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.