beach day. I would recommend this speaker.

The LG - xboom Grab appears to be solid offering, upon initial unboxing & inspection. It has a typical weight & feel for a portable Bluetooth speaker of this size. Seeing the tube design and the passive driver discs on both ends, I became excited to hear it in action. The unit has an unprotected USB-C port on the bottom, these two funky elastic straps (with corresponding integrated buckles..), seven symbol keyed buttons on the top and a RGB light strip that is basically a straight line - below the xboom logo. Setting up the xboom Grab is where the less-than-fun part began. LG forces you to use their ThinQ "everything" mobile app and I personally believe that was a horrible choice. ThinQ is highly geared towards home appliances, TVs & home automation gear ... and I feel that these Bluetooth speakers fall outside that realm. Furthermore, there's a ton of bloat & intrusion within ThinQ that seems totally unnecessary & not applicable to something as simple as portable music. Mid-stream here, I have already decided that this alone would prevent me from owning one of these or one of its bigger siblings. To keep the Grab up to date with the latest firmware, you are required to use ThinQ. Ugh! But it gets worse, the EQ controls and the lighting effects leave much to be desired. First up, this speaker under-performs the competitors in the same size category. It has bass and that presents it pretty competently, but the speaker suffers from a huge amount of mid-range and the 6 band equalizer in the ThinQ app does little if anything to help improve the sound character. None of the provided sound profile presets helped either. I even tried using the more capable multi-band EQ of my own music player app and I could not get this speaker to really attenuate the overemphasized mid-range screech. Third strike: Although I do appreciate a little RGB bling, carefully placed - the light bar on the xboom Grab is pretty limited in what it offers and even has a mode that makes no sense by title. LG calls it Flickering but it is anything but that in use... I had to laugh. I'm resolved to believe that the xboom Grab was designed as a form factor and that little attention was paid to actually tuning the sound profile of this "tube". If someone just needs sound to fill a space & they want something small & easily tossed into a bag or backpack - then this might do the trick. Just keep in mind that the EQ settings (6 band EQ or Presets) do little to make this speaker good or shine. I cannot recommend this as a purchase. The same sized Sony blows this thing away, as do many other brands competing in the same space...

