Short answer: the Soundcore Boom 3i. It ranks #31 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $118.99 and is still sold new; the Sonos Roam ranks #95 (rated 3.1/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Sonos Roam’s replacement, the Sonos Roam 2, is rated 3.2/5 at $179.
The Soundcore Boom 3i is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. A warm, punchy waterproof speaker that sounds great and is a strong value. Its bass reaches about 56Hz before falling 10dB, against 63Hz for the Sonos Roam. It is rated for 16 hours of battery against 10 for the Sonos Roam. It is rated IP68 against IPX5 for the Sonos Roam. The catch: Not quite as good as a JBL Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close.
The Sonos Roam is the lighter pick. A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support. At 0.9 lbs (429 g) it weighs much less than the Soundcore Boom 3i at 1.7 lbs (783 g). Watch for: Bass extension isn’t very good.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 3i. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Sonos Roam is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A warm, punchy waterproof speaker that sounds great and is a strong value.
A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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
| Soundcore Boom 3i | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.99 | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #31 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #95 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Sonos S2 App |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX5 |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 3.3” x 3.1” (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 94mm woofer + tweeter | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (783 g) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
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