Sonos announces its first truly portable speaker

In 2019, Sonos announced its first movable speaker, called Move. It was a device conceived to be used mainly at home and easily carried on the terrace or in the garden. It was not the lightest speaker nor the smallest. It was a reliable product that didn’t fail the expectations of the many fans of the brand, which was getting wide attention due to its partnership with Ikea for a new lineup of connected speakers and lamps, the Symfonisk. But more than a portable speaker, Sonos Move can be defined as a hybrid one.

Two years later, Sonos is launching its first truly portable speaker. Roam is presented by Sonos as its “most versatile speaker ever” and as a portable speaker with the look and feel of high-end products – like the Sonos soundbar that sits in your living room. It can connect over WiFi (when at home) or Bluetooth (outside), switching automatically according to its use. Or you can opt for a Bluetooth connection if you need the speaker just for a Zoom call or to use while binging Netflix from your laptop. It has a day-long battery life and can be charged wirelessly with any Qi wireless charger. And there’s more: easy to bring with you, it’s dust-sealed and waterproof, it sports an IP67 rating. You can use it vertically or horizontally; in the press preview, we even saw it mounted on the handlebar of a bike. And it weighs less than half a kilo, which makes it easy to carry it around. The buttons are raised and embossed, a choice that departs from the standard Sonos design language but comes useful on such a device. Finally, it comes with Sonos Trueplay technology for an enhanced sound experience.

With Roam, Sonos steps officially out of the boundaries of homes, providing a seamless transition and promising excellent sound quality. This speaker, says E.J. Fitzpatrick, who led the product team responsible for the Sonos Roam, “is all about creating an uncompromised listening experience that is accessible and versatile in everywhere that you take it, not just your home”.  

With this device, Sonos says, there’s no need for pairing, and wake-up time is around just one second. Obviously, you can connect to the various Sonos Radio channels using Sonos Roam, or use it to enjoy more than 100 streaming services. It can also be grouped with other Sonos speakers. It will cost 179 euros and be available on April 20, 2021, in two colours, lunar white and shadow black.