An iconic yet discontinued line of portable Bluetooth speakers is making a grand comeback but only for a limited time.
This limited edition model of Apple's Beats Pill Plus is set for release on Friday, March 4 in a collab with the fashion brand Stüssy, The Verge reported. The original Beats Pill Plus was first introduced in 2015, following Apple's $3 billion acquisition of Beats by Dre in 2014.
This new version of the Beats Pill Plus comes after Apple quietly discontinued the product in January. It will retain its original design, with a sleek black and white skull and crossbones graphic on the front of the speaker. A message appears on the top of the speaker saying, "The only good system is a sound system."
Stüssy Beats Pill Plus Availability and Pricing: On Sale in U.S. at $185
According to the Stüssy website, the new Beats Pill Plus will merge that Southern California design with "a rich, clear sound field" that should enhance the listening experience of users anywhere. As per MacRumors, the new Beats Pill Plus will be priced at $185 in the U.S.
Digital Trends further reported that the Beats Pill Plus will only be available in Stüssy stores and online in the U.S., Canada, U.K., The Netherlands, Korea, and Japan. It however stated that the speaker would cost $179 in U.S. stores.
After Apple discontinued the Beats Pill Plus last January, the tech giant has not indicated any plans to introduce a new version or another line of portable Bluetooth speakers. It may still do so in the near future, but for now, this limited edition Stüssy offering is the only model available.
Stüssy came to be in the 1980s and has become a favorite fashion brand among surfers and skaters, ahead of its widespread mainstream consumer adoption. Its skulls and bones design on the Beats Pill Plus had been identified with skater culture in the 1980s and 1990s, seen in such brands as Santa Cruz, Skull Skates and Powell Peralta.
Beats indicated Stüssy's commitment to produce "relevant and good quality clothing at a reasonable price...at select stores worldwide in limited quantities," which is consistent with their push for the new Beats Pill Stüssy model.
Beats Pill Plus Features: Speakerphone Capability with Active Two-Way Crossover System
Beats Pill Plus is a compact Bluetooth speaker that could also be used as a speakerphone with its built-in mic. There are top-mounted buttons for users to manage volume settings, play or pause tracks, and even control phone calls. The rechargeable battery offers 12-hours of use while on moderate volume. It also has a USB-A port at the back that can be used as a power bank to charge other devices.
The speaker can generate stereo sound through its active two-way crossover system, and can also pair with a second Beats Pill Plus for increased volume output and coverage, or for enhanced channel separation. However, it does not have any sort of IPX rating for water resistance, which is common among other similar offerings in the market.
