Louis Vuitton has unveiled a new wireless speaker that looks like it was lifted straight out of a science fiction film. The Horizon Light Up, unveiled in early July, is a leather-bound speaker with a smattering of lights and conical shape that give it a UFO-like aesthetic. The French fashion label says the design inspiration for the speaker is more grounded, however. It's based on the company's iconic Toupie handbag, which takes the form of a spinning top.
You can preorder the Horizon Light Up now for an eye-watering price of $2,890 (roughly £2,100, AU$3,900), ahead of its worldwide launch set for July 31. (You knew it wouldn't be cheap.) This represents the French label's latest foray into the audio industry, though those lining up to buy this product likely won't be audiophiles.
That said, the Horizon Light Up appears more promising than rival fashion-over-function portable speakers, at least on paper. It's equipped with a 3-inch subwoofer paired with 0.75-inch tweeters that LV says combine to offer 360-degree sound. There's support for both Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth 5.1 as well as a dedicated Louis Vuitton Connect app, which can customize things like color combination and multiroom setup.
Louis Vuitton is traditionally synonymous with luxurious designer handbags, but the French label's been releasing high-end electronics for several years now, launching its first (and only) smartwatch in 2017. Last year, Louis Vuitton released the Horizon Earphones, a range of colorful wireless earbuds emblazoned with its signature logo.