When shopping for a portable speaker, two of the most important features are size and battery life. After all, no one wants to carry a brick around in their backpack -- especially if a dead battery is going to make that speaker as useful as an actual brick.
B&O Play just announced a super-small speaker that's also the perfect travel companion. Designed by Cecilie Manz, the Beoplay A1 is B&O Play's smallest Bluetooth speaker to date. In fact, it can fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.
That doesn't mean that this palm-sized speaker doesn't pack a wallop. Measuring just 5.2-by-1.9 inches, it has an aluminum cone mid-woofer, a silk dome 0.75-inch tweeter, and a dedicated DSP algorithm with high-slope filtering. That mid-woofer has both a neodymium magnetic system and high-peak power amps, which means that this tiny speaker can play bass as low as 40Hz. Also worth mentioning is that the design isn't just nice to look at, but also boasts a 360-degree soundscape.
However, one of the most impressive things about this tiny speaker is how much you can get out of it. The rechargeable 2200mAh Li-Ion battery promises up to 24 hours' worth of portable playtime, thanks to amp control and the company's Adaptive Power Management feature.
Although this slick speaker doesn't have any protruding buttons or legs, it does have plenty of other perks. In addition to what's mentioned above, it has a contoured aluminum dome that looks cool and protects it from damage, as well as speakerphone features.
"We wanted to make a portable speaker that people would not leave at home," said Manz. "The size and shape of the speaker invites you to pick it up and bring it with you as the most natural thing. The combination of premium materials, cool aluminum, soft polymer, and the warm touch of leather makes it almost desirable to hold. I like the fact that the rounded, circular shape very clearly indicates the sharing of sound while lying on the table."
The Beoplay A1 is available now in moss green and "natural" color options. It's priced at $249 each.
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