New Delhi: A weird mixture of candy and consumer technology caught the eye of CES 2026 when one of the US-based firms presented an irresistible lollipop,
which can play music at the same time as one eats it. The sound on the product is delivered not by speakers or earbuds, but by the teeth of the user, which is called Lollipop Star.
Invented by Lava Tech Brands, the lollipop transmits audio signals through bone conduction to the inner ear as a result of the vibrations of the jaw. The company made it a sort of novelty product as opposed to a serious audio product, and it was supposed to provide the consumer with a short-term and unexpected sensual experience.
How the lollipop works
In contrast to the other audio products that are traditional, Lollipop Star conceals its electronics in the stick. The base has a small rounded module which contains the power source and the vibration mechanism. When activated, the device vibrates the stick.
To play the music, the users need to bite the candy with their back molars. This pressure enables the vibrations to pass on through the jawbone and into the inner ear. The sound is felt outwardly and is not aural.
According to the representatives of the company, they were not focused on sound quality. Rather, the purpose was to make something that was not expected. They were even given earplugs at the CES booth in order to compensate for the ambient noise and enable people to feel the vibrations better.
Music, flavours and artists combined
Lollipop Star units are supplied with permanent flavour, artist and song choice. The songs are installed into the product, and they cannot be retrieved elsewhere. The experience ends in the moment when the lollipop is utilised.
Examples that were presented at CES were peach-flavoured lollipops with music by Ice Spice, a blueberry one with Akon, and a lime-flavoured one with Armani White. Some of the songs were Ice Spice, Munch and Baddie Baddie, Akon, Beautiful Day, and Armani White, Mount Pleasant.
This strategy, according to Lava Tech Brands, was to combine the taste, vibration and music in one moment instead of developing a reusable device.
Price and positioning
Lollipop Star was characterised as a cheap and short-term product by the company. The price of each unit was $8.99, which is approximately Rs 808 per unit. It does not aim at competing with headphones or speakers, and it is not to be held long-term.
Abrar Al-Heeti, a tech reporter at CNET, who tried the product during the CES, declared it the best product she experienced at the show. She observed that the sound was only clear after sufficient force was used, and the experience was more novel than clear.
Lava Tech Brands announced that Lollipop Star would be launched in the aftermath of CES as an online retailer and a few stores. No plans were confirmed that there would be wider distribution and further collaborations with artists.
