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
The LG xboom Grab is acceptable for listening to music. With its Bass Boost preset enabled, it delivers a well-balanced sound through the mid and treble ranges. As a small speaker, it can't reproduce low-end thump, but there's enough high-bass punch to keep kicks and basslines audible. Unfortunately, the speaker doesn't get very loud, and at max volume, compression can remove some of that punch. It also downmixes stereo audio to mono unless paired with another unit. Bass and lower-mid frequencies sound fairly consistent from different angles, although higher-pitched elements like hi-hats sound muffled if you're behind it.
Very durable design and IP67 rating.
Lighting strip adds both fun and functionality.
Downmixes stereo content to mono, unless paired with another unit.
Doesn't get very loud.
The LG xboom Grab is subpar 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.
Very durable design and IP67 rating.
Downmixes stereo content to mono, unless paired with another unit.
Doesn't get very loud.
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 spaces. Voices also sound a bit dull if you're listening from behind the speaker, so it's best to position the logo so it faces you. That said, you can always EQ its sound to add more presence to vocals or use the included Voice Enhance preset. It also supports multi-device pairing for quick switching between your laptop and phone.
Very durable design and IP67 rating.
Lighting strip adds both fun and functionality.
Excellent battery performance.
Downmixes stereo content to mono, unless paired with another unit.
Doesn't get very loud.
The LG xboom Grab has acceptable voice assistant capabilities. It doesn't have built-in support for voice assistants, but it works 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.
Very durable design and IP67 rating.
Excellent microphone capabilities.
Doesn't get very loud.
No built-in voice assistant.
The LG xboom Grab is good for use outdoors. It's portable and rugged, with an IP67 rating that protects it from dust, splashes, and even short submersion in water, 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, kick drums can lose a little punch. 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.
Very durable design and IP67 rating.
Lighting strip adds both fun and functionality.
Excellent battery performance.
Downmixes stereo content to mono, unless paired with another unit.
Doesn't get very loud.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 28, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0.1. This includes the Test Bench 1.0 updates to all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness, as well as the revised Low-Frequency Extension calculation and related DRC updates introduced in Test Bench 1.0.1. There have also been text changes throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, where applicable, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our Test Bench 1.0 changelog and Test Bench 1.0.1 changelog.
- Updated Aug 11, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0, which includes new results for all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our changelog.
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Updated Jan 08, 2026:
We've updated this review to add a comparison to the LG xboom Bounce in the Frequency Response Accuracy box.
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Updated Oct 01, 2025:
The Dynamics box was updated to mention the Turtlebox Ranger.
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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 comments, 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 now fairly standard in the category, 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 has a more balanced sound, longer battery life, and support for your phone's Siri or Google Assistant, making 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.
For more, check out our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best outdoor speakers.
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 JBL gets a bit louder, but the LG has about double the JBL's battery life 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.
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.
The LG xboom Grab and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 are highly portable Bluetooth speakers with slightly different strengths. The Ultimate Ears features a 360-degree design, providing consistent sound from all angles, doesn't downmix your audio to mono, gets a little louder, and boasts a slightly longer battery life. On the other hand, the LG offers a more balanced default sound (though you can EQ both speakers in their companion apps) with greater punch in the bass. It also supports your phone's Siri or Google Assistant, unlike the Ultimate Ears. The choice really comes down to your particular priorities.
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 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.
Test Results
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