Sonos Era 100 vs Apple HomePod 2: which smart speaker is best?
Sonos has shaken up the smart speaker space with the launch of the Sonos Era 100. An upgrade on the fantastic Sonos One speaker, the Sonos Era 100 boasts a full soundstage and crisp, clear audio. But how does it compare with some of the best smart speakers already on the market?
The Sonos Era 100 offers quality audio, but it isn’t cheap. This means it doesn’t make much sense to compare it to some of our favorite smaller wireless speakers, like the Apple HomePod Mini or Amazon Echo Dot. But given its size, price and fantastic sound it’s a solid rival for Apple’s latest full-size smart speaker, the Apple HomePod 2.
At first glance, the Sonos Era 100 and Apple HomePod 2 seem incredibly similar with compact designs, a host of features and great-sounding audio. But take a closer look and there are some key differences here that will be dealbreakers depending on your current set-up and preferences. Let’s get into it to find out which smart speaker is best for you, the Sonos Era 100 vs Apple HomePod 2?Sonos Era 100 vs Apple HomePod 2: Price and availability
The Apple HomePod 2 was released on February 3, 2023, and it costs $299 / £299 / AU$479. The Sonos Era 100 is released on March 28, 2023. It costs $249 / £249 / AU$399.
The Apple HomePod 2 is a little more expensive, but their price is similar overall, especially when compared to rivals. This is hardly surprising as Apple and Sonos are two high-performing brands that are never afraid to go premium.
As we’ll learn further down this guide, these prices are justified. Both speakers sound fantastic and offer a range of features. But that’s only true to a point. Those with specific preferences, like Android phone users, won’t get their money’s worth from the Apple HomePod 2 as it’s very much geared towards Apple users.
However, comparing both speakers to the wider market, their price tags aren’t all that out there. From our best smart speakers guide, there’s the Bose Smart Speaker 500, which is more expensive at $399 / £399 / AU$599, and the Denon Home 150 that’s a little cheaper at $249 / £219 / AU$340.Sonos Era 100 vs Apple HomePod 2: Features
There are a few key feature differences that set the Sonos Era 100 and Apple HomePod 2 apart. The first is that the Sonos Era 100 has an aux-in input, via an adapter. This means you can connect external audio sources, such as one of the best turntables, to it and play your music. The Apple HomePod 2 doesn’t have any inputs.
