Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ranks #5 of 16 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $297.71; the Sonos Roam 2 ranks #74 of 142 medium speakers by sound quality at $179.
The case for the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen: What Hi-Fi gave it a perfect 5 stars for sound and a What Hi-Fi Award, calling it natural, solid and energetic with a spacious, three-dimensional presentation on Dolby Atmos content. The tradeoff: What Hi-Fi’s own comparison found the pricier Sonos Era 300 has more power, punch and detail, and Siri cannot launch Spotify, Tidal or other non-Apple services directly, only Apple Music by voice; everything else has to be sent over AirPlay from a phone.
The case for the Sonos Roam 2: Very neutral. The tradeoff: Exact same sound quality as the original Roam.
Buy the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen at $297.71 for a powered desktop speaker, or the Sonos Roam 2 at $179 for a medium speaker instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sonos Roam 2 at IPX5 (water jets) holds up far better than the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Apple HomePod 2nd Gen | Sonos Roam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.71 each | $179.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 16 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #74 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX5 |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) | - |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (detachable cable) | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Apple Home) | Sonos S2 App |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field array, no physical mute switch) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Discontinued | No | - |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 5.6" x 5.6" (170 x 142 x 142 mm) | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Apple Siri | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Apple HomePod 2nd Gen compares with other leading options:
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs JBL Authentics 200
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Google Home Max
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Sonos Era 100
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Sonos Roam
- Sonos Play vs Sonos Roam 2
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Apple HomePod 2nd Gen: $297.71 each Amazon eBay
Pros: What Hi-Fi gave it a perfect 5 stars for sound and a What Hi-Fi Award, calling it natural, solid and energetic with a spacious, three-dimensional presentation on Dolby Atmos content. A 4-inch high-excursion woofer moves 20mm of travel, paired with five angled horn-loaded tweeters, and the S7 chip continuously measures the room and re-tunes the output in real time, even as you move the speaker. “Hey Siri” is reliably heard from across a room even at full volume, and two units can be stereo-paired for a genuinely bigger sound.
Cons: What Hi-Fi’s own comparison found the pricier Sonos Era 300 has more power, punch and detail, and Siri cannot launch Spotify, Tidal or other non-Apple services directly, only Apple Music by voice; everything else has to be sent over AirPlay from a phone. There is no way to stream to it over Bluetooth at all, no 3.5mm or other wired input, no battery, and no IP rating, so it’s an AC-only speaker for an already-committed Apple household.
Full Apple HomePod 2nd Gen review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field array, no physical mute switch) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 5.6" x 5.6" (170 x 142 x 142 mm) |
| Discontinued | No |
| Drivers | 4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (detachable cable) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Apple Siri |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs JBL Authentics 200
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Google Home Max
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Sonos Era 100
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Pop
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Apple HomePod Mini
- See all 23 comparisons
Sonos Roam 2: $179.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Very neutral. Additional button for pairing instead of being shared with power button. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Exact same sound quality as the original Roam. Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted as you turn up the bass.
Full Sonos Roam 2 review and specifications →
| App | Sonos S2 App |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons