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Don’t call it a comeback. The Beats Pill is making its return with improved sound features, a cheaper price tag and Lil Wayne and LeBron James helping usher in the new era.
Announced on Tuesday (June 25), the new Beats Pill is 10 percent lighter than its predecessor, with a 20-degree tilt for “better on-axis sound projection.” It retails for $149.99 – around $50 cheaper than the original — and will be available in matte black, statement red and champagne gold.
“The Beats Pill has been a staple in the James household from day one,” James said in a statement. “It’s an iconic product, so it’s exciting to be part of its relaunch for a new generation.”
Tunechi and LeBron star in the new Beats Pill campaign dubbed “The Predicament.” In the clip, James is throwing a hotel party while Tunechi’s classic “A Milli” blasts in the background, preventing Lil Wayne from sleeping in a nearby room. After Wayne gets up to see where the noise is coming from, he ends up joining in on the party.
The Beats Pill offers up to 24 hours of battery life and a Fast Fuel charging option that gives you two hours of music playback after a 10-minute charge. The Bluetooth speaker has USB connectivity for continuous play (it’s iOS and Android compatible) and one-touch pairing.
“The Beats Pill is back and better than ever — now packed with outstanding sound, all-day battery life, and convenient features,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats. “From the beloved Pill characters to cameos in the world’s most watched music videos, the original Beats Pill was a pop culture phenom and we’re thrilled to bring back a fan favorite updated with the latest features in an iconic design.”
If you have the original Beats Pill, back from 2012 or 2013, then you probably remember the choppy sound quality and terrible bass. According to Beats, the new Pill promises to deliver “better sound than ever before.”
Beyond the acoustic upgrades, including a redesigned tweeter for “crisper highs and rich mid-range tones” and a reengineered racetrack woofer, Beats Pill features a removable carry lanyard, a soft-grip silicone backing and an IP67 dust and waterproof rating.
The Beats Pills is available for pre-order at Amazon, Beats, Apple.com and BeatsbyDre.com. The speaker will be released on June 27.
Watch the new campaign starring LeBron James and Lil Wayne below.