Sonos Play Review: A Versatile Portable Speaker Marks a Return to Form
The Sonos Play represents a significant comeback for the audio brand, delivering exceptional sound in a battery-powered speaker that seamlessly integrates into both home and mobile environments. This new model is designed as a reset point following the company's recent app issues, which had eroded consumer trust and led to leadership changes.
Design and Build Quality
Priced at £299 (€349/$299/A$499), the Sonos Play is not your average portable speaker. It sits above the smaller Roam 2 in both cost and size, aiming to be a versatile music box for all occasions. The oval-shaped speaker features rubberised tops and bottoms to absorb impacts, with an IP67 water resistance rating that allows it to withstand submersion up to one metre. Weighing 1.3kg, it is lighter than the Move 2 but still substantial, making it ideal for moving around the home, garden, or taking to a friend's house by car rather than for hiking or flights.
Connectivity and Features
The Play excels in its integration with the Sonos ecosystem. It connects via wifi 6 for direct streaming from the internet, controlled through the Sonos app, Spotify Connect, or Apple AirPlay 2. It supports grouping with other Sonos speakers for multi-room audio and works with nearly all streaming services. Additionally, it includes Bluetooth 5.3 for use away from home, with a unique party trick: it can link with up to four other Play or Move 2 speakers from a single Bluetooth source. The speaker also has a detachable carry loop that doubles as a stand, along with playback buttons, voice control via Sonos or Amazon Alexa, and a USB-C port for charging or use as a power bank.
Battery and Charging
Equipped with a 35Wh battery, the Play offers up to 24 hours of playback on Bluetooth and more than a day on wifi at 60% volume. The battery is user-replaceable, costing £49, and charges via USB-C or an included dock. However, the speaker does not come with a charger, requiring an 18W or greater USB-C adaptor, with 45W needed for fast charging.
Sound Performance
Despite its compact size, the Play delivers superb sound with one woofer and two angled tweeters, creating a wide audio profile. It excels in tone separation, detail in highs, defined mids, and powerful bass, though it struggles with very deep notes compared to the Move 2. The sound is enjoyable out of the box, with an equaliser in the Sonos app for adjustments and Trueplay tuning optimising for different rooms. It performs best at 60% volume, filling most spaces effectively, but audio quality declines above 80%, making it less suitable as a loud party speaker.
App Improvements and Sustainability
The Sonos app has seen significant improvements since its problematic 2024 redesign, now including core features like wake-up alarms, local music playback, and playlist editing. It is more responsive and reliable, though some limitations remain, such as limited playlist filtering options. Sonos commits to at least five years of software support, with a history of longer updates. The speaker uses 26% renewable plastic and recycled materials, with trade-in and recycling programs available.
Verdict and Comparison
The Sonos Play is a true jack-of-all-trades, excelling as a compact bookshelf speaker at home and a rugged Bluetooth companion outdoors. It offers long battery life, replaceable components, and robust build quality. However, it is expensive, lacks spatial audio support, and is not ideal for home cinema setups. Compared to alternatives like the JBL Charge 6 or Ultimate Ears Epicboom, it provides superior integration for Sonos users but may not be the best value for pure Bluetooth use.
Pros: Excellent sound quality, long battery life, IP67 water resistance, durable design, wide music service support, replaceable battery, improved app functionality.
Cons: High price, no spatial audio, heavy for portability, no included charger, limited low-end power at high volumes.
