Ikea’s new £12 speaker gets a design your Amazon Echo can’t match

Speaker brands around the world will be sweating nervously, as IKEA has announced a waterproof speaker that comes with an irresistible price. The Swedish company famous for its affordable furniture has unveiled plans to expand on its growing home electronics range with the launch of the new waterproof VAPPEBY portable Bluetooth speaker. Aside from its long battery life, the most appealing part of this new speaker is its price, as multiple reports note that the new music maker will be priced at just $15 (£12).

IKEA added that this speaker, designed to use in the shower, is expected to be sold globally in April, which is two weeks away.

If for whatever reason you aren’t able to buy it immediately, don’t panic, because the company confirmed that the speaker will remain long-term in the company’s range.

Stjepan Begic, Product Design Developer at IKEA of Sweden said: “We are delighted to introduce the new waterproof VAPPEBY portable Bluetooth speaker.

“The fundamental goal with the new speaker was to offer quality sound in a versatile product that can really be used anywhere”.

The new Vappeby looks like is designed to provide the ultimate music experience in the shower.

And, if you buy two of them, they can be paired offering a more stereo sound experience as you take your morning rinse.

IKEA promised that the portable speakers have playtime for a total of 80 hours at 50 percent volume. They will be available in three colours, including black, yellow and red, and will connect to your phone, computer, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device.

The speaker is tested according to IP67, which indicates its ability to withstand dust and water. The device is dust tight and can endure being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes.

Mr Begic added: “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”.

The Vappeby portable speaker’s biggest advantage will be its price, as currently, popular waterproof speakers like the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 and the Sonos Roam SL are vastly more expensive.

Costing £129 on Amazon, the Megaboom 3 will undoubtedly provide a far superior sound quality. However, the IKEA speaker may be perfect for those of us who don’t want to blow huge wads of cash on a speaker to use for less than five minutes a day in a shower.