Fender, the brand behind some of the most iconic guitars in music history, is diving into the world of everyday audio with a fresh lineup of wireless gear. For the first time, Fender is launching products aimed directly at consumers—not studio engineers or touring musicians. The new lineup includes two portable Bluetooth speakers under the ELIE name and a pair of wireless headphones called MIX.

These new devices come from Fender Audio, a new branch of the company that's focused on casual listeners and music lovers who just want great sound at home, outdoors, or on the go. The announcement comes as Fender celebrates its 80th anniversary, and the gear will get its official public debut at CES 2026.

Let’s start with the ELIE speakers—short for Extremely Loud Infinitely Expressive. There are two models: the ELIE 6 ($299) and the larger ELIE 12 ($399). They’re both portable, rechargeable, and designed to give you more volume and clarity than what you might expect from similarly sized Bluetooth speakers.

The ELIE 6 is the more compact option, with a tweeter, full-range driver, and a built-in subwoofer to help with bass. It’s rated for 60 watts of output and runs for about 18 hours on a full charge—good for a day at the beach, a backyard hang, or moving from room to room without needing a power outlet.

The ELIE 12 is the louder sibling, offering up to 120 watts through a more complex setup that includes two tweeters, two full-range drivers, and dual subwoofers. It’s a better fit for filling larger rooms or outdoor spaces with sound. Battery life dips a bit to 15 hours, but that’s a tradeoff for the extra power.

Both speakers feature a new system-on-a-chip (SoC) from Waves, a company known for digital audio tools. The idea is to help the speakers sound louder and cleaner without needing more power or getting distorted at high volumes. It’s less about gimmicks and more about making the most of the compact form factor.

Fender didn’t just throw Bluetooth on these speakers and call it a day. Both the 6 and 12 include a combo XLR/¼-inch input, so you can plug in a mic, a guitar, or other gear, yes, even your Stratocaster. There’s also a 3.5mm aux output for daisy-chaining to other gear or speakers.

With the right accessories, you can connect up to four inputs at the same time, mixing sources like your phone, an instrument, a laptop, and a mic. And if you want a bigger sound setup, the speakers can pair with each other in stereo mode or link together in a multi-speaker setup, up to 100 units at once.

It’s a pretty flexible setup, whether you’re using them for casual listening, a pop-up party, or an impromptu jam session.

Fender’s new MIX wireless headphones are also making their first appearance. At $299, they’re competing with a lot of popular headphones out there, but Fender is trying something a little different with these.

One of the best features is the modular design. If something breaks or wears out, you don’t have to replace the whole pair—just swap out the part. That includes things like ear pads or headbands, which are often the first to go. It’s a move that might appeal to people who want their gear to last longer, or those who just like the idea of customizing their headphones over time.

On the audio side, the MIX uses 40mm graphene drivers and includes hybrid active noise cancellation, dual mics for calls, and support for spatial audio. You can listen wirelessly or plug in via USB-C or a 3.5mm jack, even if the battery is dead.

The MIX headphones also come with a USB-C dongle that unlocks some advanced wireless tricks. Plug it into your phone, tablet, or laptop, and you can stream higher-quality audio with less lag. The transmitter supports LHDC-V (for lossless audio), LC3 (for low-latency listening), and Auracast (for sharing audio with multiple devices).

This could come in handy if you’re watching videos, playing games, or want to use your headphones in a shared space like a classroom or office.

Battery life is another big point: up to 100 hours without ANC, or around 52 hours with it turned on. That’s among the best in the wireless headphone category right now and could make a big difference for people who travel a lot or just don’t want to charge their headphones every few days.

Fender isn’t the first music brand to jump into personal audio. Marshall has done well with its retro-styled Bluetooth speakers and headphones, like the Marshall Kilburn III ($379.99 at Amazon), Marshall Stanmore III ($399.99), Marshall Emberton III ($179.99) speakers, and Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. ($379.99) headphones.

The ELIE 6 goes up against speakers like the recently released ELAC NAVA100, priced at $229 at Crutchfield, while the E12 takes aim at bass-heavy models like the Turtlebox Original Gen 3 ($430 at Amazon), Orange Box L ($419.00), and JBL Xtreme 4 ($379.95).

The MIX headphones face stiff competition too, with rivals like the Nothing Headphone (1) ($289 at Amazon), and Skullcandy Aviator 900 ($299.99) already winning over fans at similar price points.

But Fender’s angle is slightly different. Instead of flashy designs or brand nostalgia, they’re leaning into flexibility, battery life, and the ability to plug in real gear. For some buyers, that might be enough to stand out.

All three products will be on display at CES 2026 and are expected to go on sale shortly after through Fender’s website and select retailers. Whether this turns into a full-blown product line or just a one-time experiment depends on how well the launch goes and whether these speakers and headphones can hold their own in a very busy market.

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