Swedish audio maker Urbanista has lifted the lid on a new pair of true wireless earphones with a charging case that can run on solar power alone.
Following the launch of the Urbanista Los Angeles over-ear headphones last year, the brand applied a similar design philosophy to its new Phoenix Wireless Earbuds, which promise to eliminate the need for restrictive cables and charging cables thanks to a case. It charges continuously when exposed to all forms of outside or inside light.
Given how well the Los Angeles charging tech performed in testing, we're less skeptical of the Phoenix's claim to be the world's first solar-powered true wireless earbuds than we might have been. Still, it's worth noting that the need to expose your case to sunlight (i.e. the part that normally stays in your pocket) is a big drawback compared to the LA setup, where the headband houses the solar panels. more important.
However, the headphones themselves are not far behind. The Phoenix features hybrid active noise-canceling and noise-cancelling microphones that filter out ambient sounds, including a transparency mode similar to Apple's AirPods Pro earphones, while offering eight hours of playback time and a full power reserve of 32-hour battery (which are pretty good numbers in today's market).
They also have a neat auto-sleep feature, plus touch controls, voice assistant support, IPX4 sweat resistance, and USB Type-C charging (if you find yourself in a solar eclipse).
Regarding its appearance, Phoenix comes in two colors: Midnight Black (black) and Desert Rose (pink). And while they're not the slickest earbuds, their AirPods shape and custom silicone tips are right up there with the times.
As for pricing, the latest Urbanista buds will retail for $149 / £129 (around AU$220), putting them in the mid-range in line with Beat Studio Buds, but their value novelty like the first solar of the world. Wireless powered headphones could give you an edge over the competition.
We'll be testing Urbanista Phoenix as soon as they're available, so we can properly assess their value. However, anyone can guess when that will be. It's not yet officially known when the new headphones will hit the market, but Urbanista has opened a signup page on its website (opens in a new tab) if you'd like to follow along with the announcements.
For more Urbanista-related goodness, check out our reviews of the Urbanista Miami and Urbanista Stockholm wireless headphones.