Here’s how the latest portable speaker from Sonos stacks up against one of the best Bluetooth speakers of 2021.
Bluetooth speakers are an essential bit of kit for any music lover who wants to take their tunes on the go – and the Sonos Roam could be the best one yet, if the issues we experienced during our tests are rectified by the company. The Sonos Roam stopped working halfway through our tests, which is why we haven’t given it a star rating yet. Until we can confirm that our test unit had an isolated problem, we can’t recommend the Sonos Roam. We’ll be updating this piece once we’ve received more information on what caused the fault in our device. However, its mixture of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and integration with the wider Sonos ecosystem, meant that the Roam impressed us initially, and it could beat one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the planet, the Ultimate Ears Boom 3. On paper, the UE Boom 3 is a far simpler device, only offering Bluetooth connectivity. However, its rugged design, great app integration, and lower price means that the Sonos will have its work cut out if it wants to knock out the competition. If the issues we experienced do turn out to be a one-off, we’ll have no problem recommending the Sonos Roam as the best portable speaker you can buy today; for now, here’s how the two portable smart speakers compare based on their specs and our tests. The Sonos Roam will be available to buy on April 20, though it’s available to preorder now from the Sonos website for $169 / £159 / AU$279. That makes it the cheapest Sonos speaker we’ve ever seen – though the UE Boom 3 is cheaper still. The UE Boom 3 is available to buy for $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95, which is around $30 more expensive than its predecessor, the UE Boom 2. However, as the speaker launched in 2018, it’s often discounted to prices in the region of $120 / £100 / AU$150. Still too pricey? There are plenty of more budget-friendly Bluetooth speakers on the market, including the Anker Soundcore Flare, the UE Wonderboom 2, and the Urbanista Brisbane. In terms of shape and size, the Sonos Roam and the UE Boom 3 look fairly similar, with slim cylindrical builds and rubberized end caps. However, only the UE Boom features a wraparound fabric grille for 360-degree music playback. The Sonos Roam’s drilled grille is limited to the front of the speaker, though its shape means you have a little more flexibility as to where you place it – you have the choice to position it horizontally for stability on uneven ground or vertically for a smaller footprint, with its triangular shape funneling sound upwards. On the left end of the Sonos Roam (when oriented horizonatlly) is a control panel with tactile buttons for adjusting your music playback, with each end cap coming in a concave shape to protect the Roam from bumps and scrapes. You can also find control buttons on the top of the UE Boom 3, with an on/off button and a ‘magic button’, which can be used to pause, play, and skips tracks. You can also use the magic button to directly access your playlists from a select few music providers – to do this you will need to set this feature up in the accompanying Megaboom app. Both waterproof speakers come with an IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating, making them rugged enough to withstand the elements, with the ability to survive for 30 minutes in up to three feet of water. The UE Boom 3 has an extra feature for when you head to the pool or beach: it can float. It’s certainly the more rugged-looking of the two speakers, coming in a range of colors (with the ability to personalize the finish if you wish), with a fabric grille that’s designed to be super durable, as it was originally engineered for motorcycle jackets and fire equipment.
