LG xboom Grab  Speaker Review

Reviewed Jun 13, 2025 at 12:00pm
Writing modified Jan 08, 2026 at 10:20am
Tested using Methodology v0.8 
LG xboom Grab

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  1. Recommended in:
  2. Shower

The LG xboom Grab is a portable Bluetooth speaker developed in collaboration with the musician will.i.am. Its robust construction meets IP67 standards for dust and water resistance, and the brand claims it passes seven military-standard durability tests, making it well-spec'd for use outdoors. It also offers features like sound calibration, lighting effects, and Auracast support, while its built-in microphone lets you take calls hands-free.

Our Verdict

0.0
Music 

The LG xboom Grab is okay for listening to music. With its Bass Boost preset enabled, it delivers a well-balanced sound that closely tracks our target curve through the mid- and treble ranges. Of course, as a small speaker, it can't reproduce low-end thump, but there's enough mid-bass punch to keep kicks and basslines feeling exciting. Unfortunately, the speaker can't get very loud, and at max volume, it compresses your audio, which can remove some of that aforementioned punch. It also downmixes stereo audio to mono unless paired with another unit. Still, the sound quality doesn't change too much depending on your listening angle, although it's not a true 360-degree speaker, so you'll notice higher-pitched elements like hi-hats sound muffled if you're behind it.

Pros
  • Very durable design and IP67 rating.

  • Lighting strip adds both fun and functionality.

Cons
  • Downmixes stereo content to mono, unless paired with another unit.

  • Doesn't get very loud.

0.0
Videos/Movies 

The LG xboom Grab is sub-par for watching videos. Its compact size limits how loud it can get, so it struggles to fill larger rooms with sound, and it lacks the low-bass needed to reproduce rumbly sound effects. Still, the mid-range is well-balanced, so voices sound true-to-life. Unless paired with another unit, this speaker downmixes your audio to mono, so movie soundtracks lose some of their immersive feel. Finally, latency is fairly high via Bluetooth, which can lead to noticeable lip-sync issues. That said, some devices and apps compensate for this in different ways.

Pros
  • Very durable design and IP67 rating.

Cons
  • Downmixes stereo content to mono, unless paired with another unit.

  • Doesn't get very loud.

0.0
Podcasts 

The LG xboom Grab is good for listening to podcasts. Its compact, portable design makes it easy to move from room to room, so you can take your favorite shows with you throughout your house. However, the speaker doesn't get very loud, so it works best in smaller to average-sized rooms. Voices will also sound a bit dull if you're listening from behind the speaker, so it's best to position the logo facing you for the best sound. That said, you can always EQ its sound to add more presence to vocals or use the included Voice Enhance preset. And it supports multi-device pairing for quick switching between your laptop and phone.

Pros
  • Very durable design and IP67 rating.

  • Lighting strip adds both fun and functionality.

  • Excellent battery performance.

Cons
  • Downmixes stereo content to mono, unless paired with another unit.

  • Doesn't get very loud.

0.0
Voice Assistant 

The LG xboom Grab has acceptable voice assistant capabilities. It doesn't have built-in support for voice assistant, but it will work with your phone's Siri or Google Assistant. When paired with a compatible iOS or Android device, the speaker's built-in microphone is impressively responsive, accurately picking up voice commands even from across the room or in noisy environments.

Pros
  • Very durable design and IP67 rating.

  • Excellent microphone capabilities.

Cons
  • Doesn't get very loud.

  • No built-in voice assistant.

0.0
Outdoors 

The LG xboom Grab is good for using outdoors. It's portable and rugged, with an IP67 rating that protects it from dust, splashes, and even submersion in water for short periods, making it ideal for poolside or beach use. LG also claims it passes seven military-grade durability tests. It offers excellent battery life of over 10 hours of playback, and you can stretch that even further by reducing the volume or disabling the lighting feature. Unfortunately, it doesn't get loud enough to fill a garden with sound, and at higher volumes, you may notice compression artifacts like pumping in the bass region. Still, its balanced mids and treble and rugged design make it a good companion for outdoor adventures, as long as you don't expect it to start a dance party.

Pros
  • Very durable design and IP67 rating.

  • Lighting strip adds both fun and functionality.

  • Excellent battery performance.

Cons
  • Downmixes stereo content to mono, unless paired with another unit.

  • Doesn't get very loud.

  • 0.0
    Music
  • 0.0
    Videos/Movies
  • 0.0
    Podcasts
  • 0.0
    Voice Assistant
  • 0.0
    Outdoors
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jan 08, 2026: 

      We've updated this review to add a comparison to the LG xboom Bounce in the Frequency Response Accuracy box.

    2.  Updated Oct 01, 2025: 

      The Dynamics box was updated to mention the Turtlebox Ranger.

    3.  Updated Aug 25, 2025: 

      We referenced the Anker Soundcore Boom 3i in the Build Quality box.

    4.  Updated Jun 13, 2025: Review published.

    Check Price

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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The LG xboom Grab comes in a single 'Black' variant, and you can see a photo of our unit's label here.

    If you encounter a different variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review. 

