Meet the Urbanista Malibu: A solar-powered Bluetooth speaker

Urbanista

Urbanista’s new Bluetooth speaker, the Malibu, has a solar edge. It uses Exeger’s Powerfoyle solar cells to extend its battery life, drawing charge from any light. It's set to cost US$149 (around CA204) when it launches in late September.

The Malibu's built-in 3,600mAh battery can last up to 30 hours on its own. But in the sun, it could stretch to 45 hours of playback. And indoors (near a window), it could go for six months without running out of juice. Urbanista thinks its speaker could last forever if used and recharged in sunny environments.

You can track the Malibu’s charging levels with its companion app. The app also lets you tweak the speaker’s sound profile. But don’t expect the Malibu to gain charge while playing music in the sun. "With a Bluetooth speaker, when you increase the volume, the power consumption is exponential," Urbanista product director Mårten Sahlén tells Wired.

The Urbanista Malibu is a solid Bluetooth speaker in other ways. It has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so it can handle some splashes and dirt. You can also pair two Malibus for stereo playback. And it has a USB-C port for when you need a quick charge.

Source