Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Google Nest Audio ranks #9 of 15 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $99.99; the Sonos Roam ranks #94 of 178 medium speakers by sound quality at $169.99.
The Google Nest Audio is the deeper-bass option. An affordable Google Assistant speaker with Chromecast casting and respectable bass from one small box. Its bass reaches about 44.3Hz before falling 10dB, against 63Hz for the Sonos Roam. The tradeoff: Each unit is mono; a genuine left-right stereo pair means buying two and pairing them over Wi-Fi.
The Sonos Roam is the battery-powered, tougher option. 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 Nest Audio needs an outlet. It is rated IPX5, while the Google Nest Audio has no water resistance. Watch for: Bass extension isn’t very good.
One note: the Google Nest Audio is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore. The Google Nest Audio’s replacement, the Google Home Speaker, is rated 3.0/5 at $99.99.
Buy the Google Nest Audio at $99.99 for a powered desktop speaker, or the Sonos Roam at $169.99 for a medium speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
An affordable Google Assistant speaker with Chromecast casting and respectable bass from one small box.
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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Google Nest Audio | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 each Discontinued | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #9 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #94 of 178 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 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 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 | 1.71 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.06 | - |
| 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 |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
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