Overview

The AKMTRD AS1 Magnetic Levitation Bluetooth Speaker is one of those rare gadgets that genuinely does what the name promises — the spherical orb actually floats and slowly spins above its base while playing music. Launched in May 2023 by AKMTRD, this levitating speaker sits in a mid-range price bracket where buyers reasonably expect something more than a gimmick. And to be fair, it delivers on the novelty front in a big way. But set your expectations correctly from the start: this is primarily a desk decor showpiece that doubles as a functional speaker, not the other way around. If you walk in expecting audiophile-grade audio, you will be disappointed.

Features & Benefits

The magnetic levitation mechanism is genuinely impressive in practice. Once the base is powered through its DC adapter and the orb is placed just right above it, the sphere lifts off and stays suspended, rotating slowly as it plays. Pairing is handled through Bluetooth 5.1, which locks on quickly and holds a stable connection across a room — up to about 10 meters. Sound projects in all directions from the 5W driver, which is plenty for background listening in a small office or bedroom. The orb runs on a built-in 1500 mAh battery that lasts roughly 10 hours per charge via USB-C, while the base stays tethered to a wall outlet.

Best For

This levitating speaker is a natural fit for anyone who wants their desk or shelf to look genuinely interesting. Home office workers and remote professionals who spend long hours in front of a screen will appreciate having something that doubles as ambient background music and a visual focal point. It also makes an unusually strong gift pick for tech-minded people who are hard to shop for — the kind of person who already owns the usual gadgets. Casual music listeners will feel right at home with it; audiophiles, less so. If your primary goal is pure sound quality, this magnetic speaker is probably not the right tool.

User Feedback

Across 229 ratings, the floating Bluetooth orb holds a 4.5-star average, which is a fair reflection of what most buyers actually experience. The most consistent praise centers on the levitation effect itself — people genuinely light up when they first see it working, and many describe it as the perfect attention-grabbing desk item. Setup draws a few complaints; getting the orb to balance and hover can take several tries, and some buyers found the initial alignment finicky. On the audio side, the general consensus is that it sounds fine — clear enough for casual listening — but nobody is replacing a dedicated speaker with it. As a gift, buyers consistently report that it lands extremely well.

Pros

  • The magnetic levitation effect is genuine and stable — the orb actually floats and spins during playback.
  • Bluetooth 5.1 pairs quickly and holds a solid connection across a normal-sized room.
  • Up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge is more than enough for a full workday.
  • USB-C charging on the orb keeps it compatible with modern cables most people already own.
  • 360-degree sound projection means placement flexibility — it fills a room evenly regardless of orientation.
  • The compact 4-inch orb and clean aluminum-accented design fit naturally into modern or minimalist spaces.
  • Water resistance adds a small but appreciated layer of durability for a desktop gadget.
  • As a gift, this levitating speaker consistently earns an outsized reaction relative to its price.
  • The package includes everything needed out of the box — no extra accessories required to get started.
  • A 4.5-star average across real buyer ratings suggests the core levitation experience reliably meets expectations.

Cons

  • Sound quality is functional but underwhelming — a 5W driver simply cannot compete with dedicated speakers in this price tier.
  • The base requires a permanent DC power connection, making true portability impossible.
  • Getting the orb to hover correctly during initial setup can take multiple attempts and some frustration.
  • Low-frequency response is limited; bass-heavy music loses a lot of its impact through this floating Bluetooth orb.
  • The brand has limited public track record, so long-term reliability and warranty support are harder to assess.
  • No stereo output — the single-driver design means there is no left-right channel separation.
  • The DC power cable running to the base can look untidy on an otherwise clean desk setup.
  • Not suitable for outdoor use despite water resistance, since levitation requires a stable, flat, powered surface.
  • At roughly 1.3 pounds total, the unit feels light in a way that some buyers associate with lower build quality.
  • Limited controls — a single push button means no granular volume or EQ adjustment beyond your paired device.

