Sonos Roam
87
Engadget Review
The Roam is Sonos’ cheapest, smallest and most portable speaker yet. It sounds great for its size, has decent battery life and is easy to carry with you anywhere. When on WiFi, it offers all the benefits of Sonos speakers, including multi-room audio. It’s also a perfectly capable portable Bluetooth speaker, even if it’s not the loudest option out there. The Roam has no real weakness, making it a good portable choice for existing Sonos owners as well as a solid entry point for people new to the company’s products.
The second portable speaker from Sonos is a much easier sell than the first.
Nathan IngrahamApril 06, 2021
Pros
- Great audio quality
- Sounds even better in a stereo pair
- Extremely portable
- Has all the benefits of Sonos’ larger speakers
- Durable and waterproof
Cons
- Battery life is just average
- Not the loudest portable speaker out there
Sonos
Roam
Engadget
87
Critics
9 reviews83
AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE
Users - Not yet scored
N/A
AVERAGE USER SCORE
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Sonos Roam
- Critic Reviews (9)
- 83AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE9 ReviewsGizmodo80The Sonos Roam Packs a Powerful Punch in a Petite PackageIf you’re intrigued but unsure you want to commit to this pricey speaker ecosystem, I’d say the Roam is the best option to see if the whole Sonos thing is your vibe. Not only is it relatively affordable, but even if the smart features aren’t your jam, at least you still have a great portable Bluetooth speaker.PC Mag70The smallest Sonos speaker easily goes wherever you doThe versatile Sonos Roam can easily be moved between your home speaker setup and the great outdoors, though you're paying a premium for convenience over audio quality.CNET90A good speaker in a small packageWhile the speaker is far from cheap, it is a lot cheaper than the Move, giving Sonos another speaker in its lineup that costs less than $200. With that more affordable pricing, Sonos is hoping the Roam not only appeals to Sonos newbies on a tighter budget but to existing Sonos users looking for an ultraportable speaker that can leave the Sonos nest but be right at home when it returns home. In fact, with its attractive design and strong sound quality, if you already have a Sonos setup, it seems hard to resist, and note that if you own older Sonos equipment, you can get up to 30% off the Roam and other new Sonos speakers as part of Sonos' upgrade program.TechHive90Now you really can take the exceptional Sonos sound anywhereSmall, lightweight, packed with great networking features plus your choice of Alexa or Google Assistant, the sweet-sounding Sonos Roam just became the portable smart speaker to beat.SlashGear80A portable speaker to get you hookedFor established Sonos owners who have a room they’d like a speaker in, but which is used infrequently enough that buying one might feel like a luxury, Roam is a neat way to upgrade with some flexibility attached. Those new to the platform, meanwhile, now have a cheaper route with which to dip a toe. Sonos is counting on that being enough to make them fans, and I suspect Roam’s balance of price, performance, and ease of use may mean they’re right.CNN80The Sonos Roam is a great portable speaker with serious smartsIf you’ve been wondering what Sonos speakers are all about, the $169 Roam is your most accessible entry point yet. Those who just want a good Bluetooth speaker they can take to the beach may want to consider simpler options such as the $129 UE Boom 3. But if you want a great-sounding portable speaker that also packs lots of smarts inside, the Roam offers a whole lot in a small package.The Verge80PORTABLE POTENTIALThe Roam can fill in any nook of your living space — the bathroom, the garage, wherever — that doesn’t have another full-time Sonos speaker in it. On the go with Bluetooth, it’s easy to use and kicks out clear, satisfying sound for its size. Sonos needs to work on keeping the Roam’s smarts together when you’re on different Wi-Fi, and stereo pairing over Bluetooth should’ve been a feature on day one. But neither is enough to sink the overall value of Sonos’ latest speaker. As long as you don’t expect miracles from its compact size, I think you’ll end up happy.Gear Patrol90Almost a Perfect Portable SpeakerAll in all, the Roam is a bit more expensive than its main portable speaker competition, but that purchase pays dividends in ease. If you've already got a Sonos system and you're considering expansion, a Sonos Roam will make an excellent addition — wherever you wind up taking it.9to5Mac90Sonos Roam packs an impressive punch with portable design, AirPlay, Qi charging, moreI think the combination of audio and hardware quality along with thoughtful features like AirPlay, wireless charging, auto Bluetooth/WiFi switching, and more make this a compelling choice that will last for the long haul.
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Key Specs
TYPE
Wireless speakers
CONNECTIONS
Bluetooth, Wifi
AUDIO PLAYBACK TIME
up to 10hr
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