This isn’t a drill: it is an inexpensive and absolutely waterproof Bluetooth speaker (sorry).
I really lined the IKEA Vappeby’s preliminary US launch over a month in the past, and famous the hook in my bathe that might be excellent for it. And now it is lastly available for purchase on the large blue superstore within the UK and different elements of the world – and this information is worthy of your consideration. Need one? I would not suppose an excessive amount of on it…
Admittedly, low-cost and cheerful flat-pack furnishings does not are inclined to play effectively with high quality hi-fi merchandise (ever tried to put your system on a wobbly desk?), however IKEA has had notable successes within the audio sector – the corporate’s document participant collab with Swedish Home Mafia, the Sonos-certified Symfonisk Desk Lamp Speaker (which additionally is available in a floor-standing model) and its Image Body with Wi-Fi Speaker are only a few examples.
Now, IKEA has added to its entry-level Vappeby lineup with a tiny Bluetooth speaker, and if it appears to be like like a cleaning soap on a rope, that is as a result of it was designed primarily for the bathe. The very best bit? It is priced at simply $15 / £12 / AU$22 (opens in new tab), and it is accessible now.
Opinion: for this cash, IKEA has knocked it out the park but once more
What else can I let you know? It is silicone-coated to attain an IP67 waterproof and dustproof score (it might probably really be submerged in water as much as one meter deep and survive for half-hour), and measures simply three inches sq. and two inches deep.
So it’s going to most likely final you a couple of hours at finest, proper? No, no! Probably the most shocking facet of this little belter is that you would be able to chuck it in your bathe and depart it for weeks, due to the claimed 80 hours of battery life at 50% quantity. For readability, that stamina crushes its closest competitors (the dinky Tribit Stormbox Micro 2, which is sonically stellar however boasts solely 12 hours), in addition to a few of the finest Bluetooth audio system available on the market – and that features the finest waterproof audio system of 2023.
The IKEA Vappeby moveable Bluetooth speaker doesn’t come bundled with a USB-C charger, however we have all bought a type of kicking round by now, have not we?
You possibly can stereo-pair two of them to degree up your in-shower playlist, and it is available in black, pink or yellow finishes – and for me, the yellow one appears to be like the soapiest.
Will it sound good? Ah, there’s the rub. Then once more, that is a-coffee-and-a-cake cash (in the event you stay within the UK anyway) for what on paper is a just about unbreakable little speaker – and I actually wish to hear it.
Once more, in the event you’ve learn to the top of this piece and you’re contemplating shopping for one, I would not learn it once more…
