Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Sonos Era 100 ranks #16 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $217.99; the Sonos Play ranks #56 of 178 medium speakers by sound quality at $299.
The case for the Sonos Era 100: A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom. It links with other speakers (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2), which the Sonos Play cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. Watch for: RTINGS’ own two listed cons are not loud enough for larger rooms and very little low-bass thump, so genres like EDM and hip-hop lack rumble even with the tone adjustments.
The Sonos Play is the battery-powered, tougher option. 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 Sonos Era 100 needs an outlet. It is rated IP67, while the Sonos Era 100 has no water resistance. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sonos Era 100 lacks. 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.
Buy the Sonos Era 100 ($217.99) for a powered desktop speaker; the Sonos Play ($299) suits a medium speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom.
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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Era 100 | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $217.99 each | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #16 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #56 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.02 kg) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) | Yes |
| App | Yes (Sonos S2) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x angled tweeters, 1x mid-woofer | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 4.7” x 5.1” (182.5 x 120 x 130.5 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Streaming Services | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 | - |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
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