Sonos launches new Play portable speaker, introduces mic-free Era 100 SL

Sonos has launched a new portable speaker, the Sonos Play, and introduced a mic-free version of its existing Era 100 called the Era 100 SL. Together, they push the company’s lineup in two directions: portable listening and privacy-focused home audio.

The Sonos Play works over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

The Sonos Play is designed to function as a full Sonos speaker at home and a Bluetooth speaker on the go. When placed on its optional Wireless Charging Base, it connects over Wi-Fi and integrates with other Sonos speakers for multi-room playback or stereo pairing.

Outside the home network, the speaker switches to Bluetooth. Sonos says users can group up to four Sonos Play or Sonos Move 2 units for portable playback, extending the company’s multi-speaker functionality beyond Wi-Fi.

Automatic Trueplay tuning is included to adjust performance based on the speaker’s surroundings. As with other Sonos products, the Play supports voice services, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and the Sonos app for playback control.

Sonos also adds a removable utility loop for carrying and a built-in power bank capable of charging a phone, positioning the Play as a more versatile portable option within the brand’s lineup.

The Era 100 SL removes microphones for privacy

The Sonos Era 100 SL strips out the microphones found in the standard Era 100, eliminating the onboard voice assistant. The change is aimed at buyers who prefer not to have always-on voice hardware in their homes.

Despite the removal of microphones, the speaker remains compatible with stereo pairing, multi-room grouping, and home theater configurations within the Sonos ecosystem. Sonos says it delivers the same room-filling sound as the standard model, though we’ll confirm any performance differences once we test it.

Availability

Both the Sonos Play and Sonos Era 100 SL are open for pre-order on March 10 through Sonos.com and select retail partners. General availability begins March 31. Sonos has not announced pricing.

We’ll reserve final judgment until both speakers go through our standard testing process to see how they compare with existing Sonos models and competing portable and smart speakers.