Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 is the better pick: it ranks #5 of 166 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 4.4/5), against #93 (rated 3.1/5) for the Sonos Roam. If you want one new, the Sonos Roam 2 replaces the Sonos Roam and is rated 3.2/5 at $179.
The Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A very neutral good sounding inexpensive small speaker with quite deep bass for the size. Its bass reaches about 56Hz before falling 10dB, against 63Hz for the Sonos Roam. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 99dB at full volume, against 95dB for the Sonos Roam. It is rated IPX7 against IPX5 for the Sonos Roam. The catch: Slight DSP tuning issue which makes bass get lighter at times at very low volumes, examples in oluv’s video.
The Sonos Roam is the lighter choice. Very neutral. At 0.9 lbs (429 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 at 1.3 lbs (590 g). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 lacks. The tradeoff: Bass extension isn’t very good.
Buy the Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Sonos Roam 2, which replaces the Sonos Roam.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60 Discontinued | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 166 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #93 of 166 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Sonos S2 App |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (9 band) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 150ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (590 g) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 8” x 2.8” x 2.7” (204 x 72 x 69 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.75” (44mm) x 2 active drivers and one passive radiator | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 20W (10W × 2) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Strap | - | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Soundcore Motion 300
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- Denon Envaya DSB-250BT vs Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021
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Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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
Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021: $60 Discontinued eBay
Older model: the Soundcore Boost “original model” pre-2021 (ranked lower, rated 4.2/5). See every Soundcore Boost generation.
Pros: A very neutral good sounding inexpensive small speaker with quite deep bass for the size. This upgraded version has a usb-c port while the old one has micro usb. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Slight DSP tuning issue which makes bass get lighter at times at very low volumes, examples in oluv’s video. Discontinued and no longer sold new.
Full Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W (10W × 2) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 150ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8” x 2.8” x 2.7” (204 x 72 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.75” (44mm) x 2 active drivers and one passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes (9 band) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (590 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Denon Envaya DSB-250BT
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Soundcore Motion+
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Minirig 4
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Soundcore Motion 300
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs B&O Beosound A1
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Charge 6
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Flip 6
- See all 77 comparisons
Sonos Roam: $169.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Sonos Roam 2, ranked higher, rated 3.2/5, released May 2024. See every Sonos Roam generation.
Pros: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Wireless (Qi) charging: rare for a portable speaker. Works with Alexa/Sonos Voice Control and the wider Sonos ecosystem over Wi-Fi. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass. Discontinued.
Full Sonos Roam review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Sonos S2 App |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons