Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Google Home Max ranks #15 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $399; the Sonos Roam ranks #94 of 178 medium speakers by sound quality at $169.99. The Sonos Roam is discontinued; its replacement is the Sonos Roam 2.
The case for the Google Home Max: A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sonos Roam lacks. Watch for: 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 Roam is the battery-powered, tougher pick. A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support. Its battery is rated for 10 hours, while the Google Home Max needs an outlet. It is rated IPX5, while the Google Home Max has no water resistance. The tradeoff: Bass extension isn’t very good.
One note: the Google Home Max is discontinued and no longer widely available new.
Buy the Google Home Max at $399 if you want a powered desktop speaker. Buy the Sonos Roam at $169.99 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass.
A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and 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 Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 each Discontinued | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #15 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #94 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX5 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) | - |
| Power Input | AC power cord | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (2.4GHz/5GHz) | Yes |
| App | Yes (Google Home) | Sonos S2 App |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (6 far-field mics for Smart Sound room correction) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Media EQ + Room EQ, automatic via Smart Sound) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 4.5in high-excursion woofers, 2x 0.7in tweeters | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| 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 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 13.2” x 6.1” (190 x 336 x 154 mm) (H x W x D) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Google Home Max: