IKEA Unveils $15 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker That Lasts Up To 80 Hours

With the myriad speaker options available in the market, a lot of the decision-making hinges on an individual product’s features, price point, and, of course, personal taste.

But for those who aren’t looking to shell out the big bucks for a speaker that won’t go kaput in the shower, IKEA’s latest offering might just be it. The furniture chain recently released VAPPEBY, its latest portable Bluetooth speaker.

Scheduled to begin retailing in stores this April, the gadget is a new addition to the brand’s growing electronics range at a relatively affordable price point. It blends the firm’s simple design aesthetic with function and durability.

According to the company, the speaker promises up to 80 hours of total playtime at 50% volume—allowing for many, many karaoke sessions in the shower in between charges.

Furthermore, the VAPPEBY can be doubled up and connected to another version of the same speaker for greater output. The device—which has been tested to IP67 standards to withstand dust and water—will be available in black, yellow, and red.

Impressively, the portable speaker is dust-tight and can survive being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, though it’s probably not the best idea to bring the gadget into the bath or pool.

“The fundamental goal with the new speaker was to offer quality sound in a versatile product that can really be used anywhere,” said Stjepan Begic, Product Design Developer at IKEA.

“The speaker was designed with simplicity and clear functions in mind making it a very user-friendly solution. We hope customers will embrace the speaker, and we hope it adds value to their lives by enabling them to enjoy sound experiences from anywhere.”

[via Engadget and Digital Trends, images via IKEA]