Sonos Launches a Portable Speaker that Doubles as a Desk Companion
The new Sonos Play is a $299 speaker that can act as a portable speaker inside and outside your home. It sits on your desk in a pill-shaped dock, but at 1.3 kilograms, it's easy to carry around the house or take outside. This hybrid speaker is part home speaker, part portable, and it's Sonos's first new device in more than a year. I recently tested the Sonos Play and found it to be a solid speaker that largely delivers on its premise. I often started a podcast at my desk and carried the Play to the kitchen while I cooked or made coffee. The advantage over wearing AirPods is that you remain aware of your surroundings, and you don't need to rely on voice commands to control playback. Physical controls are another advantage, as skipping tracks or adjusting volume with greasy hands is awkward on AirPods. The Sonos Play has a sturdy design and is IP67-rated, meaning it can handle rain and brief submersion. It can also charge your phone in a pinch, doubling as a ...