3 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Speakers

Speakers are foundational to the way we enjoy music from Spotify, Apple Music, and other services — and our own music collections. And increasingly, they’re also a convenient way of controlling smart home devices compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Companies like Sonos offer multiroom audio platforms capable of synchronizing music across speakers of all different sizes. Whether you’re looking for a smart speaker or a simple Bluetooth speaker to take everywhere, The Verge covers the best of what’s out there in 2025.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Bang & Olufsen is putting its Beosound Balance smart speaker on a marble pedestal.

The smart speaker was already available with an optional marble base that boosted its price tag from $3,300 (for a solid oak base) to $3,900, but Bang & Olufsen has now partnered with Italian marble company Antolini for an even fancier version, as spotted by Engadget.

The Beosound Balance Natura speaker sits atop a tall pedestal made of materials like marble, quartz, or petrified wood. There’s no pricing details, which probably means it’s jaw-dropping expensive.

<em>Bang & Olufsen says it created a limited collection of 16 unique speakers to celebrate the partnership with Antolini, which are all made to order.</em>
<em>The Beosound Balance Natura will be available with a pedestal made from materials like marble, quartz, fossilized wood, and petrified wood.</em>
<em>Bang & Olufsen says the pedestal elevates the speaker to its optimal height for improved sound performance.</em>
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Bang & Olufsen says it created a limited collection of 16 unique speakers to celebrate the partnership with Antolini, which are all made to order.
Image: Bang & Olufsen
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Even the driver on JVC Kenwood’s wooden Bluetooth speaker is made of wood.

If you’re on the hunt for a Bluetooth speaker not made of bright plastic or filled with flashing lights, JVC Kenwood’s WDS-01 is made of oak, cedar, pine, spruce, or walnut wood including its 60-millimeter driver cone.

Battery life is claimed to be up to eight hours, but availability is going to be a challenge. Only 100 custom-made units were released in Japan today, ranging in price from around $257 to $550.

<em>The six-watt WDS-01 wireless speker is recharged using USB-C.</em>
<em>Despite the premium pricing, JVC Kenwood warns that since it’s made of solid wood warping or cracking may occur over time.</em>
<em>There is no water resistance. JVC Kenwood recommends keeping it dry and away from sunlight to preserve its appearance.</em>
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The six-watt WDS-01 wireless speker is recharged using USB-C.
Image: JVC Kenwood
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
You can use this unfortunately-named ultra-thin Bluetooth speaker under your pillow.

Look, not every company has the budget to hire a marketing team to help name their product, particularly companies relying on crowdfunding. As much as we like the idea behind this Bluetooth speaker that’s just 11 millimeters thick so you can stick it under a pillow without feeling it, we’re not entirely comfortable referring to the SluTune Q1 by name.

You can back it on Kickstarter for $32, with delivery expected as early as May 2025.

<em>The SluTune Q1 measures just 11 millimeters thick and connects to devices using Bluetooth 5.4.</em>
<em>The speaker chargers over USB and its creators claim it offers up to 28 hours of battery life.</em>
<em>Falling asleep to music is probably more comfortable with the SluTune Q1 speaker underneath your pillow.</em>
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The SluTune Q1 measures just 11 millimeters thick and connects to devices using Bluetooth 5.4.
Image: Kickstarter
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Victrola’s Sonos-compatible turntables can now wirelessly stream to other speakers.

Through an upcoming automatic software update, Victrola is expanding the wireless compatibility of its Works With Sonos turntables to include Bluetooth, Roon, and UPnP, allowing them to connect to other speakers and audio gear.

This functionality was already introduced in 2024 with the premium Victrola Stream Sapphire, but is now being added to its Stream Carbon, Stream Pearl, and Stream Onyx turntables, as spotted by Engadget.