Ratings

The scores below reflect our AI-powered analysis of verified global buyer reviews for the AKMTRD AS1 Magnetic Levitation Bluetooth Speaker, with spam, bot activity, and incentivized feedback actively filtered out before any score was calculated. We have weighted both enthusiastic praise and recurring frustrations equally, so what you see here is an honest cross-section of real ownership experiences — the highs and the genuine pain points included.

Levitation Performance
91%
The core magnetic suspension mechanism is the single most praised aspect across verified reviews — buyers consistently report that the orb hovers stably for hours without dropping during normal use. Even in office environments with background vibrations from keyboards and foot traffic, the levitation holds reliably once correctly calibrated.
Initial calibration frustrates a meaningful subset of buyers, particularly those who struggle to find the exact height and angle needed to engage the magnetic field on the first attempt. A small number of users report that certain surface types or nearby electronics caused intermittent instability.
Novelty & Wow Factor
94%
Virtually no buyer disputes the visual impact of this levitating speaker — it reliably stops visitors mid-conversation and prompts immediate questions about how it works. As a desk centerpiece, it punches well above its weight class compared to conventional speakers that sit flat and unnoticed.
The novelty, by its nature, fades over time for the owner. A few longer-term reviewers noted that after several weeks, the floating effect becomes background scenery rather than a daily source of excitement, which can make the price feel harder to justify in hindsight.
Sound Quality
58%
42%
For ambient background listening — soft playlists during work hours, podcasts at low volume, or casual music while cooking nearby — the floating Bluetooth orb delivers clear, inoffensive audio with decent mid-range presence. The 360-degree projection genuinely helps distribute sound evenly across a small room.
At anything approaching louder volumes, the single 5W driver noticeably strains, and bass reproduction is thin enough that bass-forward genres like hip-hop or electronic music feel hollow. Music enthusiasts who invest in speakers specifically for listening enjoyment will find the audio output a consistent disappointment at this price point.
Setup Experience
67%
33%
Once the orb is floating for the first time, subsequent levitation attempts become significantly easier and most users report it feels intuitive within a day or two of regular use. The included screwdriver for base adjustment is a thoughtful addition that helps fine-tune the magnetic field height.
The first-time setup experience divides buyers sharply — patient, detail-oriented users get it working within minutes, while others spend considerably longer fighting the calibration. The instruction manual is considered vague by a notable portion of reviewers, and a short setup video from the brand would materially reduce early frustration.
Battery Life
83%
Ten hours of continuous playback covers a full standard workday without needing to recharge, which reviewers working from home specifically call out as a practical strength. USB-C charging means the orb is compatible with the cables most buyers already have on their desks.
The three-hour recharge window is not unusually long, but because the orb must be removed from levitation to charge, it does interrupt the visual display for an extended period. Some buyers expressed a wish for wireless or contact-charging integration directly through the base.
Bluetooth Connectivity
81%
19%
Bluetooth 5.1 pairs quickly with phones and tablets across all major platforms, and buyers in standard home office environments report minimal dropout even when moving around the room or stepping briefly into an adjacent space. Initial pairing is straightforward with no app required.
A small but recurring group of reviewers noted occasional Bluetooth dropouts when the orb was spinning and a wall or large object sat between it and the source device. The 10-meter range claim also appears optimistic through walls, with real-world performance closer to 6 or 7 meters in obstructed environments.
Build Quality
72%
28%
The aluminum accenting on the base gives this magnetic speaker a visual premium that reads as more expensive than it actually is, and the orb feels reasonably solid in hand without obvious seam gaps or rattling components. Finish quality on the base in particular draws favorable comparisons to pricier gadgets.
The plastic portions of both the orb and base feel noticeably lightweight, and a handful of buyers flagged that the overall construction inspires less long-term confidence than the price suggests. There are also isolated reports of the base housing showing minor scuff marks after a few weeks of regular desk use.
Value for Money
63%
37%
As a gift — particularly for someone who is genuinely hard to shop for — the price-to-reaction ratio is difficult to beat, and many buyers explicitly state they would pay the same amount again for the gifting experience alone. The visual spectacle and functional audio combination in one unit does offer real dual-purpose utility.
As a primary speaker purchase evaluated on audio merit alone, the value proposition weakens considerably — similarly priced conventional speakers from established audio brands deliver meaningfully better sound. Buyers who enter primarily motivated by listening quality tend to rate value poorly, making this a product where expectations at purchase matter enormously.
Portability
38%
62%
The orb itself is compact at 4 inches and light enough to slip into a bag independently, and its USB-C charging means it can top up from a power bank if used as a basic Bluetooth speaker away from the base.
The levitation feature — which is the product's entire identity — requires the base to be plugged into a wall outlet at all times, making this effectively a stationary desk accessory rather than a portable speaker in any meaningful sense. Buyers who assumed they could carry the full levitating setup to different rooms or outdoors are consistently surprised by this constraint.
Gifting Appeal
93%
Buyer reviews specifically purchased as gifts show an unusually high rate of positive recipient reactions, with several reviewers describing it as the most memorable gift they gave that year. The unboxing experience is clean and the product presents well without requiring additional packaging or presentation effort.
Gift-givers who did not communicate the setup nuance in advance occasionally received feedback from recipients who struggled with the initial calibration alone. A brief heads-up to the recipient that the first levitation attempt may take a few tries would prevent a small but avoidable frustration.
Desk Footprint
78%
22%
At roughly 6 inches square at the base, this levitating speaker occupies a reasonable amount of desk real estate for the visual statement it makes, and its vertical height of 8.7 inches keeps it visible without blocking monitor sightlines on most standard desk configurations.
The DC power cable running from the base to a wall outlet is a persistent aesthetic irritant for buyers who maintain clean cable-managed desks, as there is no wireless base option and the cable is not easily hidden without additional management accessories.
Ease of Daily Use
74%
26%
Once the levitation becomes a familiar routine, most users report that re-floating the orb each morning takes only seconds and the single-button control keeps day-to-day interaction uncomplicated. Bluetooth reconnects automatically with the last paired device on power-up, which buyers appreciate.
The single push-button control is functionally limiting — there is no volume control on the device itself, no track skipping, and no indication of remaining battery level, all of which require reaching for a phone. Users who prefer tactile control over their audio setup will find this aspect frustrating over extended use.
Water Resistance
61%
39%
The water-resistant rating on the orb adds a practical layer of reassurance for buyers who use it near drinks on a desk, and a few reviewers tested it successfully against minor accidental splashes without any functional damage resulting.
The rating is for the orb only and does not extend to the base, which means a spilled drink near the power-connected base could be a more serious problem. The resistance level is also not formally rated to any IPX standard, making it difficult to calibrate exactly how much moisture exposure is genuinely safe.
Brand & Support
54%
46%
The product ships with a limited warranty and reviewers who experienced early issues generally report receiving replacement units or parts without extended disputes, which suggests baseline after-sales responsiveness from the seller.
AKMTRD has limited brand visibility and no established reputation in the broader audio market, which creates genuine uncertainty around long-term parts availability and warranty enforcement. Buyers who prioritize brand accountability when spending at this price level will find the lack of a known support infrastructure a real concern.