    Popular Speaker Comparisons

    The LG xboom Grab enters the crowded field of portable, outdoors-ready Bluetooth speakers and does a sterling job standing up to the competition. In addition to its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which is fairly standard for the category now, LG touts its extra-strong durability, having passed seven MIL-STD-810H military-grade tests. While the JBL Flip 7 gets louder and has a higher IP68 rating, and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 offers 360-degree sound and stereo playback, the LG's more balanced sound, longer battery life, and support for your phone's Siri or Google Assistant make it more of an all-rounder than both. That said, the LG's funky will.i.am-inspired design with built-in light strips may not appeal to everyone. If you're in search of something sleeker, the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) is a worthy pick for its understated design and slightly more balanced default sound. Finally, if your budget can't quite stretch to the LG, consider something like the Sony ULT FIELD 1. While the LG offers longer battery life, the Sony still puts out a fairly balanced sound with a good amount of warmth in the bass.

    For more, check out our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best outdoor speakers.

    JBL Flip 7

    Track

    The LG xboom Grab and the JBL Flip 7 are both outdoors-oriented portable Bluetooth speakers. They're both suitably rugged, with the JBL having the higher IP68 rating, but the LG has passed seven military-standard durability tests in addition to having an IP67 rating. In practice, these are both more than ready for a trip to the beach or poolside. The LG is a little larger and puts out a bit more bass, although the JBL has a notably louder max volume. The LG has a battery life that's about double the JBL's and also supports your phone's Siri or Google Assistant via its built-in mic. The LG is the better pick overall, but the choice may come down to your existing ecosystem, since both offer Auracast-powered Party modes with other speakers from their respective brands. 

    LG xboom Bounce

    Track

    The LG xboom Grab and the LG xboom Bounce are similar speakers, both designed in collaboration with will.i.am. They're both very portable and feature IP67 ratings against water submersion and dust damage, but have different strengths otherwise. The Bounce features a longer 25-hour battery life and can playback stereo content without downmixing to mono. It can also get quite a bit louder, without compressing as much at max volume. That said, the Grab has much better bass extension, resulting in a fuller sound overall. 

    Sony ULT FIELD 1

    Track

    The LG xboom Grab and the Sony ULT FIELD 1 are both rugged, portable Bluetooth speakers with IP67 ratings, making them well-suited for outdoor use. The LG is the better pick due to its 10-hour battery life, which is significantly longer than the Sony's 6 hours, and more balanced sound. The LG also supports multi-speaker Party Mode pairing with other LG speakers via Auracast. The Sony only supports stereo pairing with another unit. Still, while the LG is the better speaker, the Sony is often available much cheaper, so the choice might come down to price. 

    Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)

    Track

    The LG xboom Grab and the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) are both compact, portable Bluetooth speakers designed with the outdoors in mind. The Bose has a sleeker, more understated design, while the LG takes a funkier approach, with a colorful light strip (which you can turn off if you prefer). They're both IP67 rated for water and dust resistance, so they both suit a park hang or camping trip. They'll both work with your phone's Siri or Google Assistant. The Bose has a slightly more balanced sound out of the box, but the LG is probably the more practical outdoor pick due to its slightly more rugged design and longer battery life. Still, both these speakers serve a similar purpose.

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    Test Results

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    Design
    Style
    RGB LightsLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Portability
    Volume
    LockedLock in³ (Lock cm³)
    Weight
    LockedLock lbs (Lock kg)
    Power Source
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    One-Hand Carry
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    0.0
    Build Quality
    Material Quality
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    Water Resistance
    LockedLocked
    Dust Resistance
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    Impact Resistance
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    Floats In Water
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    0.0
    Controls
    Ease Of Use
    LockedLocked
    Feedback
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    Music Play/Pause
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    Call Answer/End
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    Volume Up/Down
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    Track Next/Previous
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    Microphone On/Off
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    Additional Controls
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    In The Box

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    Sound
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    Frequency Response Accuracy
    Slope
    LockedLock
    Std. Err.
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    LockedLock Hz
    High-Frequency Extension
    LockedLock kHz

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    Raw Frequency Response
    Binaural Recording @ 1m
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    Binaural Recording @ 2m
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    0.0
    Soundstage
    Directivity Index
    LockedLock dB
    Stereo
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Dynamics
    SPL @ Max Volume
    LockedLock dB SPL
    DRC @ Max Volume
    LockedLock dB

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    Active Features
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    Battery
    Battery Life
    LockedLock hrs
    Charge Time
    LockedLock hrs
    Power Saving
    LockedLocked
    Charging Port
    LockedLocked
    Battery Powered
    LockedYes

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    0.0
    Voice Assistant
    Alexa
    LockedLocked
    Google Assistant
    LockedLocked
    Speakerphone
    LockedYes
    Siri
    LockedLocked
    Voice Assistant
    LockedYes
    Voice Activation
    LockedLocked
    Microphone Mute
    LockedLocked
    Far-Field Performance
    LockedLocked
    Ambient Noise Performance
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    App
    App Name
    LockedLocked
    iOS
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    Android
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    EQ
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    Stereo Pair Mode
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    Party Mode
    LockedLocked
    Multi-Room
    LockedLocked

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    Connectivity
    Wired
    Aux Input
    LockedLocked
    USB Audio
    LockedLocked
    Other Ports
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth
    LockedYes
    Bluetooth Version
    LockedLocked
    Bluetooth iOS Latency
    LockedLock ms
    Bluetooth Android Latency
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    Bluetooth Range
    LockedLock ft (Lock m)
    Multi-Device Pairing
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    0.0
    Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi Version
    LockedLocked
    Wi-Fi Frequency Band
    LockedLocked
    Wi-Fi
    LockedNo
    Apple AirPlay
    LockedLocked
    AirPlay Latency
    LockedN/A
    Google Chromecast
    LockedLocked
    Chromecast Latency
    LockedN/A