Short answer: the Tronsmart Element Force. It ranks #47 of 137 medium speakers by sound quality at $66; the Sonos Play ranks #48 and costs $299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sonos Play offers: Genuinely wide, clean stereo dispersion off-axis thanks to the two angled tweeters, holding up from the side far better than most portables. Loudness processing keeps it sounding full-bodied at low volume. The catch: 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. Sounds boxy and short on clarity next to cheaper competitors.
On the Tronsmart Element Force side: Great value with high-end features for the price: IPX7 rated, USB-C charging, microSD support. Compact and light (1.7 lb) with ~15 hour battery life. Watch for: Not as deep of bass as others. Weird 3d processing
Buy the Tronsmart Element Force. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonos Play and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
If battery life is a priority, the Sonos Play is rated for 24 hours versus 15 hours for the Tronsmart Element Force.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Play | Tronsmart Element Force | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $66 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #48 of 137 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 137 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 7.6" x 4.4" x 3" (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) | 8.1" x 2.5" x 3.2" (205 x 64 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters | 2x 50mm (2") full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 modes: 3D stereo, extra bass, standard vocal) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer | 40W |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs / 1.3 kg | 1.7 lbs / 0.771 kg |
| Wifi | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 98dB |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ vs JBL Charge 5
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ vs JBL Flip Essential
- Sonos Play vs JBL Flip 5
- Sonos Play vs Soundcore Motion 300
Prices on this page were last checked August 29, 2026 at 8:52 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Sonos Play: $299.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Genuinely wide, clean stereo dispersion off-axis thanks to the two angled tweeters, holding up from the side far better than most portables. Loudness processing keeps it sounding full-bodied at low volume. 24-hour user-replaceable battery with an included wireless charging base, IP67 waterproof and dustproof, and full Sonos WiFi multi-room with AirPlay 2 on top of Bluetooth 5.3.
Cons: 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. Sounds boxy and short on clarity next to cheaper competitors.
Full Sonos Play review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.6" x 4.4" x 3" (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs / 1.3 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Tronsmart Element Force: $66 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Great value with high-end features for the price: IPX7 rated, USB-C charging, microSD support. Compact and light (1.7 lb) with ~15 hour battery life.
Cons: Not as deep of bass as others. Weird 3d processing. Discontinued.
Full Tronsmart Element Force review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.1" x 2.5" x 3.2" (205 x 64 x 82 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm (2") full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 modes: 3D stereo, extra bass, standard vocal) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 98dB |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 0.771 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons