Sonos Play portable speaker reviewed as return to form after app issues
The Story
The Guardian reviewed Sonos’s new Play portable speaker, describing it as a “jack of all trades” designed to serve as a reset point for the company’s recovery following its 2024 app redesign. The review notes the speaker combines wifi and Bluetooth connectivity, is rugged with IP67 water resistance, and offers up to 24 hours of battery life.
Key Facts
- The Play costs £299 (€349/$299/A$499).
- It weighs 1.3kg and has dimensions 192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7mm.
- Connectivity includes wifi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect.
- Battery is a 35Wh unit lasting up to 24 hours on Bluetooth and more than a day on wifi at 60% volume; it charges via USB-C or an included base (charger not included).
- IP67 water resistance means it can survive submersion up to 1 metre for 30 minutes.
- The speaker has one woofer facing forward and two angled tweeters; the sound is described as “superb” with good separation, though bass lacks deep notes compared to the Move 2.
- The Play can be used alone or paired with other Sonos speakers, including creating a stereo pair with two Plays or grouping up to four Play or Move 2 speakers via Bluetooth.
- The Sonos app has improved since its 2024 redesign, with core features restored including wake-up alarms, local library playback, and playlist editing; the app is more responsive but still has limitations such as inability to reorder tracks by date added.
- Sonos offers minimum five years of software support after a product is discontinued; the battery is replaceable at home for £49 and should last 750 full charge cycles.
- The speaker contains 26% renewable plastic, recycled aluminium and steel; Sonos offers trade-in and recycling.
- The review notes the Play is heavy for portable use (not ideal for hiking) and not loud enough for a booming party speaker; it lacks spatial audio/Dolby Atmos and cannot be used in a home cinema setup.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article. (Single-source review.)
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
No specific individuals named in the source article. (Only company Sonos.)
Sources: The Guardian
