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It's been a fairly quiet year for Sonos, but the networked speaker company is back with a new portable speaker designed to sit between the Move 2 and the Roam, called the Sonos Play.
There's also an updated version of the Era 100, designed to make it much easier and more affordable to give your home theatre a proper surround sound experience.
The "Goldilocks" of portables
The Sonos Play fills the gap for those who find the Roam 2 too small for a backyard party but the Move 2 too heavy for a day trip. It delivers 24 hours of battery life and carries an IP67 rating, meaning it can survive a literal dunk in the pool without skipping a beat.
Interestingly, Sonos has added a built-in power bank to the Play, allowing you to charge your phone while out and about.
It also introduces a new Bluetooth grouping feature that lets you sync up to three additional Play or Move 2 speakers without needing a WiFi connection.
Privacy-focused surround sound
The Era 100 SL is a streamlined version of the existing Era 100, stripping out the microphones for those who don't want a voice assistant listening in. This mic-free design makes it a more cost-effective choice for those looking to add rear surrounds to an existing Sonos soundbar.
In the announcement, Sonos Chief Executive Officer Tom Conrad said the new models reflect a focus on building a system that lasts. "We believe a great sound experience shouldn't reset every time you add something new. It should get better," Conrad said.
Both speakers were tuned by Grammy-winning producers to ensure the audio remains true to the artist's original intent. They also support Automatic Trueplay, which uses the speaker's own hardware to adjust the EQ based on the acoustics of the room.
Specs
| Feature | Sonos Play | Sonos Era 100 SL |
|---|---|---|
| Amplifiers | Three class-H digital amplifiers | Three class-D digital amplifiers |
| Tweeters | Two angled tweeters | Two angled tweeters |
| Woofers | One midwoofer | One midwoofer |
| Passive Radiators | Dual force-cancelling passive radiators | None |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 192 x 113 x 77 mm | 183 x 120 x 131 mm |
| Weight | 1.3 kg | 1.95 kg |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4/5 GHz) | WiFi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4/5 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| USB-C Connectivity | Line-in, Ethernet, and phone charging | Line-in and Ethernet |
| Battery / Power | 35Wh battery (up to 24 hours); Wireless Charging Base included | 100-240V internal power supply |
| Durability | IP67 dustproof and waterproof | Standard indoor use |
| Microphones | Far-field microphone array | None (Mic-free) |
| Colours / Finish | Black, White (Matte) | Black, White (Matte) |
Pricing and availability
The Sonos Play and Era 100 SL are available for pre-order from today, with general availability starting 31 March 2026.
- Sonos Play: $499
- Sonos Era 100 SL: $289
