The new Sonos Play: a hybrid speaker that works as a desk and kitchen companion

Design and Features

The Sonos Play, launched in March, is the company's first new device in over a year. The $299 speaker is a hybrid: part home speaker, part portable. It sits on a pill-shaped dock, but at 1.3 kilograms with a utility loop on the back, it's easy to carry around. The reviewer often started a podcast at the desk and carried the Play to the kitchen while cooking. The advantage over AirPods is remaining aware of surroundings and not relying solely on voice commands; physical controls are built-in, though they are hard to see—same color as the silicone top and barely raised.

Software and Controls

Sonos Assistant and Alexa are built-in. Physical buttons allow skipping tracks and adjusting volume even with greasy hands. However, the controls have a learning curve due to low contrast. The Sonos app still has issues: laggy sync with MacBook, noticeable delay when pausing YouTube audio, and cumbersome speaker switching via the app. Pocket Casts integration has a bug where podcasts restart from the beginning. Trueplay now automatically calibrates sound using the speaker's microphones, eliminating the need to wave a phone around.

Sound and Portability

The Play uses dual-angled tweeters, a mid-woofer, three digital amplifiers, and two passive radiators. Sound is balanced and detailed at moderate volumes, with good instrument separation, but the soundstage is narrow and clarity decreases at high volumes. The speaker is IP67-rated—it survived being run under a tap. It can also charge a phone, acting as a power bank. Two Play units can be paired in stereo via the app or by pressing the play/pause button on both simultaneously. While the Play is well-suited for a desk or patio, it doesn't fill a room. For that, the Era 100 SL is better. Overall, the Play is a solid speaker that mostly delivers, though app issues are real but not dealbreakers.