Apple might be grabbing most of the headlines this week, but the audio world just got a massive jolt from a different direction. It looks like Sonos is getting ready to drop a brand new device that fills a glaring hole in its current lineup. Thanks to what appears to be a premature listing on Best Buy Canada’s website, we have our first look at the Sonos Play portable speaker.
The listing was pulled down pretty quickly, but not before the internet did what it does best. Screenshots and specs were captured and shared on Reddit, giving us a very clear picture of what Sonos has been working on. If the leaked information holds up, we are looking at a mid-range powerhouse that sits right between the ultra-portable Roam 2 and the beefy Move 2. It is a smart move for the company because that middle ground is exactly where most people spend their money when looking for high-quality outdoor audio.
A design that looks familiar but functional
From the leaked images, the Sonos Play portable speaker does not reinvent the wheel when it comes to aesthetics. It stays very much in line with the clean, minimalist look Sonos is known for. The shape is a bit reminiscent of the UE Epicboom, featuring a rugged but sophisticated build with a handy carrying strap.
One of the more interesting details in the leak involves the physical dimensions. Best Buy originally listed the height at just under 8cm, which would be ridiculous given the photos. It is much more likely that the height is actually around 19.23cm, with a width of 11.25cm and a depth of 7.67cm. This size makes it substantial enough to provide good low-end response while still being small enough to carry with one hand. It is clearly designed for the person who wants more volume than a small pocket speaker but does not want to lug around the nearly 3kg Move 2.
Battery life and charging flexibility
The specs list for the Sonos Play portable speaker is where things get really interesting for those of us who actually use these things in the wild. We are looking at up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge. That is a significant jump over the Roam and puts it in the big leagues for weekend trips where you might not have access to a power outlet.
Speaking of power, Sonos has added a bit of utility here. The speaker features a USB-C port that apparently allows it to act as a battery pack to charge your phone in a pinch. It also comes with a wireless charging base, which has become a staple of the Sonos portable experience. You can leave it on the base in your living room as a stationary speaker and just grab it by the strap when you are heading out to the patio or the park.
Trueplay and connectivity options
For the tech-savvy crowd, the inclusion of automatic Trueplay tuning is the real highlight of the Sonos Play portable speaker. If you are not familiar with the tech, it uses the speaker’s internal microphones to listen to how sound is bouncing off nearby walls and furniture. It then adjusts the EQ in real-time to make sure the audio stays balanced, whether you are in a tiled bathroom or an open backyard.
The connectivity seems to follow the modern Sonos playbook by offering both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This means it can act as a part of your multi-room home system when you are in the house, but it transitions into a standard Bluetooth speaker once you leave your network. They have even included an aux port, which is a bit of a rarity these days. This is a huge win for anyone who wants to plug in a portable turntable or another wired audio source while away from home.
The price point and market position
According to the Best Buy leak, the Sonos Play price is set at CAD $399.99. When you do the math for other markets, that should land it at roughly USD $300 or AUD $420. For context, that puts it right in the middle of the $179 Roam 2 and the $499 Move 2.
