Ikea introduces new Bluetooth speakers Solskydd and Kulglass

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The Swedish furniture company Ikea has introduced two new Bluetooth speakers. The two new products are part of a larger collection that the company announced after the end of the partnership with Sonos. Similar to the Blomprakt speaker lamp announced in the summer, the new speakers, named Solskydd and Kulglass, also combine technology with design. They are intended not only to deliver sound but also to integrate as decoration into the room.

"We treat speakers with the same care as the rest of the house, so that they contribute to the atmosphere and personality of a room not only through their sound but also through their shape, color, and character," explains Sara Ottosson, Product Developer at IKEA of Sweden, in the product announcement.

To achieve this, Ikea collaborated with designer and colorist Tekla Evelina Severin. Through design and color tones rather unconventional for technology, they aim to "bring softness and friendliness into technology to help people see home electronics differently and bring more color into their everyday lives," explains the designer about the approach of the new products. The design of the Solskydd speakers comes from long-time Ikea collaborator Ola Wihlborg.

Solskydd: Round speakers in three sizes

With Solskydd, Ikea is introducing a whole family of round speakers in three different sizes. The smallest model, measuring 8 inches ($79.99), features a single 2.5-inch driver housed behind a fabric cover with an orange checkerboard pattern. Despite its compact construction, the speaker is said to produce up to 80.5 dB of volume. It also has a rechargeable battery with up to 25 hours of runtime and can be transported.

The slightly larger 11-inch ($99.99) version of the Solskydd features a 1-inch tweeter with a 4-inch woofer, which are said to produce up to 83.6 dB of volume. The speaker is covered with a fabric finish with brown and beige diagonal stripes. Like the eight-inch model, the speaker can be hung on the wall or placed on an included display stand.

The largest 18-inch ($139.99) model has a 1-inch tweeter and two 4-inch woofers with a power output of up to 93.6 dB. The fabric cover has an orange texture; the speaker is designed exclusively for wall mounting. Furthermore, the two larger models offer three different EQ settings; all three versions of the Solskydd are also available in white.

Spotify Tap and Multi-Speaker Function

In addition to Bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth 5.3), the new Ikea speakers, similar to the "Nattbad" and "Blomprakt" presented in July, feature Spotify Tap. With this function, it is possible to resume the last played Spotify playlist at the touch of a button or discover new music based on your listening habits.

They also support connecting multiple speakers. Thus, two speakers can be used in a stereo configuration for left and right, for example, to output the sound of a television.

Kulglass: Speaker lamp in soft-serve ice cream design

With the Kulglass model ($129.99), Ikea complements the Blomprakt speaker lamp. The new speaker lamp is offered in green and reddish-brown tones with pink and is intended to "unite light, sound, and color in one." The "swirling lampshade" of the luminaire is said to be inspired by soft-serve ice cream.

The new products are expected to go on sale worldwide starting December 2025, however, market launch dates will vary by market. Ikea has not yet revealed European prices.

(afl)