A radio, power bank, and flashlight are essential items to have during an emergency. These tools help ensure you stay informed of news and weather, stay connected with friends and family, and navigate safely in the dark. However, when access to electricity and communication networks is limited, many of these devices (whether standalone or multifunctional) become ineffective. This is where hand-crank or solar-powered devices are gaining popularity.
It may feel like a step back in time, but that’s the reality. Renewable power and manual charging options ensure that these devices remain useful during emergencies. Proposing an option, portable unlike any in the market, Japanese company Rhythm has launched the Crankspeaker. This intriguing multipurpose device combines a Bluetooth speaker, area light, LED flashlight, FM radio, and clock, with a hand-crank power bank to keep everything running even in the darkest of days.
Designer: Rhythm
The 6-in-1 Crankspeaker is currently released in Japan. There is no word on its availability stateside or elsewhere. Given what it entails, there is a certainty that Rhythm wouldn’t take long to get it to the west, where the IP44-rated all-in-one Crankspeaker is going to find definite takers both for adventure and for emergency preparedness. To make sure it is a capable offering for both situations – or even for casual entertainment for that matter – the device is powered by a 4,000mAh rechargeable battery that can juice up via USB Type-C power supply or hand crank, when grid power is not available.
The compact, cylindrical device measures 7.7 x 2.8 x 3.1 inches and weighs roughly 450g. To ensure crisp quality audio output, the Crankspeaker features a 45 mm driver with a passive radiator, while the flashlight and the area light can produce up to 95 lumens and 20 lumens of brightness. The lights rest on either end of the Crankspeaker, while the end with the flashlight also features a small digital display to show the clock, alarm, battery percentage, and radio station you’re tuned into. The tactile control buttons are placed on one side of the cylindrical body, while the hand crank rests in the base (when the device is placed vertically).
Coming to the essential part, the onboard 4,000mAh battery can, according to information from Rhythm, provide up to 44 hours of audio playback. The LED flashlight can run for almost 50 hours, while the area light can last for more than a day’s time non-stop. When not on a regular power source, the hand crank comes into play. For reference to what’s possible, a minute of hand crank reportedly juices up a phone for a couple of emergency calls, approximately 5 minutes of audio (radio precisely), 6 mins of flashlight, and 30 minutes of area light runtime. The interested can order the Rhythm Crankspeaker from the Rakuten shop now for 14,800 yen (roughly $100).
The post This 6-in-1 cylindrical Bluetooth speaker in Japan powers up by hand crank in case of emergency first appeared on Yanko Design.