LG introduced the new Tone Free headphones earlier this year, and to say we didn’t like them would be an understatement. Now the company is back with another set of headphones in the Tone Free line that adds one key feature, but is it enough to stand out against the crowded competition?

The HBS-FN7 (catchy, right?) Are basically an updated version of LG’s HBS-FN6 headphones, which means they offer a comfortable in-ear fit, Meridian-tuned sound, and even a stylish charging case that uses UV light to remove 99.9%. of certain bacteria in the internal mesh of the headphones. (No, it is probably not effective against COVID-19.) The case also features an LED light on the top that reveals the charge level and cleanliness status, which is useful.

What’s totally new about these is active noise cancellation, a first for LG’s Tone Free range. The company has equipped the FN7 with three microphones in each earpiece that monitor incoming sound waves and neutralize them. The patented rotary-fit “Vortex Ribs” on the adjustable ear gels, along with new ANC functionality, should help these buttons block out a fair amount of ambient noise.

They launch today in South Korea and should also be available in parts of North America, Europe and Asia starting later this year, although if they sound as boring as the Tone Free buttons we reviewed earlier this year, we probably recommend skip them. this track.