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These second-gen solar headphones give us hope for a truly cordless future
Urbanista's new headphones and earbuds can be charged indoors and outdoors
If you’re hunting for a new pair of wireless headphones, you have so much more to choose from than just Apple AirPods. The wireless audio market has largely expanded over the past few years, and there are now headphones to cater to seemingly every need. Whether you’re a casual listener or you require musician-caliber technology, you have an abundance of choice. Now, Urbanista is launching a second generation of its popular wireless headphones and earbuds, and it’s making battery concerns a thing of the past.
You may never have to charge this Bluetooth speaker
The solar-powered Urbanista Malibu has me excited for the future of low-power accessories
Swedish lifestyle brand Urbanista has made a name for itself by integrating solar power into its excellent audio products like its Los Angeles Bluetooth headphones, essentially making it possible to forget about USB charging altogether for most regular users. At IFA 2023, the company is back with the solar-powered Urbanista Malibu, an outdoor Bluetooth speaker that has the potential to never run out of battery.
These headphones could finally deliver on the dream of endless solar charging
With a built-in solar charger, the company hopes you'll never run out of juice
Although some of us still mourn the loss of 3.5mm jacks, the truth is that wireless headphones and earbuds offer a whole lot more convenience. Without a cable, the days of having buds ripped from your ears as you innocently pass by a door handle are long gone. Of course, wireless audio introduces another gadget you have to keep charged up, and that can be a pretty frustrating experience. Urbanista's new ANC-equipped headset looks to ensure you never lose out on your favorite tunes again, all through the power of solar.
When Apple debuted the Airpods Pro in 2019, it took what customers loved from Airpods and added active noise cancellation, better sound quality, and a sealed in-ear design. The combination of simplicity, reliability, and convenience makes them some of the world's most popular wireless earbuds. Many clones have been created, but some copy the formula better than others. Swedish company Urbanista's new London earbuds cost $149 and offer touch controls, wireless charging, and ANC — pretty much everything that Apple's Airpods Pro do but for significantly less cash. And while they succeed in a number of ways, there are also some potential deal breakers involved.