Sony’s new LED Lightbulb has a built-in Bluetooth speaker with iPhone controls

At a time when LED lightbulbs and built-in speakers are rapidly developing, it only seems like a natural fit that the two would converge eventually. Sony is doing just that. The electronics company has announced a new product that wraps illumination and audio into one small package.

This isn’t the first attempt at combining a lightbulb and a speaker into one, although there is reason to be enthused by Sony’s offering. For one, the visual design is much more appealing than solutions that have come before it. Being backed by Sony’s audio reputation doesn’t hurt either.

Sony’s specifications for the LED Speaker include a 360-lumen bulb, which is roughly the equivalent of a traditional 40W product. The 2-watt 40mm speaker is right at the end of the bulb, which likely explains why more power isn’t put into the light itself. It is controlled via Bluetooth on a smartphone or with the included NFC remote control.

The LED Lightbulb Speaker will initially be available later this month in Japan for roughly $199, it is unclear if it will eventually make its way to North America or not. Details on replacing the light or its life expectancy are also unclear at this time.

Source: The Verge