The 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.

Solid audio performance at moderate volumes; Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control; Streams via AirPlay 2; Bluetooth; and Wi-Fi; Waterproof design

Mono output; Digital signal processing can overwhelm the audio at high volumes; Not as loud as similarly priced speakers

We’ve waited a while for Sonos’s entry to the portable outdoor speaker market, and the result is sure to please many

Full-bodied sound, Lots of features, Portable

Clarity not exceptional, Average timing and dynamics

Sonos Roam is a great portable addition to a Sonos setup, and is enjoyable to listen to, but buy it portability is your main focus, not sound quality.

Striking sound overall, Strong frame and waterproofing, Great streaming options and features

Feels constrained at lower volumes, Detail and expansiveness are a bit limited, Battery life isn't ideal

Sonos needs a gateway for new users, and the Sonos Roam is its answer. What looks like a regular Bluetooth speaker actually hides double the functionality: a portable speaker when you’re on the go, a full-fledged Sonos speaker around the house, and all wrapped up in a ruggedized housing and the...

Most affordable Sonos entry point, Sounds great, Easily transitions between Sonos and Bluetooth connections, Qi wireless plus USB-C makes charging easy, Rugged without looking ridiculous

Sound Swap and stereo pairing only work in Sonos mode, Battery life falls short of Bluetooth-only rivals, Price premium compared to Bluetooth-only speakers

The Sonos Roam is the most focused, calculated product from Sonos yet. It’s a small $169 speaker that’s meant to compete with portable Bluetooth speakers that people so often carry everywhere without a second thought.

A truly portable Sonos speaker, Supports AirPlay 2, Alexa, and Google Assistant, Rugged design that can endure the elements, Wireless charging

Bass is limited by form factor, No stereo pairing over Bluetooth, 10-hour battery life falls short of other speakers, Sonos app can be buggy on Wi-Fi networks that aren’t yours

Bluetooth skills set this smart speaker apart

Compact form factor, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi skills, Rugged and waterproof, Alexa and GA available

Sound Swap needs work, Battery issues with Google Assistant, Sound quality isn't amazing

The $399 Sonos Move is a very capable wireless speaker. When at home, it can connect to the rest of your Sonos gear, and its built-in microphone lets it act as a Google- or Alexa-powered smart speaker. On the road, its Bluetooth radio and 10-hour rechargeable battery makes for a powerful, portable sound system. Well, maybe not that portable. In truth, as good as the Move is, it’s never going to be a grab-and-go speaker because it’s simply too big and too heavy. Going from the living room to the patio? Grab the Move. Going from the patio to the park? That’s a different story. But now we have the $169 Sonos Roam. It’s got all of the Move’s capabilities (and then some), but it’s a fraction of the Move’s size, weight, and price. Does this make the Roam a no-brainer purchase for Sonos fans? Let’s check it out. Sonos has long been a leader in sustainably packaged products, but the Roam is its best effort yet. It even includes a handy label to help determine which parts can be recycled. Insid...

Excellent design; Lightweight and portable; Totally water and dustproof; Very good sound for its size; Choice of smart speaker assistants; Wireless charging;

No Bluetooth stereo pairing; Doesn’t work as a speakerphone; Less battery life than some other speakers;

This is the perfect speaker for Sonos fans, for everyone else, it's just a speaker

Premium materials, Big sound in a small body, Has access to all of Sonos' features

Doesn't float, Sonos software can be a tad overbearing, battery life is a little lacklustre

Sonos' first portable speaker impresses with integration and convenience.

Warm and comfortable sound with good speech intelligibility. You can take all the benefits and streaming services from the Sonos desktop system with you in your pocket.

Relatively expensive. Undynamic sound. No real bass reproduction. Charger is not included in the price.

Exceptional sound for its size; Auto Trueplay now works over Bluetooth; Sound Swap feature lets you “swap” music with other Sonos speakers; Small and light, with a waterproof design;

Slow wireless charging (at least with third-party chargers); Sound Swap doesn’t work across Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2 modes;