Beats confirms Pikachu-themed Pill speaker collaboration with Pokémon
Beats by Dre has confirmed a Pikachu-themed Pill speaker in collaboration with Pokémon, following weeks of speculation. The announcement came via a social media teaser featuring a shadowy speaker silhouette accented by yellow lightning and the tagline "Time to catch something new," referencing Pokémon's famous slogan. The collaboration was rumoured after Pikachu visited Apple's campus during its August hardware event, with further speculation sparked by social media photos of Pikachu-branded Beats Pill packaging.
The Pikachu Pill follows the original speaker, which Apple reintroduced in 2024 after years of discontinuation at a retail price of $150. Beats has yet to announce a release date or pricing for the themed edition, though industry observers view the partnership as a smart commercial move to boost interest in the Pill speaker through the Pokémon franchise's significant cultural appeal.
- Beats and Pokémon collaborate on Pikachu-themed Pill speaker
- Speculation grew after Pikachu visited Apple's August event
- No release date announced yet
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Beats by Dre is a consumer audio company owned by Apple. The company makes headphones and speakers, including the Pill, a portable speaker discontinued years ago but reintroduced by Apple in 2024 at $150.
Pokémon is a global entertainment franchise created in Japan in the 1990s, initially famous for its video games. The franchise has since expanded to include trading cards, films, television shows and merchandise, maintaining substantial cultural presence and fan engagement worldwide.
Consumer electronics companies frequently partner with entertainment franchises to attract customers and boost sales. Such partnerships can be particularly valuable when the entertainment property has widespread appeal and a dedicated fan community.
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Originally published by Engadget as “Beats is collaborating with Pokémon for a Pikachu-themed Pill speaker”.