The Victrola Stream Onyx turntable on a white dresser next to a black Sonos speaker.
The software update will be installed automatically and users will find new options in the Victrola Stream mobile app allowing them to toggle on the additional connectivity options.
Image: Victrola
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After a bruising year, Sonos readies its next big thing: a streaming box

Codenamed Pinewood, the black box will open up new possibilities for Sonos surround sound. It doubles as an HDMI switch and will offer a unified streaming experience. But it could end up being surprisingly expensive.

Chris Welch
Chris Welch
Chris Welch
Tony Fadell pushed for Apple to buy Sonos many, many years ago.

It’s a fun exercise to think about how much would be different today if Fadell had successfully convinced Steve Jobs to acquire Sonos back when the audio company was in its earliest days. But Jobs took an adversarial view towards Sonos.

Credit to John Gruber for nailing down the “former senior Apple executive” mentioned in this piece by The Information.

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Chris Welch
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Klipsch’s new party speakers have sound effects for pumping up a crowd.

The company is expanding its Music City Bluetooth speaker lineup with three new party models that introduce RGB lighting that syncs to the music playing.

The Vegas, Miami, and New York speakers also feature a mic for karaoke and three dedicated buttons that play airhorn, record scratch, and applause sound effects in case the lights aren’t getting the party started fast enough.

The Klipsch Music City Party Speakers against a background collage of party photos.
The Klipsch Vegas Music City Party Speakers against a white background.
The Klipsch Miami Music City Party Speakers against a white background.
The Klipsch New York Music City Party Speakers against a white background.
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Klipsch’s new Music City party speakers, now available for preorder, range in price from $299 for the Vegas model, $549 for the Miami model, and $699 for the largest New York option.
Image: Klipsch
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Soundcore’s Rave 3S party speaker uses AI to remove vocals from songs.

The 200W wireless speaker also puts on a beat-synced light show and includes two wireless mics with vocal enhancement and reverb effects to improve your next karaoke performance.

The Anker brand also announced a smaller 140W Soundcore Boom 2 Pro speaker at CES that’s dustproof, waterproof, and floats, so it can join you in the pool, not just beside it.

The Soundcore Rave 3S party speaker against a colorful rendered background.
The Soundcore Boom 2 Pro against a white background.
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The Soundcore Rave 3S has a 12-hour battery and launches on March 10th for $349.
Image: Anker
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
JBL’s Horizon 3 bedside speaker wakes you with simulated sunrises.

The next version of JBL’s Bluetooth alarm clock features a larger design with two 1.5-inch speakers paired with dual passive radiators for improved sound. If you’re looking for a more gentle way to drift off or wake up, it can play relaxing nature sounds like ocean waves, or slowly illuminate a room with a built-in light to “help regulate circadian rhythms.”

The JBL Horizon 3 on a bedside table.
The JBL Horizon 3 pictured in two color options.
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The JBL Horizon 3 is expected to be available in May 2025 for around $145 (€139.99).
Image: JBL
Matter speakers could stream music and tell you when the wash is done

A former Sonos executive is looking to disrupt the smart speaker market with a new standard for Wi-Fi speakers.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
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8

Verge Score

The company closes out a difficult year with this terrific soundbar that proves Sonos still knows how to do hardware. Software, though...

Chris Welch
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Bose is collaborating with Kith again to resurrect an iconic speaker.

The company recently partnered with Kith for its Ultra Open Earbuds, but this time Ronnie Fieg is helping to redesign Bose’s 901 speakers which originally debuted in 1968, but were discontinued in 2016.

We don’t know pricing or availability details, but Fieg, who’s working with furniture designer Mark Jupiter, shared images on Instagram of the limited edition and wonderfully retro redesign.

Kith’s redesigned Bose 901 speakers next to a piece of furniture.
The front and back of Kith’s redesigned Bose 901 speakers.
Kith’s redesigned Bose 901 speakers next to a piece of furniture.
Kith’s redesigned Bose 901 speaker next to a piece of furniture.
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Bose is collaborating with Ronnie Fieg’s Kith to redesign its iconic 901 speaker.
Image: Instagram