Portable Bluetooth speakers are the ultimate in convenience when you want sound on-the-go, and Bang and Olufsen’s (B&O) $500 Beolit 20 makes that experience even more convenient, thanks to a flat top surface that has a built-in Qi wireless charger.
Available starting today at select retailers and the B&O website, the Beolit 20 is the latest iteration of the company’s portable Bluetooth speaker. Outwardly, it looks identical to the previous version, the Beolit 17, right down to its boxy shape and rounded bottom corners — plus leather carry strap — which make for a vaguely retro-inspired look, evoking vintage portable radios like this Dynatron TP11 “Nomad” from the 60s.
But the real selling point for the Beolit 20 is its built-in wireless charger. Whether it’s an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, or a set of true wireless earbuds, just drop your device onto the Beolit’s top surface and sit back while the internal battery gives it a boost.
Speaking of the battery, B&O claims that it has coaxed a 30% improvement in play time when compared to the Beolit 17, which had a 24-hour capacity. Some quick math suggests the Beolit 20 is now good for about 31 hours.
Inside, a 5.5-inch woofer sits alongside three 1.5-inch full ranges drivers and two 4-inch passive bass radiators. B&O doesn’t provide a power rating for the amplifiers but does note that the speaker can deliver 77dB of bass and 93dB of mid-range loudness. It’s likely that this model uses the same dual 35-watt Class D amplifiers as the Beolit 17. That volume is dispersed in a 360-degree pattern which should mean that you can place the Beolit 20 almost anywhere and get room-filling sound.
Stereo pairing is also supported. You can pair any two Beolit 20s, or, if you happen to own an older Beolit 17, you can pair with that speaker too.
The speaker charges via a small USB-C port and there’s also a 3.5mm input jack for those rare occasions when Bluetooth just won’t cut it for your old-school audio sources.
The Beolit 20 is available in Grey Mist and Black Anthracite colors.
