Beats Pill+ unveiled as new Apple-inspired Bluetooth speaker

Beats’ Bluetooth speaker has been given the Apple treatment as the company formally unveils the new Beats Pill+.

Sitting between the standard Pill and its big brother the Beats Pill XL, the new Pill+ is the first Bluetooth speaker to come from the headphone specialist since its takeover by Apple last year.

Available in black and white colour schemes, the speaker features a new, flat-edged design with a series of top-mounted controls and a visible ‘fuel gauge’ that lets you know how much battery is left.

It’s not just visually where the new speaker is all-change, either. Beneath the surface, an improved stereo active 2-way crossover system helps create a more optimised sound field. According to Beats this will provide “a bigger and fuller sound”.

Capable of offering 12 hours of audio playback between charges, the Beats Pill+ makes use of Apple’s Lightning port – think iPhone 6S and iPad Air 2 – to re-juice.

Hitting the US next month, the speaker has been handed a $229.95 (£150) asking price. UK availability and pricing are yet to be confirmed.