📦 UNBOXING: Inside the box, you’ll find the Xboom Grab, a USB C-to-C cable, and safety information slip with QR codes for the manual and app download. 💪 BUILD: The Xboom Grab feels good in the hand, is rated for IP67 to withstand rain and dust, and has straps for versatile carrying and mounting. Hanging the Xboom Grab by its strap is easy, but strapping it down to a volleyball pole is another way to make additional use out of the straps. However, each strap forms a closed loop, and there is no ability to tighten it, so the usability for additional purposes is pretty limited. Your easiest bet will be hanging the Xboom Grab anywhere you can, even if it’s not as elegant or organized. The speaker has 1 tweeter and 1 woofer, and 2 radiators (one on each end). The woofer is on the left side of the Xboom logo, and the tweeter is on the right side. The speaker has feet which orient it in the optimal listening position, which is horizontal, as opposed to a vertical position that you see in a lot of options on the market. 🛠️ SETUP: Setup with a bluetooth device is easy, although the LG ThinQ mobile app is a different story. To pair, simply power on the speaker by pressing the power button, then press the bluetooth button to put it in pairing mode, and the light bar will blink blue to show that it’s in pairing mode. From there, you can simply connect via your mobile device and begin playback. You don’t need to use the ThinQ app to use the Xboom Grab, but you can leverage a few more features with the app. Ironically, there is an LG Xboom app, but it tells you to use the ThinQ app which I found confusing rather than amusing. Additionally, you need an account to use the app which shouldn’t be necessary for a portable bluetooth speaker. Moreover, the ThinQ app forced me to assign the speaker to a room in my home during setup which doesn’t make sense for the vast majority of folks who would use a device like this unless they planned to have it plugged in and in the same room the entire time. Another thing that really irked me about the app setup experience was that I was required to select music and content preferences before it would allow me to access any of the controls for the Xboom Grab. I was not interested in using LG’s additional content services, and I’m still not. Once I reluctantly selected my content preferences, the app let me actually control the speaker. 💿 SOFTWARE: The app lets you do a number of things—some more helpful than others. While plugged in and charging, you can turn on the speaker from any previously connected device by connecting to it from your Bluetooth device list or pressing the power button from within the app. You can change it so that it’s possible to power on even when it’s not charging, but it will drain more battery this way. One important feature is the “Sound Effect” feature which is really an EQ that has “Standard”, “Bass Boost”, “Voice Enhance”, “AI Sound” or “Custom” 6-band EQ. In my experience, “AI Sound” has been good enough for me to use regularly without any strange compression anomalies that I’ve experienced on other bluetooth speakers. However, the “Custom” 6-band EQ is decent enough for people to tailor the sound a bit more to personal preferences. You can also control the lighting animations and color or rely on an “AI Lighting” feature that will analyze the content and perform lighting based on it. You can also configure the MY Button (the heart shaped button) to play LG Radio + from your smartphone, play a limited selection of Healing therapy content from SoundPill, or begin a playlist from your Apple Music library. Because of how limited the options are for configuring this button, I decided it would be best for me to keep this disabled. Additionally, you can engage the Party Link mode to play content through multiple Xboom speakers together. You can engage this feature by pressing the Party Link button on the Xboom Grab, as well. In the settings, there is also a pretty useful Sleep Timer feature which you can set up to 120 minutes. I actually tried this out by listening to audio while my partner and I doze off to sleep. I feel like it does a pretty good job. I wish this feature was a little bit more readily available instead of having to go into the settings to enable it, but I’m glad it does exist. Another interesting feature is that you can choose voice guidance or sound effects for some of the buttons on the Xboom Grab. By default, it uses sound effects, but if you prefer more explicit feedback, it can say “power on”, “power off”, “bluetooth connected”, “ready to pair”, “battery high/medium/low”. 🎛️ CONTROLS: Aside from the obvious controls on the device, holding the power button for two seconds while powered on can show the battery status on the Dot LED and lighting indicator bar. Double tapping the Play/Pause button will skip a track, and Triple-tapping will go back. Holding the play/pause button for a few seconds will trigger your phone’s smart assistant and use the built-in microphone. The controls themselves are not illuminated, which I think is a missed opportunity since they are black and blend in with the speaker’s mesh. So it’s particularly difficult to see the controls in darker environments. While I can understand it takes a stealthier approach this way, It unfortunately makes it just a bit less accessible. 🔊 SOUND: The sound quality from the Xboom Grab is decent, but there’s an element missing compared to the competition—360 degree sound. The speakers are only on one side, and so this is a very directional speaker. For someone like me who wants to use this as volleyball, it means that I would have to be more conscious of how I position the speaker so that everyone can hear the music, but since it’s not omni-directional, it also means that there will be inherent compromise to the sound quality to all listeners in a wider field compared to a speaker with a driver array that faces multiple directions. So with this in mind, I think this speaker performs decently in an intimate listening environment with a narrow field, but if you’re trying to get a wide soundfield for listeners who are spread out, it will not hold up as well as other options on the market. You can also answer calls from it, but don’t expect microphone quality to be great for the other party if you are standing far away from it. 🧐 CONCLUSION: Overall, I think the Xboom Grab is aesthetically pleasing, and I appreciate its remote power-on capabilities and its sleep timer feature, but its sound is unidirectional, so you won’t get a wide sound field if you want to bring it to outdoor events. So if you’re looking for a 360 degree sound experience, you should probably look elsewhere, but if you’re okay with the narrow field and want something that can function as a more intimate speaker either at home while plugged in or on the go, the Xboom Grab does a decent job at that. But more than anything, the ThinQ app is clunky, sometimes unresponsive, and simply does not make sense to use for a portable speaker compared to their home electronics and appliances.

