The Sonos Roam is the company's latest wireless speaker, due out in April 2021. The audio device strives to balance portability and convenience alongside the well-recognized Sonos wireless experience.

The Sonos range of wireless connected home speakers are some of the most popular on the market. The audio devices connect to a wide range of your favorite streaming services and can be used individually or grouped together for a more immersive experience.

If you're in the market for a new wireless speaker, here's everything you need to know about the Sonos Roam.

What Is the Sonos Roam?

Sonos Roam speaker

The Sonos Roam is a portable wireless speaker. The majority of the company's connected speakers are designed to be placed in a single location, connected to mains power, and attached to a single Wi-Fi network. This makes them ideal smart speakers for around your home.

However, the Sonos experience is also an important factor when investing in one of the company's speakers. The Sonos controller app allows you to connect streaming services to your Sonos products. As a result, you can stream your favorite music, audiobooks, podcasts, and radio stations from a single app across multiple speakers.

The Sonos Roam is a follow-up to the company's first portable speaker, the Sonos Move. Like other Sonos devices, the speaker connects to your home network via Wi-Fi. It can also be taken with you while on-the-go thanks to the inclusion of Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery. While on your home network, the Roam integrates with your other Sonos speakers.

Sonos Roam Hardware Specifications

Sonos Roam smart speaker

Sonos smart speakers are incredibly convenient, but the straightforward experience is supported by high-quality audio hardware. While you shouldn't expect quite the same performance from a portable speaker, the output should cater to even the most dedicated audiophile.

The Sonos Roam has two Class-H digital amplifiers tuned to the speaker's design. There's also a single tweeter for a clear high-frequency response. A mid-woofer supports the mid-range frequencies and the lower end. The speaker is cushioned with silicone ends to provide drop protection.

Most of the company's speakers integrate with digital assistants, and the Sonos Roam's microphone array allows you to control the speaker with your voice. The microphones are also used for beamforming, echo cancellation, and Trueplay tuning, which adjusts the speaker's output to your environment.

You might expect a portable speaker with 10-hour battery life to be relatively bulky. However, the triangular-shaped Roam weighs just 0.43kg, measures 6.61 x 2.44 x 2.36 inches, and has five physical buttons. The Sonos Roam is also available in Shadow Black or Lunar White, both with a durable matte finish.

Sonos Roam Features

Sonos Roam lifted

The Sonos Roam can be controlled by your voice thanks to its integration with Google Assistant and Alexa. It's important to note that this functionality is only available when connected to a Wi-Fi network rather than Bluetooth.

The speaker supports Apple AirPlay 2 for streaming from Apple devices. When using AirPlay 2, you can control the speaker via Siri. If attached wirelessly using Bluetooth, you can stream audio, podcasts, and music from your smartphone to the speaker.

The speaker itself is IP67-rated for waterproofing and dust resistance. You can recharge the speaker via USB-C or wirelessly using any Qi-based charger. Fortunately, the 10-hour battery life means the speaker should easily last any outdoor venture. If you don't already own a wireless charger or would prefer a more custom solution, Sonos also offers a snap-on Wireless Charger for the Roam.

For the privacy-conscious, or those generally opposed to the idea of an always-listening speaker, one of the Roam's five hardware buttons disables the microphones. The microphone LED is hard-wired, so it can only light up when the microphones are enabled.

The speaker automatically connects to your home network when in range or will pair with your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone when disconnected from Wi-Fi. Fortunately, the Sonos ecosystem is also an ideal work-from-home companion.

Partly, this is thanks to the inclusion of voice assistants, but also thanks to the volume of services you can connect to your Sonos system. There are over 100 audio services for you to link with the Wi-Fi-connected system, ranging from music streaming apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal, to podcast services, and even some meditation apps.

Should You Buy the Sonos Roam?

Sonos Roam in a person's hand

At the time of writing, the Sonos Roam is available for pre-order and is due to ship in late April 2021. Notably, the portable speaker is reasonably affordable, costing $170. This is in-line with other portable speakers and makes it Sonos' cheapest speaker by some margin. The Sonos Move retails for $399, significantly more than the Roam, but it is not truly a portable speaker.

The Sonos Move is a variation of the popular Sonos One smart speaker with a rechargeable battery. It also only offers splash protection rather than water resistance. The device is also much larger than the Sonos Roam, although it packs more audio technology for high-quality sound. The Sonos Roam is the first speaker designed with portability in mind, so the device is slim, lightweight, and offers the best of its services.

The automatic network switching means it isn't a hassle to reconnect to your home network, so you can place it on the side and continue your day without interruption. It is also an ideal choice for damp environments like bathrooms or kitchens. The Sonos Move only offered limited water resistance, so it couldn't survive that kind of use.

The Sonos Roam is also competitive with other Bluetooth speakers, coming in at roughly the same price for a much more comprehensive experience.

The Best Portable Sonos Speaker?

While you could purchase the Sonos Roam as a standalone speaker, it is best for those with existing Sonos setups at home. With the relatively affordable price point, the company may also hope that it lures newcomers and converts them to Sonos loyalists, who will then invest in a complete setup down the line.

The Sonos Roam is currently available to pre-order from the Sonos website for $169. The speaker comes with a USB-C cable for charging, but you can also purchase the Sonos Wireless Charger for an additional $49. Both devices are expected to go on general sale from April 20th, 2021.

Don't fret if the Sonos Roam doesn't suit your audio needs; there are plenty of excellent alternative Bluetooth speakers available right now, too.