Sonos Roam 2 vs. Sonos Roam: A Worthwhile Upgrade?

Sonos Roam 2: Refreshed Wireless Portable Speaker

With everyone focused on the announcement of Sonos’ first-ever wireless headphones, Sonos Ace, you might’ve missed the fact that the brand also gave their compact, portable Bluetooth speaker a refresh. Meet the Sonos Roam 2. 

If you're a Sonos fan and considering the Roam 2, you might be wondering if the upgrade is worth the investment. In this blog, we'll break down the key differences and similarities between the Sonos Roam 2 and the original Roam, helping you decide if the upgrade is right for you.

The Sonos Roam 2 retains the impressive 10-hour battery life, IP67 weatherproofing, and signature sound and smart technology that we loved from the original. But beyond those familiar features lies a suite of long-requested enhancements designed to improve the speakers usability.

More: Sonos Ace Review: Worth The Wait?

Sonos Roam 2: Price

Boasting the same price tag as its predecessor, the new Sonos Roam 2 launched with an RRP of £179. The Sonos Roam 2 is available over on our website. Plus, it comes with our 6-Year Extended Sonos Warranty and 30-day return policy for added peace of mind too.

Sonos Roam 2 vs. Sonos Roam: What's New?

While not being what we’d call a complete overhaul, Sonos has definitely implemented some new features in the Roam 2 that will improve its overall useability. Here’s a closer look at what’s new:

1. More Ergonomic Power & Bluetooth Buttons

Despite being big fans of the original Sonos Roam, one of our biggest frustrations amongst the community was the constant battle needed to use the multi-function button correctly. 

Thankfully, this refreshed iteration solves that problem altogether by introducing separate power and Bluetooth buttons with a more tactile and ergonomic design.  

With dedicated controls, Sonos have made sure that you can now power on and connect to your device via Bluetooth much more easily, so you can spend less time fiddling and more time listening to the music you enjoy. Plus, with the more ergonomic and tactile buttons, we’ll hopefully be seeing an end to those rage clicking alluded to by some Sonos users in the community forums.

2. Bluetooth Straight Out of the Box

Sonos is well-known for its wider app ecosystem, offering extensive functionality for users who enjoy a truly connected listening experience. However, the Sonos Roam 2 now caters to those seeking a more simple and streamlined approach. 

Improved Bluetooth connectivity allows for immediate music playback straight out of the box, eliminating the need for any kind of setup process with the Sonos app. 

While we’d still recommend using the app to get the very best out of your speaker, if you’re the type of person who wants fuss-free listening without wasting any time on setup, the Roam 2 is now a very viable option.

3. Refreshed Monotone Finish

In order to move this speaker in line with the more recent product launches from Sonos, like the Sonos Era 100, Era 300 and Sonos Move 2, the Sonos Roam 2 now sports an updated monotone finish where the logo blends in with the design.

This new design exudes sophistication with both a darker black and brighter white finish that look great wherever you use it, at home, in the office, or even outdoors.

4. USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable

Who wants to wait around for their speaker to charge? Sonos has decided to ditch the old USB A-C charger with the Roam 2, opting for a faster and more efficient USB-C to USB-C design. 

Not only will the Roam 2 charge faster, but by increasing the capacity of the charging cable, you’ll be able to spend less time tethered to the mains power and more time enjoying your favourite audio wherever you are. 

Read More: Sonos Roam 2 Review: The Best Portable Speaker in 2024?

Sonos Roam 2 vs. Sonos Roam: What's The Same?

While the Sonos Roam 2 is the refreshed version of the original Roam, a lot has stayed the same. It still offers the same impressive 10-hour battery life, IP67 weatherproofing, and signature sound and smart technology that we loved from the original.

There’s also the same intuitive top panel controls, voice control built-in, Automatic Trueplay tuning and you can even use it with a bluetooth turntable too! 

Sonos Roam 2: Our Thoughts

While there’s still some testing to do with the Sonos Roam 2, our first experiences suggest Sonos' adjustments will significantly broaden its appeal.

Sure, it might not be overflowing with fancy new features, but the Roam 2 keeps things simple with some smart tweaks that make it way easier to use. Of course, it would’ve been great to have seen some additional battery life or maybe some enhanced audio performance like we saw with the Move 2.

However, considering the unchanged price and focus on positive changes, it appears to be a solid choice for us and one that’s improved for both existing Sonos users and for those outside of the ecosystem too. 

If you’d like to see how the Sonos Roam 2 stacks up, read our Sonos Roam 2 Review or, keep an eye on our YouTube channel, a full review will be coming soon!

For more information about the Sonos Roam 2 or any other Sonos products, get in touch and one of our Tech Guides would be happy to help!

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