Sound is good, but it lacks the punch of higher end products. But for the price it’s suitable.

This speaker has a very unique look and appearance. It is just the right size to fit in your hand well or to place in a gym bag. Even though it is round, the feet give it a secure stand that keep it stable. In addition, you can use the neatly placed Velcro straps to securely attach pretty much anywhere. I like that I can easily attach to my Jeep rollbar when my top is off. It came charged over 50% and charges with through a USB-C connection. All the control buttons are on top and easy to access. Updates and settings are controlled through the LG ThinQ application. This is very convenient because I was already using it with my LG vacuum. Connection is easy and the latest update automatically installed. There are not a lot of specific settings, which I like so it is not over complicated. You can easily configure the speaker to your current environment by enabling the automatic spacial configuration feature that adjusts settings based upon on your surroundings and where the speaker is located. Sound output is exceptional and the best I have seen in such a small compact speaker. What makes it so unique is the rubberized speakers on each end. They are designed to vibrate and feel spongy when you touch them. When sound is playing, they vibrate and provide a powerful room feeling experience. There is also a really neat LED bar on the bottom that can be configured to the color and pattern you prefer. The lights react to the music and enhances the overall impact. A bonus is that it is waterproof for use at the pool, ocean, etc. It is not designed to go underwater but is protected from water splash and rain. If you are looking for one of the best and most unique portable speakers currently available, I highly recommend this unit.

The LG Xboom grab is a great option for a relatively small speaker with great sound. The look has a modern almost industrial look. Gives it a bit of style without being overly fancy. It is IP67 rated so you won’t have any issues using it outside, but keep in mind it is not fully waterproof. Getting it wet is fine, but it’s not submersible. The battery life has been excellent. Easily getting me a full day of use. I like the carrying strap design. Although you can use it without the LG app just like any speaker, the app in this situation provides a lot more flexibility. The app allows for the typical sound equalizer options as well as lighting adjustments and LG Radio. The ability to set a sleep timer is handy if you like to fall asleep to music but don’t want to wake up to a dead battery. Most importantly, the sound quality is great. Clean sound with (for my taste) plenty of bass. Again, you can equalize sound to your taste, but overall I think most will be happy with the sound. Overall, it is a hard package to beat in the portable speaker world.

I’ve been using the LG XBOOM Grab speaker for a little over a week now and I gotta say, I’m kinda surprised how much I actually like it. I didn’t expect much, I just wanted something small and easy to carry around instead of blasting music from my phone. But now I use it basically every day. Whether I’m outside on the patio, getting stuff done around the house, or heading to the beach, I’ve been bringing it everywhere. First off, it just feels sturdy. Like for how small it is, it still feels like it can handle a little rough treatment. I’ve thrown it in my bag, had it rolling around the backseat, even dropped it once on the porch (on accident lol) and it didn’t even scratch. It’s got this nice grippy rubber around the sides and that soft fabric over the front, and it looks really sleek. It’s not heavy at all either which I love, cuz I don’t wanna be dragging something around that weighs a ton just to play music. The sound is way better than I thought it would be. For something this small it gets pretty loud, and it doesn’t get all distorted or tinny when you turn it up. It’s not like crazy bass-heavy or anything, but it’s got a nice little thump that still feels full. Vocals are clear, and even just playing some background music while cleaning or chilling outside, it just sounds good. Not like mind-blowing or anything, but clean and balanced. Like, it does exactly what I need it to. Bluetooth connects fast too, which is something I really appreciate. I’ve had some annoying speakers in the past that take forever to connect or just won’t stay linked to my phone, but this one’s been smooth the whole time. Turn it on, it connects right away, no drama. I didn’t even have to look at the instructions or anything, it’s just super easy. It also remembers the last device so every time I use it it just hooks back up without me even touching anything. The little LED light around the front is actually a cool touch too. It changes colors with the music and gives it some personality. You can turn it off if you want. There is an app for it too, which lets you adjust the EQ.Battery life’s been pretty solid so far too. I’ve used it on and off every day, probably a few hours a day, and only had to charge it once. I think it’s supposed to last around 20 hours or something like that and that feels about right based on how I’ve been using it. I like not having to plug it in constantly, especially when I’m using it outside or taking it on the go. It charges pretty fast too when you finally do need to plug it in. Design-wise, I really like how simple and clean it looks. It doesn’t have a bunch of random buttons or logos all over it, and the shape makes it easy to hold or stand up on a table. The little handle/strap is a nice bonus too, even if I haven’t really used it much. I could see myself hanging it from a bag or something if I was going for a hike or walking around with it more. Like I said, I’ve been using it all over in the kitchen, at the beach, cleaning my room, even just chilling on the porch. It’s small enough to move around easily but still gives you a good sound that fills the space. For personal use or small hangouts with friends, it’s more than enough. You don’t have to crank it all the way to get good volume either, which is nice. I feel like this is the kind of speaker that doesn’t try too hard. It’s just easy, simple, reliable, and sounds way better than your phone speaker. I don’t have to fight with it to get it to work, and I don’t have to baby it to make sure it lasts. I like that it feels like something I can use without thinking about it too much, but still enjoy every time. It’s just convenient and dependable and fun to use. Plus it looks nice sitting out, which doesn’t hurt either.

