Urbanista brings solar-powered headphone tech to true wireless earbuds

Urbanista is following up its solar-powered over-ear headphones from ultimate yr with a couple of solar-powered true wireless earbuds referred to as the Phoenix, the corporate formally introduced nowadays. Like the headphones, Phoenix makes use of Powerfoyle solar panels produced via Exeger to lengthen their battery lifestyles with energy from the solar’s rays. But not like the Los Angeles headphones that experience photo voltaic panels constructed into the scarf, the panels aren’t integrated at the Phoenix earbuds themselves. Instead, they’re constructed into the Phoenix charging case.

The resolution to shift the solar-charging tech to the charging case is sensible given the small dimension of the earbuds. But it’s most likely to imply that customers could have to take the time to stay the photo voltaic panels directed on the solar. A headphone band on best of your head goes to be preferably positioned to pick out up the solar’s rays each time you’re the usage of them outdoor, as an example, however most of the people generally tend to stay their earbuds’ charging case of their pocket or bag whilst listening out and about.

Urbanista says the Phoenix can get 8 hours of playback from the buds themselves. Combined with the charging case, alternatively, you’re taking a look at round 32 hours of overall playback, and this must build up via round an hour for each and every hour spent in direct daylight. As with the former Los Angeles headphones, the charging standing of the Phoenix may also be tracked from Urbanista’s better half app, which additionally provides the choice of changing the earbuds EQ, or customizing its contact controls.

Away from the photo voltaic charging, different extra conventional earbuds options come with IPX4 water resistance (which must imply they’ll deal pleased with sweat however now not a heavy downpour), fortify for Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB-C charging port to best up their energy after they in the end run dry. The Phoenix earbuds fortify lively noise cancellation, have a transparency mode for listening to the sector round you, and there’s additionally the choice of connecting to two gadgets concurrently (useful for taking calls on a telephone with out forgetting a connection to a pc). Available colour choices come with black and purple.

While Exeger’s CEO Giovanni Fili confirms the Phoenix are the “world’s first Powerfoyle-powered true wireless earphones,” it’s much less transparent in the event that they’re the primary solar-powered earbuds ever. An organization referred to as Pearl Audio in the past introduced an Indiegogo campaign to fund a an identical pair of earbuds, nevertheless it doesn’t seem as despite the fact that those “AI-Powered Earbuds” ever in truth shipped. The marketing campaign’s ultimate replace was once from ultimate November, and as of this writing its crowdfunding web page has been suspended and is stuffed with feedback from backers inquiring for refunds.

In distinction, Urbanista has a a lot better monitor file, having already launched a couple of solar-powered headphones ultimate yr. But we’ll nonetheless have just a little longer to look forward to the discharge of the Phoenix, which aren’t due to send till the fourth quarter of 2022. When they’re launched, the must be to be had globally at a value of $149 (£129, €149).