Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Flow. Both are rated 3.5/5 for sound quality (#58 and #56 of 179 medium speakers), and the Tribit Stormbox Flow costs $79.99 against $299 for the Sonos Play, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
Why pick the Sonos Play: A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Tribit Stormbox Flow lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Tribit Stormbox Flow. 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.
The Tribit Stormbox Flow is the lighter option. A waterproof speaker with very long battery life, a carry handle, stereo pairing and a port that charges your phone. At 1.4 lbs (657 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Sonos Play lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. The tradeoff: Midrange and bass are weirdly recessed about 4db below 700Hz.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Flow. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $219.01 less than the Sonos Play.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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 Play | Tribit Stormbox Flow | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #56 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #58 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) | - |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) | 7.9” x 3.6” x 2.1” (200 x 91 x 53 mm) |
| Drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters | 60W: 2x 30mm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) | 1.4 lbs (657 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 47Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 400ms aac, 200ms sbc |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 25W |
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