Suitable for:

The AKMTRD AS1 Magnetic Levitation Bluetooth Speaker is a strong pick for anyone who wants their desk, shelf, or home office to do a little more than just hold things. If you work from home and spend hours staring at the same corner of a room, having a floating orb quietly spinning while it plays background music genuinely changes the atmosphere in a way a regular speaker never would. It is also an excellent choice for gift buyers who are tired of giving the same old tech accessories — this levitating speaker is the kind of thing people unwrap and immediately want to show someone else. Tech enthusiasts, sci-fi fans, and anyone drawn to kinetic or interactive objects will find real satisfaction in watching the magnetic suspension hold steady during playback. Casual listeners who want something that sounds decent while looking remarkable will feel well-served at this price point.

Not suitable for:

If you are shopping for a primary listening device and sound quality is your main benchmark, the AKMTRD AS1 Magnetic Levitation Bluetooth Speaker is probably not the right fit. A 5W single driver can fill a small room with background audio, but it does not produce the depth, stereo separation, or bass response that serious music fans expect from a speaker in this price range. The base must stay plugged into a wall outlet at all times for the levitation to work, so this is not a speaker you grab and carry to the kitchen or outside — it is a stationary piece by design. Anyone hoping for a fully portable or waterproof outdoor speaker should look elsewhere. The initial setup also requires some patience; getting the orb to balance and hover correctly takes a few tries, and buyers with limited tolerance for fiddly calibration may find that frustrating.

