If you love listening to loud music on the go, you’ll appreciate a portable Bluetooth speaker that can keep up with you. But most wireless speakers run out of battery after a few hours, especially if you blast the volume or play nonstop tunes. The Urbanista Malibu wants to solve this problem by using a solar panel to extend its battery life.
The Urbanista Malibu is a compact wireless speaker that uses Exeger’s Powerfoyle, a flexible and seamless solar panel that can charge from ambient light. (Urbanista has used this on a couple of its headphones already.)
But unlike other solar-powered devices that look clunky and industrial, the Urbanista Malibu has a sleek and stylish design that integrates the solar panel smoothly. You can hang it on your backpack, belt loop, or strap with its attached lanyard and enjoy music all day.
The Urbanista Malibu has dual 10-watt amplifiers that promise a powerful, punchy sound. You can also pair it with another Malibu speaker for a true stereo experience.
Power efficiency is what makes it stand out, though. Urbanista designed every part of the speaker with energy saving in mind, from its shape to its components. It also has a low-power mode that reduces the bass output and doubles the playtime.
You can get up to 20 hours of use in a dark room, or up to 40 hours in low-power mode. But for the latter, Urbanista emphasized it’s still actively testing this feature so the final numbers might change.
You can expect the Urbanista Malibu to last even longer in the sun, as it continuously charges while playing music. Urbanista estimates that an average sunny day can increase the battery life by 50 percent. But many factors are in play here, especially since sunlight intensity varies worldwide. You can always use the USB-C port if you want to quickly top up, though.
The Urbanista Malibu is not just a solar-powered speaker; it’s built to be a smart and sustainable speaker. It’s designed to be easily disassembled and have its battery replaced, without compromising its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It also has an app that shows you how much solar energy you’ve harvested and how to optimize your usage.
The Urbanista Malibu is expected to launch in late September for USD 149.
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