Beats Announces Pikachu-Themed Pill Speaker Release

Apple subsidiary Beats by Dre has officially confirmed a collaboration with The Pokémon Company to produce a new Bluetooth speaker designed in the likeness of Pikachu, featuring yellow lightning accents and a pill-shaped body. This partnership follows rumors sparked when mascot Pikachu visited Apple's campus during an August hardware event, where he was seen meeting executives Tim Cook and John Ternus. A Facebook user previously shared photos suggesting the collaboration would include a modified Beats Pill package inside a shopping cart. The teaser released by Beats included only the slogan "Time to catch something new," alluding to Pokémon's famous marketing phrase.

Although no specific release date was initially provided, an update from October 13 confirmed that the device will launch on Apple.com at 11 am ET on October 15. This product marks a return for the Beats Pill model, which was reintroduced in late 2024 and currently retails for $150.

The collaboration aims to generate significant cultural buzz by leveraging the enduring popularity of the Pokémon franchise alongside Apple's ecosystem.