LG TONE Platinum SE Brings Google Assistant To Headphone Line

It's been a while since we've heard from LG's self-branded wireless audio lineup, especially its around-the-neck TONE headphones. Given its newfound obsession over AI (ThinQ) and its preference for Google Assistant, you'd think (not ThinQ) it would be a match made in heaven. That has finally happened with at least one new TONE headphones that LG will be showing off at IFA 2018 next week. And while the TONE Platinum SE flaunts Google Assistant, the TONE Ultra SE touts an external speaker instead.

It's surprising that LG didn't actually call it the LG TONE Platinum SE ThinQ. Regardless, the neckband headphone features a dedicated button to trigger Google Assistant so you won't have to say "OK Google" all the time. What's more, it can also launch Google Translate in no time flat, making multilingual conversations a bit easier.

While the LG TONE Ultra SE doesn't have the smarts, it does have an extra mouth. It features an external mono speaker so that you can continue listening to your music or talking over the phone without blocking out ambient sound. The catch is that others will hear it too.

Despite their difference, the TONE Platinum SE and TONE Ultra SE share almost everything else in common. They have dual MEMS microphones, for example, for voice clarity. LG also talks about using a hybrid unit composed of a balanced armature and a dynamic driver that's usually only found in professional in-ear monitors.

LG hasn't yet noted the availability of these two new audio accessories. IFA 2018 attendees, however, will have a chance to hear everything it has to say next week.