LG Electronics has released its wireless earphone “LG Tone Free” in the U.S. market. LG Electronics is planning to accelerate its efforts to tap global wireless earphone markets by expanding its release of Tone Free to Europe and Asia starting with the U.S. this year.
Ton Free is a fully wireless earphone that was first introduced in South Korea under the name “Tone+ Free” in October last year. It has applied signal processing technology. And tuning technology (EQ) of British high-end audio company Meridian Audio. It also offers four EQs on its own.
LG also reduces harmful bacteria in earphones by applying UV Nano function using ultraviolet light to earphones’ charging cases. It has battery performance that can play music continuously for up to six hours and IPX4 grade waterproof function.
LG Electronics entered the wireless earphone market somewhat late. Although it released a wireless earphone with the same name as ‘Tone Plus Free’ in 2017, it was designed as a detachable neckband. This is the first time that the company has released a full-fledged wireless earphone in addition to a neckband-type product.
The prospect of wireless earphone market for LG
Currently, the wireless earphone market is growing rapidly with Apple at the center. According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, the global wireless earphone market grew rapidly. It was1 million units in 2016 to 15 million units in 2017. Then 35 million units in 2018 and 107 million units in 2019.
Of the total, the market share of Apple’s AirPod series stood at 54.4%, or 58.7 million units, as of last year. Xiaomi came in third with 8.5 percent, or 9.1 million units. And Samsung Electronics came in third with 6.9 percent, or 7.4 million units.
The wireless earphone market is expecting a growth to 220 million units this year, 370 million in 2021, 600 million in 2022 and 1.2 billion in 2024. LG Electronics plans to target the premium wireless earphone market. The local price of the Tone Plus Free is KRW259,000 ($222), about KRW70,000 lower than Apple’s “AirPod Pro.”