Specifications

  • Brand & Model: Manufactured by AKMTRD under the model designation AS1, released to market in May 2023.
  • Speaker Driver: Houses a 2.25-inch dynamic audio driver capable of 5W maximum output power.
  • Frequency Response: The driver covers a frequency range starting at 40 Hz, suited for mid-range and higher audio reproduction.
  • Sound Projection: Audio radiates in a 360-degree pattern from the spherical orb, distributing sound evenly in all directions.
  • Impedance: Speaker impedance is rated at 4 Ohm, consistent with standard portable audio drivers.
  • Bluetooth Version: Uses Bluetooth 5.1 technology for device pairing, offering improved connection stability over older standards.
  • Bluetooth Range: Rated for a maximum wireless range of 10 meters under typical unobstructed indoor conditions.
  • Orb Battery: The speaker orb contains a 1500 mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery charged via a USB-C port.
  • Battery Life: On a full charge, the orb supports up to 10 hours of continuous music playback at moderate volume.
  • Charging Time: A full recharge of the orb battery takes approximately 3 hours from a depleted state.
  • Base Power: The levitation base requires a dedicated 12V DC power adapter, which is included in the box, and must remain plugged in during use.
  • Orb Diameter: The spherical speaker orb measures 4 inches in diameter, making it compact enough for most desk setups.
  • Unit Dimensions: The complete assembled unit measures 6.1″ deep by 6.1″ wide by 8.7″ tall.
  • Weight: Total unit weight is 1.3 pounds, keeping the overall footprint light and easy to reposition.
  • Materials: The outer construction uses a combination of aluminum and plastic across both the base and the orb enclosure.
  • Water Resistance: The orb is rated as water resistant, meaning it can tolerate minor splashes but should not be submerged or used in heavy rain.
  • Control Method: Playback and basic functions are managed through a single push button located on the orb itself.
  • In-Box Contents: Each unit ships with the levitation base, speaker orb, 12V DC power adapter, USB charging cable, and a small screwdriver tool for setup.
  • Warranty: AKMTRD offers a limited warranty on this product; buyers should confirm specific terms and duration directly with the seller at time of purchase.
  • Compatibility: Pairs wirelessly with any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, regardless of operating system.

Related Reviews

YFLSTR SK1 Magnetic Levitation Bluetooth Speaker
YFLSTR SK1 Magnetic Levitation Bluetooth Speaker
76%
93%
Visual Design & Wow Factor
81%
Build Quality
76%
Levitation Mechanism
58%
Audio Quality
84%
Battery Life
More
RUIXINDA Levitating Bluetooth Speaker
RUIXINDA Levitating Bluetooth Speaker
80%
75%
Sound Quality
65%
Ease of Setup
82%
Battery Life
92%
Design & Aesthetics
88%
Connectivity & Bluetooth
More
ABFOCE T69promax Magnetic Bluetooth Speaker
ABFOCE T69promax Magnetic Bluetooth Speaker
75%
91%
Magnet Strength & Mounting
88%
Battery Life
63%
Solar Charging Performance
74%
Sound Quality
83%
Waterproofing & Durability
More
Edifier G200 Magnetic Bluetooth Speaker
Edifier G200 Magnetic Bluetooth Speaker
85%
85%
Sound Quality
92%
Magnetic Base Strength
80%
RGB Lighting Effects
88%
Portability
75%
Battery Life
More
PILSAMAS Golf Bluetooth Speaker with Magnetic Mount
PILSAMAS Golf Bluetooth Speaker with Magnetic Mount
86%
88%
Sound Quality
90%
Battery Life
85%
Build Durability
80%
Ease of Use
91%
Magnetic Mount Strength
More
ShellHome SP-003 Magnetic Bluetooth Golf Speaker
ShellHome SP-003 Magnetic Bluetooth Golf Speaker
87%
88%
Sound Quality
94%
Durability
91%
Battery Life
72%
Bluetooth Connectivity
89%
Portability
More
CYBORIS S11 2-in-1 Magnetic Bluetooth Speaker
CYBORIS S11 2-in-1 Magnetic Bluetooth Speaker
85%
88%
Sound Quality
91%
Battery Life
85%
Build Quality
90%
Portability
83%
Magnetic Attachment
More
Dprofy V3-M 3rd Gen Magnetic Golf Speaker
Dprofy V3-M 3rd Gen Magnetic Golf Speaker
82%
93%
Magnetic Mounting System
78%
Battery Life
74%
Sound Quality
89%
Waterproofing & Weather Resistance
86%
Bluetooth Connectivity
More
Travel Depot 190 0009 TD2 Magnetic Bluetooth Speaker
Travel Depot 190 0009 TD2 Magnetic Bluetooth Speaker
84%
78%
Sound Quality
84%
Build Quality
91%
Battery Life
88%
Water Resistance
82%
Magnetic Mounting
More
Dprofy V7-M Magnetic Bluetooth Golf Speaker
Dprofy V7-M Magnetic Bluetooth Golf Speaker
78%
91%
Magnet Mount Strength
88%
Battery Life
79%
Sound Quality at Normal Volume
58%
Sound Quality at Max Volume
86%
Waterproofing & Weather Resistance
More

