Ikea supersized its cheap Bluetooth speaker and added an optical input

The new Badkruka speaker can wirelessly connect to your mobile devices or tether to your home theater.
If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.


Ikea’s new Badkruka wireless Bluetooth speaker is now available in the US for $59.99. It’s reminiscent of the colorful and tiny $10 Kallsup speaker that Ikea debuted earlier this year at CES 2026, but at almost seven inches tall, the boxy Badkruka isn’t designed with portability in mind as it also lacks a rechargeable battery.
Color options aren’t as expansive as the Kallsup, either. The Badkruka is available with a black plastic finish or a pink one that almost looks like a wood grain texture. Wherever you end up using it will need a power source within reach, but audio sources can be connected over Bluetooth and, similar to the Kallsup, you can wirelessly connect the Badkruka to several other speakers that support multi-speaker mode to better fill your home or a larger space with sound.

You can also connect a pair of Badkruka’s for stereo sound, the speaker supports Spotify Tap, and it comes with three different EQ modes tailored to several music genres. If you don’t want to go wireless, the Badkruka can also be connected to home theater gear, your TV, or a PC’s TOSLINK port using an included optical cable.
Verified source · The Verge
Reported by The Verge. Open the original for full media and formatting.
More in More
All news
MoreOpenAI’s feud with mathematicians is only escalating
Twenty-five leading mathematicians signed an open letter arguing that AI labs are threatening their intellectual work.
Read at TechCrunch
MoreOne week left to book your exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Book your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 exhibit table. Get in front of 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders in SF. The last day is Sept 25.
Read at TechCrunch
MoreMatt Mullenweg reportedly returns as Automattic CEO two days after getting booted
Two days after being placed on a paid leave of absence, Matt Mullenweg says he has been reinstated as CEO of Automattic, according to a Slack message seen by TechCrunch. WordPress Executive Director Mary Hubbard confirmed Mullenweg's return to the CEO role in a Friday post on X,…
Read at The Verge
MoreMitti Labs Enters Deal With Google For 1 Mn Carbon Credits
Climate tech startup Mitti Labs has signed a four-year agreement with Google to supply 1 Mn Carbon credits till 2030,…
Read at Inc42