LG’s PJ9 Bluetooth Speaker Features Levitating Technology, 360 Audio

While Samsung and Apple are busy preparing their Amazon Echo rivals, LG has launched a new Bluetooth speaker that banks on levitating technology to capture the attention of consumers. The LG PJ9 is a portable speaker that utilizes magnetic technology to keep it floating in the air for hours, and it is now available in the electronics company’s home country.

On Tuesday, LG officially launched the PJ9 Bluetooth speaker in South Korea, just two months after the product made its debut in the U.K. back in August. The company proudly shared that what makes its speaker noteworthy is the 360 degrees audio it provides thanks to its unique design and floating technology. LG says the PJ9 is capable of delivering good sound quality because the speaker itself is floating above the Woofer Station, as per Korea Herald.

LG’s Bluetooth speaker has two components: an egg-shaped speaker and a large docking base, which works as a subwoofer and charger. YonHap News has learned that when users click a button on the Woofer Station, the speaker will float using magnetic technology. The speaker is only capable of levitating when it has enough juice, so this component of the device automatically descends to the dock when battery is low.

Though the LG PJ9 appears to be a good center piece for the living room, it is actually suitable for outdoor use. LG says the speaker is capable of running (and levitating) for a maximum of 10 hours on a single charge. Moreover, the device has an IPX7 water resistance rating. This means it can withstand being submerged in water for around 30 minutes provided the water is only 1 meter in depth.

LG first introduced the PJ9 at CES 2017. At the time, the company explained that its new Bluetooth speaker is capable of floating because of the powerful electromagnets that are housed within its Woofer Station. The company also said back then that the 360-degree omnidirectional design of the speaker ensures that it can deliver “deep bass, flush mid-range tones and crisp highs,” as noted by 9To5Mac.

LG’s levitating speaker isn’t the first in the market, but it’s the first one to come from a major brand. According to Engadget, LG’s portable speaker is setting itself apart from its rivals by packing in commendable battery life and a very classy appearance. Most floating speakers after all come in UFO-like shapes.

The PJ9 Bluetooth speaker is selling for 369,000 won in South Korea. This roughly translates to U.S. $326. However, it’s not clear if this would be the pricing for the speaker when it makes its debut in the U.S. There’s still no information about its release and pricing in the country for now.

Even though LG’s PJ9 floating speaker may seem to be an interesting addition to the speaker industry, it’s still apparent that LG is lagging behind its major rivals Samsung and Apple, who are now eager to join the smart speaker market. Samsung is currently working on a Bixby-powered speaker, which Harman CEO Dinesh Paliwal previously described to feature better AI than Google Home and Amazon’s Alexa. Meanwhile, Apple unveiled its HomePod speaker at WWDC 2017, and it is already set for release in the U.S. and other markets this December.