Update 1 (03/08/2021 @ 2:02 PM ET): New details of the Sonos Roam have emerged. Click here for more information. The article, as published on March 4, 2021, is preserved below.

Sonos is reportedly preparing a new portable speaker set to be released this spring. The speaker, called Sonos Roam, will be smaller in size compared to the Sonos Move, and retail for around $169.

According to The Verge, Sonos Roam is expected to resemble the UE Boom, one of the market’s more popular portable Bluetooth speaker options. It will allegedly measure in at 6.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches and weigh around a pound. Like the Sonos Move, the Sonos Roam will support an optional charging dock that will be sold separately for $49.

The Sonos Roam will run on the company’s S2 platform that was introduced last year, and feature support for audio over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The portable speaker is also said to be able to link with other Sonos speakers in your home for multi-room playback, and stereo pair with another Roam when in Wi-Fi mode.

Image: The Verge

Like the Sonos Move, Sonos Roam will include support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s AirPlay 2. The Verge claims the Roam’s battery life is expected to be around 10 hours on a full charge. Meanwhile, the device will be fully waterproof, so you can listen by the pool without worry.

The Verge’s report comes after Sonos confirmed it would announce a new product on March 9, with plans to launch the Roam on April 20. A device resembling the Roam recently popped up in an FCC filing, suggesting today's report is the real deal.

The Sonos Move was an exciting product that saw the company move outside of the home. But the portable speaker was rather large and retailed for $399, making it more expensive than much of the competition.

When the Sonos Roam becomes available, the report claims it will be offered in the company’s patented black and white, with no word on if it’ll be offered in other colors.


Update 1: Sonos Roam to feature "Auto Trueplay" and "Sound Swap"

In a follow-up report, The Verge now says the Sonos Roam will include features such as automatic trueplay, sound swap, and simultaneous Bluetooth/Wi-Fi multi-room playback. Automatic trueplay allows the Roam to calibrate its audio performance based on the surrounding environment. Sound swap will let you pass music from the Roam to another Sonos speaker. Simultaneous Bluetooth/Wi-Fi support means you can connect your phone to the Roam over Bluetooth and play a song, and then the Roam will beam that song to the rest of your Sonos devices via Wi-Fi.

The Verge has also confirmed that the Roam will have an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance — an important detail considering the portability of this smart speaker. Given how small and portable it is, though, you can't use it as part of a Sonos home theater setup. Lastly, the publication shared two more images of the Roam: one showing off the device next to the larger Sonos Move and another showing off the optional wireless charger. We won't have to wait long to confirm these details since Sonos has a launch event scheduled for tomorrow, March 9.

Left: Roam next to the Move. Right: Optional wireless charging accessory. Credits: The Verge