The LG Xboom Grab is a tight, rich sounding, compact Bluetooth speaker designed for portability with a rugged chassis while looking good. Sound Quality The Xboom Grab delivers impressive audio quality for its size, with its 10W tweeter and 20W woofer and passive radiators. In Bass Boost mode hits hard for such a small unit. Switching to Standard mode balances smooths things out, bringing more clarity to vocals and instruments. Out of the box, it leans a heavy on the bass, occasionally muddling the mids but the EQ can be tuned. Max volume will work for smaller to mid-sized spaces, but it drown out in larger spaces. That is completely expected for a speaker this size. Stereo playback downmixes to mono unless paired to a second unit. Portability & Durability The Xboom Grab is built for the outdoors. The IP67 rating provides dustproofing and water resistance (submersible to 1 meter for 30 minutes). The Xboom feels solid with a durable build quality with no flex or creaking on the body so tossing it in a backpack and getting knocked around seems like a non-issue. It looks like it's made to handle some abuse. Elastic side straps make it easy to mount or hang (bike frame for example) and 2 flat rubber feet a the bottom to keep it from rolling away. The straps are elastic and I wonder if over time they breakdown. The strap mounts can be removed and strap can be replaced. At just under 2lbs, it’s lightweight enough to not weigh you down too much and the 20-hour battery life, it’ll keep the sound going along your day. Controls & App Integration On-device controls are simple and responsive albeit exposed: Power Volume (+ / -) Play/Pause (with double/triple tap for track skipping) MY Button – user set one-tap access to EQ or lighting settings (via the ThinQ app), on a double press triggers AI Sound Calibration which will make on the fly EQ adjustments based on current environmental conditions you are in. The buttons are on the surface of the speaker and the only minor protection they have from accidental presses are the slightly raised elastic straps. The speaker has turned on in my bag when something pressed up against the power button. But the speaker will turn itself off after a few minuets of inactivity. The LG ThinQ app unlocks full customization, including ambient lighting effects, EQ tuning, and firmware updates. Setup does require account registration, which is always somewhat annoying. Pros Great sound for it's size Rugged - dust and waterproof build (IP67) Lightweight with elastic mounting straps 20-hour battery life App offers additional customization Customizable MY Button and AI sound optimization Cons Downmixes stereo unless paired Buttons subject to accidental presses when stowed App requires registration Strap durability over time is questionable Verdict The LG Xboom Grab hits a balance between design, sound performance, and real-world durability. It won't blow hair back like the memorex ad from the 80s, but it more than makes up for it in versatility, customization, and rugged build. Overall I am satisfied with the speaker and an want to pick up another one to try using it in stereo.

