This Is The Sonos Portable Speaker

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While Sonos may have a two day press event planned to intro new products later this month, the Internet has a differing timeline. And, yesterday, two of several devices we believe Sonos is working on passed through the FCC. One may be a refreshed Sonos Connect, although I’d been hoping for a smaller subwoofer, the other adds Bluetooth streaming capabilities — in addition to the traditional Sonos mesh, but something entirely new for the music streaming pioneer.

a high-performance wireless speaker and part of the Sonos sound system. The device’s primary function will be for streaming with Wi-Fi, but also features Bluetooth audio streaming and Bluetooth Low Energy, used for simplified setup.

As it turns out, someone saw me tweeting about a “round” Sonos and wanted to set the record straight … with the above photo. Voilà! It’s almost assuredly the long rumored, long pined after portable Sonos. Given the microphone array (for Alexa and Google), touch controls, and dot-dense-grill, I’m guessing it won’t be as rugged as the UE Boom 3 or even the IPX4 Bose Revolve ($200-300) and more suited for usage around the house than for a jaunt to the beach but, hey, it’s a Sonos! That’s portable!

In terms of styling, this is clearly a Sonos given the branding and One-esque top surface. But, unlike the One, this speaker is more cylindrical and possibly a bit smaller. Given the slightly tapered and possibly bumperized base, as with those aforementioned bluetooth speakers, I wonder about potential battery life and the possibility of a charging cradle.

9:40AM EST Update: The Verge is now reporting the back features a WiFi/Bluetooth toggle switch and an integrated handle. There is a charging base, but no word yet if it’s bundled or an additional purchase. In a first for Sonos, the speaker is powered by USB-C. Lastly, Verge indicates the Sonos speaker is slightly taller and wider than the One, despite the photo that makes it appear smaller.

5 thoughts on “This Is The Sonos Portable Speaker”

  1. Given the potential dual logo alignment, I wonder about the back – is it flat, can I lay this down? And what about a carrying strap or handle? If there is a charging dock, is it a separate purchase like UE and Bose or bundled like the discontinued Echo Tap?

  2. Ich kann mir vorstellen das so mancher Wohnmobilfahrer diese Box nutzen und lieben zu schätzen weis. Liebe Grüße von Heinz Abend

  3. Cool. A portable Sonos with AirPlay 2. I wonder how heavy a portable Sonos is! :) I was always surprised how heavy a Sonos speaker is (due to the built-in amp(s)). I read a 3rd generation Sonos Play:5 (Sonos 5) is coming. I’d rather see a Sonos 3 update to the discontinued Sonos Play:3. The Sonos 1 lacks the bass of the Play:3 and the Play:5 @ $500 means $1,000 for a stereo pair! For that kind of money you can buy better speakers powered by an A/V receiver. But a stereo pair of Sonos Play:3’s made a nice setup for ~$500.

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