The Sonos Roam is a small, portable smart speaker for $169
On Tuesday, Sonos officially took the wraps off its new lightweight and portable smart speaker: the Sonos Roam.
The device comes two years after the company launched the Sonos Move, its very first portable speaker, back in 2019. But Move is larger and a bit clunkier than the Roam — at six pounds, it's really only comfortable for carrying between rooms or out into the backyard.
Until now, it was the only portable option that Sonos offered. But it wasn't that ideal for those who wanted a speaker to use on the go.
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The Sonos Roam, on the other hand, is a lot smaller and lighter. Weighing just under 1 pound, it's easy to throw into your bag and take with you to the beach, a campground, or, really anywhere that allows you to safely socially distance — you know, since we're still in a pandemic.
In terms of design, Roam has a matte finish that comes in either Shadow Black or Lunar White. You can stand it up either vertically (to take up less space), or horizontally, a good idea if you're placing it on uneven ground. And, with an IP67 rating, it's both waterproof and dust-proof, so you don't have to worry about damaging it outside — unless you submerge it under a meter of water for more than 30 minutes, that is.
It also has a USB-C port for charging, but the speaker is compatible with Qi wireless charging. If you want the wireless charger built specifically for Roam, however, you'll have to purchase it separately for an additional $49. Otherwise, it'll work with any other Qi wireless charger.
As for battery life, Sonos says the Roam can last up to 10 hours on a single charge and up to 10 days in sleep mode. Of course, we still have to test that claim.
Under the hood, it packs a tweeter, a high-efficiency motor (which Sonos says maximizes bass but minimizes thickness), two Class-H amplifiers, a Race-track Mid-Woofer, and a far-field microphone array to trigger the voice assistant. Sonos says the features deliver "rich, detailed sound with the clarity, depth, and fullness you’d expect from a larger speaker."
To enhance the sound, Sonos has also incorporated Automatic TruePlay Tuning technology, which was first introduced with the Move. It uses spatial awareness to automatically adjust sound depending on Roam's location, orientation, and the content playing.
Roam will connect to your home's WiFi network if you're in range, and will automatically re-pair with your phone via Bluetooth when you're not.
You can also take advantage of the grouping feature via WiFi. Basically, you can pair Roam to any other Sonos speakers throughout the house to stream content simultaneously. Or, you can group two Roams together as a stereo pair.
Sonos also introduced a new feature called Sound Swap, which is supposed to make it easier to switch from speaker to speaker throughout rooms. When you hold down the play/pause button on top, Roam will transfer whatever audio is playing to whichever Sonos speaker is nearby.
Roam is also compatible with over 100 different streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and of course, its own Sonos Radio. As for voice assistants, you'll have the choice between Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
While the Roam sounds like a promising speaker, the tiny device doesn't come cheap — it will set you back $169, which isn't as steep as the $399 Sonos Move. But you can find portable speakers that are a bit more affordable, like the JBL Flip 5 for around $120 or Sony's XB23 Extra Bass for $80. Of course, sound quality will vary.
As for availability, the Sonos Roam is currently on pre-order via Sonos' site and will hit shelves starting April 20.
