The Sonos Roam is the anticipated follow-up to the Sonos Move. Here’s how they compare based on the rumors we’ve heard so far.
Sonos is reportedly on the verge of releasing a new portable Bluetooth speaker. Ostensibly called the Sonos Roam, the upcoming device has been the subject of rumor since the emergence of an FCC filing (Federal Communications Commission) described a device that uses a wireless charging base, but requires less power than the company’s Move speaker. Most recently, an “inside source” told the The Verge that the Sonos Roam will be available on April 20 for $169 (around £120 / AU$220) – and with a Sonos launch event coming up on March 9, we shouldn’t have to wait too long to see if these claims are legitimate. These latest rumors were accompanied by our first images of the Sonos Roam, which do indeed show a portable speaker that’s smaller and more rugged-looking than the brand’s first portable speaker, the Sonos Move. Like the Sonos Move, the new speaker is said to come with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, suggesting that it too will integrate into the brand’s existing multi-room audio system, as well as being able to play your tunes on the go. Based on the rumors we’ve heard so far, it seems like there will be a lot of similarities between the new speaker and the Sonos Move, which we’ve crowned the best Bluetooth speaker you can buy for two years running. However, a few key differences mean that the Sonos Roam could be a more accessible entry point into the Sonos ecosystem, given rumors of a compact design and low price. While it’s important to note that Sonos is yet to confirm the existence of the Sonos Roam, everything is pointing to a new speaker being launched on March 9 – and in anticipation of that announcement, we’ve used all the rumors and leaks we’ve seen so far to compare the rumored speaker with the Sonos Move, giving you an idea of what you can expect if the Roam is officially made public. It’s rumored that the Sonos Roam will be released on April 20, 2021, though we’re expecting to hear more about it at the company’s upcoming event on March 9. According to the leaks we’ve seen so far, it will cost $169 (around £120 / AU$220), making it the cheapest Sonos speaker to date – though that’s by no means a low price for a portable speaker. The Sonos Move launched in September 2019, and is far more expensive at $399 / £399 / AU$649. Again, that’s pricey for a portable speaker – but this isn’t your average Bluetooth boombox, making it difficult to place alongside any direct competition. Few portable speakers, even those with smart assistants built-in, have as rich a feature-list as the Sonos Move, so that higher price tag is more easily justified. If the rumors are to be believed, the Sonos Roam will be like a smaller version of the Move with similar features, so its own relatively high price tag may be well-justified, too. The Sonos Roam is said to be a smaller, cheaper version of the Sonos Move, though if recently leaked photos are anything to go by, it looks quite different to its predecessor.
