Urbanista Malibu: a unique solar Bluetooth speaker

Urbanista has unveiled its latest innovation, a solar-powered Bluetooth speaker called the Malibu. The Solar Speaker reflects the company's dedicated approach to energy efficiency, while combining high-quality sound with design and an immersive experience for outdoor enthusiasts.

The high-quality, waterproof Urbanista Malibu solar speaker is a feast for the eyes. Photo: Urbanista

After the successful launch of two pairs of solar headphones, Urbanista is ready with another eco-friendly technological innovation: a solar-chargeable Bluetooth speaker called Malibu. The first solar speaker in the world was created to tackle new challenges on the way to sustainable solutions and a better user experience.

The Malibu was presented at the last IFA 2023 trade fair, and some foreign media have already named it the "BEST SPEAKER INNOVATION" of this year.

The Urbanista brand's approach to solar-powered devices is much more than simply adding solar-absorbing materials to them. They focus on products that are energy efficient, so that they can make the most of the energy provided by the sun.

Compared to solar-powered headphones, the solar Bluetooth speaker presents a particular challenge due to its higher power consumption. The Malibu Solar Speaker reflects this challenge with a unique design that allows for the installation of larger and more energy-efficient 2.5-inch drivers. At Urbanista, they explain that this type of solution is more effective than smaller components at a certain volume. The urban planner thus decided on slightly more expensive but more energy efficient components.

Integration of solar energy harvesting material

One key design element is the integration of a solar energy harvesting material called PowerFoyle developed by Exeger. The Malibu boasts around 50 percent more surface area covered by PowerFoyle – compared to the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones, giving the speaker a distinctive, slightly squarer look.

Normal mode and power saving mode

Urbanista offers two listening modes for the aforementioned speaker: a normal mode and a mode that saves energy and extends battery life at the expense of reduced bass output. The exact autonomy or playback time depends on the mode of use, with the power saving mode potentially doubling the speaker's playback time.

Solar speaker: up to 50 % longer on a normal sunny day

It is difficult to predict exactly how much the solar power supply will extend the music playback time due to the different sunlight of the place where you are. Urbanista says that continuous outdoor use on an average sunny day could increase playback by about 50 percent – from 20 to 30 hours. In any case, the fact that PowerFoyle also allows charging indoors is not negligible.

Users can monitor Malibu's historical solar charging data through the app, which can help optimize solar energy usage.

The urbanist emphasizes sustainability, but at the same time he is already thinking about future EU regulations - by 2027, devices will have to have batteries that the user can replace himself. Malibu is already designed for easy battery replacement without getting in the way of stuck-on components. Does this make you worry about water resistance? Worries are unnecessary, as the speaker is resistant to dust and water according to the IP67 standard.

With the Malibu Urbanista, it combines environmentally friendly design with high-quality sound. The urbanista speaker is this year's novelty, which promises a sustainable and enjoyable autumn - with an audio experience for lovers of outdoor activities.

For more information, ask the importer for Slovenia, Bonajo.