FAQ

It is completely real. The orb uses electromagnetic induction between the base and the sphere to hover in mid-air without any physical support. Once you get the positioning right during setup, it stays suspended and slowly rotates on its own while playing music. Seeing it work for the first time genuinely surprises most people.

It takes a little patience the first time. You need to hold the orb at a specific height and angle above the center of the base — too high or too low and it will not catch. Most people get it on their second or third try. The included screwdriver is used for minor base adjustments if needed. After that first successful levitation, it becomes second nature.

Yes, the levitation base requires a constant 12V DC power connection to generate the electromagnetic field that keeps the orb floating. If you unplug the base, the orb drops. The orb itself runs on its own internal battery for audio playback, but you cannot use the levitation feature without the base being powered.

Technically yes — you can place the orb on any flat surface and use it as a standalone Bluetooth speaker without activating the levitation. The audio still works fine in that mode. That said, the floating effect is the whole point of this thing, so most people keep the base plugged in whenever they use it.

It sounds decent for casual listening — clear mids, reasonable volume for a small room, and the 360-degree projection does a good job of filling the space. The honest caveat is that the 5W driver has real limits: bass is thin and it does not get very loud before the sound starts to strain. If background music or ambient listening is your goal, it works well. If you are a music lover who wants to genuinely enjoy listening sessions, you will likely feel let down.

Light bumps to the desk usually do not knock it out of levitation — the magnetic field has some tolerance for minor vibration. A harder knock or direct contact with the orb will cause it to fall, though. It is best placed somewhere it will not be regularly disturbed, like a back corner of a desk or a dedicated shelf.

The magnetic field from the base is reasonably contained and focused upward, but it is still wise to keep strong magnetically sensitive items — like credit cards or older hard drives — at least a few inches away from the base. Modern laptops and smartphones are generally unaffected at normal desk distances.

The AKMTRD AS1 Magnetic Levitation Bluetooth Speaker pairs with any device that supports Bluetooth, including iPhones, Android phones, iPads, tablets, and most laptops. There is no dedicated app required — it shows up as a standard Bluetooth audio device in your settings.

Honestly, yes — as long as you set expectations around the initial setup. The levitation effect is visually impressive enough that most people love receiving it regardless of their tech background. If you are gifting it to someone who might get frustrated by a slightly fiddly first setup, it is worth including a note that it may take two or three tries to get the orb floating the first time.

Not really, for a couple of reasons. The base needs to be plugged into a wall outlet, so you are limited to indoor use near a power source. The orb has some water resistance for minor splashes, but it is not designed for outdoor conditions. Think of it as a desk or shelf item rather than a portable outdoor speaker.