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Once again, Ikea amazes. The Swedish giant is preparing to launch a Bluetooth-connected lamp that also acts as a speaker and integrates Spotify Tap. Dedicated to outdoor use, this luminaire can resist water and dust.
Ikea Vappeby
Introductory price €59
Ikea is betting on connected objects and is releasing the Vappeby this month. This hybrid has the double hat of outdoor lamp and Bluetooth connected speaker. Equipped with two lighting modes and an LED whose temperature is capped at 2700 K, this lamp emits warm white only. If the user can decide to install it indoors, the main interest is above all to place it on a balcony, a terrace or in a garden. And don’t worry about the resistance of the Vappeby: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has certified it IP65. It is therefore resistant to dust and low pressure water jets.
What concerns us lies elsewhere. The Vappeby is indeed the first connected speaker, reproducing 360° sound, to be equipped with Spotify Tap. This function was previously reserved for a few headphones. Ikea shows its interest in connected objects and, more particularly, connected speakers. Remember, 2019 was the launch year for its Symfonisk range, designed with Sonos.
In fact, just press the button once to resume playing your music where you left off, even if you listened to it on another device. Two presses start another song recommended according to your musical habits. With volume and brightness set to 50%, the user can expect to listen to music for 12 hours before recharging the device via USB-C cable.
The Vappeby has three controls: the Spotify Tap, a wheel to adjust the volume and a button to pair the device via Bluetooth. @Ikea
Besides this Spotify feature, the Vappeby does not benefit from any other connectivity. The user cannot therefore hope to control the speaker remotely through voice assistants, for example.
This connected speaker lamp is now available in all Ikea stores, in blue or gray, at a price of €59.