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An unlikely AirPods rival just launched with features I've yet to see on mainstream earbuds

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The LG Xboom Buds Plus are available in Black for $180.

Their charging case features a germ-killing UV light.

The charging case also doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter.

LG's collaboration with musician will.i.am includes several earbuds and Bluetooth speakers under the Xboom namesake, but a recent launch is the most intriguing one I've seen so far. The new Buds Plus advertise a self-cleaning charging case with a built-in Bluetooth transmitter. LG announced these earbuds last fall, but availability seemed to be delayed until now.

Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How the latest standard is changing audio right before our eyes

Alongside those flashy features, the Buds Plus also include 10mm graphene drivers, six microphones for active noise cancellation, adaptive EQ, an IPX4 water resistance rating, up to 30 hours of playtime, and Bluetooth LE Audio compatibility.

Based on an early product review from Reddit, the Buds Plus' built-in Bluetooth transmitter requires a proprietary USB-C-to-3.5mm cable for non-wireless audio sources, such as a treadmill or in-flight entertainment system. Still, using the earbuds case as the transmitter eliminates the need for Bluetooth dongles.

Also: This Bluetooth Auracast receiver made me take my home theater setup much more seriously

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