These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Google Home Max ranks #15 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $399; the Sonos Play ranks #56 of 178 medium speakers by sound quality at $299.
What the Google Home Max does well: A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Sonos Play lacks. It links with other speakers (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in), which the Sonos Play cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. The catch: Discontinued by Google since 2020, so it can no longer be bought new; used and refurbished stock is what remains, and RTINGS calls its soundstage mediocre despite the driver count.
The Sonos Play is the battery-powered, tougher choice. A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. Its battery is rated for 24 hours, while the Google Home Max needs an outlet. It is rated IP67, while the Google Home Max has no water resistance. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Google Home Max. The tradeoff: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
One note: the Google Home Max is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore.
Buy the Google Home Max ($399) for a powered desktop speaker; the Sonos Play ($299) suits a medium speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass.
A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Google Home Max | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 each Discontinued | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #15 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #56 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) | No |
| Power Input | AC power cord | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Weight | 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (2.4GHz/5GHz) | Yes |
| App | Yes (Google Home) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (6 far-field mics for Smart Sound room correction) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Media EQ + Room EQ, automatic via Smart Sound) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 4.5in high-excursion woofers, 2x 0.7in tweeters | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | Yes (3.5mm) | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | Yes | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 6x Class-D amplifiers | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 13.2” x 6.1” (190 x 336 x 154 mm) (H x W x D) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio | - |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sonos Play: