Urbanista’s latest Bluetooth speaker, the Malibu, incorporates innovative solar cell technology, promising virtually limitless battery life. Building upon the success of Urbanista’s previous solar-powered audio devices like the Los Angeles over-ear headphones and Phoenix earbuds, the Malibu leverages Exeger’s Powerfoyle solar cells, capable of harnessing energy from both indoor and outdoor light sources.
According to Wired, the Malibu features a 3,600mAh built-in battery that typically provides around 30 hours of battery life. However, when exposed to sunlight, this can extend to a theoretical 45 hours of playback.
Even when used indoors near a window, you can expect up to six months of usage before the battery depletes. Under ideal conditions of constant sunlight exposure and occasional indoor recharging by a window, the speaker’s battery life could effectively last indefinitely.
Urbanista offers a companion app for monitoring Malibu’s charging status and provides information on solar power input. Unlike Urbanista’s solar-powered headphones, the Malibu won’t recharge during use in sunny environments due to the exponential increase in power consumption with higher volume levels. Additionally, the app offers EQ controls for customizing the speaker’s sound profile.
Regarding its specifications as a Bluetooth speaker, the Malibu boasts an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, ensuring protection against solids and limited water submersion. Users also have the option to pair two Malibu speakers for stereo playback. It comes equipped with a USB-C port for conventional charging and will be available in black and grey colour options.
This groundbreaking speaker will be available for $149 (£149 / €169) when it hits the market. Malibu will be available worldwide from late September 2023 click here to find out more.
