After a couple of quiet years, Sonos is back with two new consumer speakers: the portable Sonos Play and the more affordable Era 100 SL. They retail for $299 and $189, respectively, and both are now widely available following their announcement earlier this month.
With its utility loop and water-resistant design, the brand-new Sonos Play is designed for either at-home use or on-the-go activities. It also introduces Bluetooth grouping, letting you pair it with other Play or Move 2 speakers without relying on Wi-Fi while out and about. The Era 100 SL, meanwhile, is a simpler take on the existing Era 100 that drops the mic, bringing the price down for those who don’t care about voice controls.
If you’re considering either speaker, here’s what you’re getting and where to buy them.
Where to buy the Sonos Play
The Sonos Play is now available in black or white from Amazon, Best Buy, or Sonos for $299. The portable speaker sits between the Roam 2 and the larger Move 2, and works just as well as a standalone option as it does a way to extend your existing Sonos setup. It’s easy to carry yet powerful enough to fill bigger spaces, with up to 24 hours of battery life and a rugged, IP67-rated design that resists water and dust. It also comes with a removable loop, USB-C charging (though you’ll need your own wall adapter), and the ability to use it as a power bank.
Bluetooth grouping is one of its most notable new features, one that lets you quickly pair the Play with other Sonos speakers even when you’re away from Wi-Fi. In our testing, it maintained a connection up to around 200 feet, though you don’t get stereo separation or full system syncing as you would over Wi-Fi. Sound-wise, the Play leans toward clarity in the mids and highs, but it still delivers enough volume for most rooms or outdoor settings. If you want a speaker for a stationary setup, our A/V reviewer John Higgins says the original Era 100 is still the better pick, but if you want something portable with similar performance, the Play is a good option.
Where to buy the Sonos Era 100 SL
The Sonos Era 100 SL, a more affordable version of the excellent Sonos Era 100, retails for $189 and is now available in either black or white from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The key difference between the two speakers is that the SL lacks a built-in microphone, meaning it doesn’t support voice controls. It still uses the same speaker setup, though, with dual tweeters and a larger midwoofer that produces good, bass-rich sound across genres. It also features the same intuitive physical controls, supports both Bluetooth and line-in audio via an optional USB-C adapter, and supports streaming via Apple’s AirPlay 2.
