Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Google Nest Audio ranks #4 of 9 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $99.99; the Sonos Roam ranks #75 of 142 medium speakers by sound quality at $179.99.
The case for the Google Nest Audio: Google Assistant is built in at no extra cost, and Chromecast lets you cast from almost any music app over Wi-Fi rather than only Bluetooth. The tradeoff: Each unit is mono; a genuine left-right stereo pair means buying two and pairing them over Wi-Fi.
The case for the Sonos Roam: Very neutral. The tradeoff: Bass extension isn’t very good.
Buy the Google Nest Audio at $99.99 for a powered desktop speaker, or the Sonos Roam at $179.99 for a medium speaker instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sonos Roam at IPX5 (water jets) holds up far better than the Google Nest Audio at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Google Nest Audio | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 each Discontinued | $179.99 |
| Ranked | #4 of 9 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #75 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 (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) | - |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (30W, 24V, DC jack) | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) | Yes |
| App | Yes (Google Home) | Sonos S2 App |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 75mm woofer, 19mm tweeter | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 30W (2x Class D) | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 | - |
| Dimensions | 6.9" x 4.9" x 3.1" (175 x 124 x 78 mm) (H x W x D) | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review via spinorama.org) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between ASR's spinorama -9dB/-12dB points) | 63Hz |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.97 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.32 | - |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect | - |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Google Nest Audio:
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Audio
- Amazon Echo Dot Max vs Google Nest Audio
- Apple HomePod Mini vs Google Nest Audio
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Nest Audio
- Google Home Speaker vs Google Nest Audio
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
Google Nest Audio: $99.99 each Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Google Assistant is built in at no extra cost, and Chromecast lets you cast from almost any music app over Wi-Fi rather than only Bluetooth. Audio Science Review’s Klippel measurements put bass at 50Hz at -6dB and 60.4Hz at -3dB, respectable output for a single 75mm woofer at this price, and the predicted in-room response is unusually smooth for a compact single-box speaker. The Google Home app includes a two-band bass and treble EQ. Measured bass extension of 60.4Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Each unit is mono; a genuine left-right stereo pair means buying two and pairing them over Wi-Fi. On-axis measurements show more unevenness than a dedicated monitor, an average deviation of 0.569dB against roughly a tenth of that on the most neutral speakers measured this way. There is no 3.5mm or other analog input at all, no battery, and no IP rating, so it needs a stable Wi-Fi connection and a permanent outlet to work at its best. Discontinued.
Full Google Nest Audio review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 30W (2x Class D) |
| App | Yes (Google Home) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between ASR's spinorama -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review via spinorama.org) |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9" x 4.9" x 3.1" (175 x 124 x 78 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 75mm woofer, 19mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (30W, 24V, DC jack) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.97 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.32 |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Google Nest Audio vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Google Nest Audio vs Apple HomePod Mini
- Google Nest Audio vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- Google Nest Audio vs Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen
- Google Nest Audio vs Google Home Speaker
- Google Nest Audio vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Google Nest Audio vs Amazon Echo Pop
- Google Nest Audio vs B&O Beosound 2
- See all 23 comparisons
Sonos Roam: $179.99 Amazon eBay
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.
Full Sonos Roam 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 | 5.0 |
| 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 |
| 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