If you are looking for as compact portable speaker with great umph then the xboom might be your go to device with a caveat. More later on that. The design is compact with speakers on each end of the cylinder. I do love the elastic straps, giving you the ability to attach it to a backpack or even a Jeep rollbar. With the wil.i.am influenced the design and features it simple enough to use every day, good styling with the controls easily accessible. You can simply connect the XBoom to any device with Bluetooth capability, like any smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop. It functions great as it is but if you want to get more out of this speaker such as preset or customize your own equalizer settings, LED lighting effects, auto off time settings, add Apple Music playlists to the app, etc, you must install the LG ThinQ app. The controls are decent enough, although I wasn't successful adding the playlists to the app from my Apple Music but really no need to do so in the app since you can play directly through your Apple Music app or any other music app like Spotify, Youtube Music, Tidal... etc. Another feature that is pretty cool is setting up the xboom in party mode so other xboom speakers can be added for more stereo sound. It would have been nice to make it more open so you aren't limited only LG xboom speakers but I suppose that would have to be done reciprocal, meaning the other brand speakers would need to be compatible. Add that to my wish list of all portable speakers. The only complaint, and it's a big one for me, is that you have is having to create a LG account to use the LG ThinQ app to fine tune the sound. The LG ThinQ app needs your precise location to add a device. Setup requires you enter music interests, okay I can get that, but also general interests... really for a music app to fine tune a small portable speaker? Talk about privacy issues. Too much data harvesting and data hacks that I'm not really comfortable sharing all of this required data. To wrap up... if you want a good sounding speaker in a small size that has ton of potential then you should consider the xboom. You can get by without the LG ThinQ app since most device apps have equalizer controls and the xboom functions great as is. But to control the lights then you need the app or simply leave them off.

It doesn't matter if your idea of a great time outdoors involves a beach and sand or a bass boat chasing the bass of a lifetime, having some tunes close by always makes the day a little more relaxing. I have used several different Bluetooth speakers. Some have been really good and some just kind of mediocre. The LG xboom grab and go portable bluetooth speaker definitely falls in the first category. The speaker comes in a reasonably small package. The one thing I noticed was that even though the speaker is a very manageable size, it does have a bit of heft to it. To me, that gives me the impression of quality. A durable design with a strong magnet to power the racetrack woofer and passive radiators located on the end of the enclosure and a strong dome tweeter provide sound that will get you up and moving. The xboom grab also has innovative straps that allow you to keep track of the device while you are on the move. Not only does the LG xboom have out of this world sound, it is also IP 67 rated and has passed multiple military grade tests for durability. The LG xboom app is also a great tool to help adjust and operate the xboom portable. If you love music and need a speaker that has outstanding sound, high durability and plain old good looks, this speaker is the logical choice.

The LG xboom Grab Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a mighty little speaker that I am very impressed with. Opening the box, the speaker comes with a USB-C cord to power it up. The instructions are on the top of the box and QR code to scan and download the LG ThinQ app. Once I powered up the speaker and played a few songs, I was pleasantly surprised at the sound quality and bass that came out of such a small speaker. It's truly amazing how speakers and getting more compact and continues to have so much power at the same time. I was easily able to connect the speaker to the bluetooth on my phone and was able to play either the songs on my phone, or songs on Spotify with no issues. The LG ThinQ works well on my phone to make adjustments for the bass, the equalizer, as well as the lighting on the bottom of the speaker. The ThinQ app even allows you to stream radio stations and podcasts with LG Radio+. A quick test and there no issues with the streaming. The speaker is lightweight and won't take up much space inside a bag, or if you're able to strap it with the elastic straps around the speaker. The LG xboom Grab Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a powerful speaker and has great value for the cost.