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 28 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $297.71; the Sonos Roam ranks #96 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality at $169.99.
What the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen does well: 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. Watch for: 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 Sonos Roam is the battery-powered, tougher option. Very neutral. Its battery is rated for 10 hours, while the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen needs an outlet. It is rated IPX5, while the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen has no water resistance. Watch for: Bass extension isn’t very good.
One note: the Sonos Roam is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore. The Sonos Roam’s replacement, the Sonos Roam 2, is still sold new.
Buy the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen at $297.71 for a powered desktop speaker, or the Sonos Roam at $169.99 for a medium speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Apple HomePod 2nd Gen | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.71 each | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 28 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #96 of 175 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 | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Woburn III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Edifier D12
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Stanmore IV
Prices on this page were last checked October 14, 2026 at 2:38 PM 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 $297.71 eBay
Older model: the Apple HomePod (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5). See every Apple HomePod generation.
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 →
| Released | Jan 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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 Marshall Stanmore III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Edifier D12
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Woburn III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Stanmore IV
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs JBL Authentics 200
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Acton III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Stanmore II
- See all 39 comparisons
Sonos Roam: $169.99 Discontinued Amazon $169.99 eBay
Newer model: the Sonos Roam 2, ranked higher, rated 3.2/5, released May 2024. See every Sonos Roam generation.
Pros: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Wireless (Qi) charging: rare for a portable speaker. Works with Alexa/Sonos Voice Control and the wider Sonos ecosystem over Wi-Fi. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass. Discontinued.
Full Sonos Roam review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Sonos S2 App |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons