Sonos Roam 2 vs. Move 2: Which Portable Speaker is Best?

We compare Sonos’ two portable speakers to help you choose the right fit.

Sonos Releases - Updated 2nd June 2025

Sonos Roam 2 vs. Move 2: Which Portable Speaker is Best?

Written By

Elliott Peeters-Vanstone

Which Sonos Portable Speaker Is Right for You?

The Sonos Roam 2 and Sonos Move 2 are the brands' two portable speakers, both offering Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem, and rugged, outdoor-ready builds, but they’re designed for very different use cases.

The Roam 2 is built for life on the go. It’s compact, lightweight, and ideal for soundtracking your long walks, beach days, or garden sessions. The Move 2, meanwhile, is more of a homebody. It’s bigger, packs more power, and is perfect for filling your kitchen, garden, or living room with rich, spacious sound.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between Sonos' two portable speakers, covering design, durability, battery life, sound quality, and more to help you choose the right one for your lifestyle.

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Quick Look: Sonos Roam 2 vs Move 2 Comparison

Feature	Sonos Roam 2	Sonos Move 2
Sound	Mono	Stereo
Weight	0.43kg	3kg
Battery Life	10 Hours	24 Hours
Charging	USB-C or Charging Base (sold separately)	USB-C or Included Base
Waterproof Rating	IP67 (Fully Submersible)	IP56 (Splash/Dustproof)
Bluetooth Version	5.0	5.2
Voice Control	Yes	Yes
Best For	Travel & Everyday Portability	Home & Garden

Want to learn more? Watch our full Sonos Roam 2 vs Sonos Move 2 Comparison video on Youtube!

Sonos Roam 2 vs Move 2: Design & Portability

When it comes to design, both of these speakers share that signature Sonos aesthetic but they go about it in slightly different ways.

If you're after portability, the Sonos Roam 2 is the most travel-friendly speaker in the Sonos lineup. Similar in size to the JBL Flip 7, it’s compact, lightweight, and features an angular shape that makes it easy to slip into a bag without taking up much room. It’s designed to be taken with you whether that means weekends away, beach trips, or simply carrying music from one room to another.

This second-generation model introduces a few subtle but welcome design improvements. Most notably, Sonos has separated the Bluetooth and power buttons, making the speaker far more intuitive to use. Switching between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is now much simpler, especially compared to the slightly clunky controls on the original Roam.

The Sonos Move 2, on the other hand, is designed for portability on a larger scale. Weighing in at around 3kg, it isn’t something you’ll want to take on a hike, but the built-in carry handle makes it easy to move between rooms or out into the garden. It’s perfect for indoor-outdoor setups where flexibility matters more than ultra-lightweight design.

Sonos has also updated the control panel to match the look and feel of its Era series. The top features a touch-sensitive volume slider along with improved playback buttons. If you've used the Sonos Era 100 or Sonos Era 300, the interface will feel instantly familiar. It’s clean, responsive, and much easier to navigate, in our opinion.

Sonos Roam 2 vs Move 2: Durability

If you’re looking for a portable speaker that can really handle the outdoors, the Sonos Roam 2 is the one to beat. It’s got a full IP67 rating, which means it’s dustproof and can actually survive being fully submerged in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes. Ideal for the beach, by the pool, or even if you get caught in a downpour mid-hike.

The Sonos Move 2 is no slouch either. It holds its own with a solid IP56 rating, giving you good protection against splashes, spills, and a bit of dust. No, you won’t want to dunk it in water, but it’s absolutely fine for moving into the garden and handling the odd bit of unpredictable weather.

Both are really well made and feel solid in the hand, but when it comes to pushing things a little further, the Roam 2 is just more forgiving. It’s lighter, more compact, and tougher overall, which makes it the better pick if your plans include a bit of adventure.

Sonos Roam 2 vs Move 2: Battery Life & Charging

The Sonos Move 2 is the clear leader when it comes to battery and charging. Not only are you getting up to 24 hours of playback on a single charge (a big jump up from the original Move’s 11-hour battery life). But it also comes with a charging base included in the box and doubles up as a power bank for your other devices. Super handy if you’re hosting or out in the garden for a while.

Roam 2, by comparison, offers up to 10 hours of playback. That’s unchanged from the original, but for day trips, or casual listening at home, it still gets the job done. You can charge it via USB-C or pick up the optional wireless charging dock (sold separately) if you want the full convenience of a drop-and-go setup.

One nice little bonus with Roam 2 though is unlike the original Move and Move 2, it can be used via Bluetooth straight out of the box. No Wi-Fi setup required. That makes it much more flexible if you’re on the go and just want something quick and easy to connect to your phone.

Sonos Roam 2 vs Move 2: Sound Quality

As you might expect, there’s no denying that the Sonos Move 2 is the better-sounding speaker of the two. It’s bigger, and it puts that size to good use. With a dedicated woofer and dual-angled tweeters delivering true stereo sound, vocals come through with more clarity, the bass hits harder, and the overall soundstage feels much wider compared to the Roam 2.

If you’re setting up in a larger, open-plan space or want something that can genuinely hold its own outdoors, the Move 2 is the one to go for.

That said, although the Roam 2 might not compete with the Move in terms of power or scale, it was never designed to. For a speaker this size, it sounds seriously impressive. It has that signature Sonos clarity, it’s nicely balanced, and it gets more than loud enough for bedrooms, offices or casual outdoor listening.

It’s also worth mentioning that while a single Roam 2 only delivers mono sound, you can pair two Sonos Roam 2's for stereo playback. Not only does that setup still cost less than a single Sonos Move 2 at full price, but it also gives you more flexibility with placement. That can be a real bonus for smaller rooms or even a straightforward multi-room setup.

So here’s the takeaway:

Move 2 is your pick for bigger spaces, louder listening, and a true stereo experience from one unit.
Roam 2 is ideal for travel, casual listening, and solid performance in a smaller package.
And if you’re after versatility? Two Roams paired in stereo might be the sweet spot between price and performance

Sonos Roam 2 vs Move 2: Features & Everyday Use

Both speakers are packed with the smart features you'd expect from Sonos:

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
Auto Trueplay for room-aware sound tuning
Voice control via Sonos Voice or Amazon Alexa
Multi-room support through the Sonos app

Where things start to differ is in the setup and day-to-day flexibility.

Roam 2 takes the lead when it comes to simplicity. It connects over Bluetooth straight out of the box, with no need to go through Wi-Fi setup first. That makes it a brilliant choice for anyone who wants instant plug-and-play convenience, whether you're buying for yourself or as a gift.

The Move 2, on the other hand, needs to be set up over Wi-Fi before you can use Bluetooth, just like the original Roam. That extra step aside, it does bring some added perks including a USB-C line-in for wired playback and the ability to double as a power bank for charging your phone or other devices.

If you're after maximum convenience and flexibility, the Roam 2 is the easier pick. But if you want something that feels closer to a full-fledged smart speaker you can still move around the house or garden, the Move 2 offers that more premium, semi-permanent experience.

Sonos Roam 2 vs Move 2: Our Verdict

Choose the Sonos Roam 2 if you...	Opt for the Sonos Move 2 if you...
✔️ Want a truly portable speaker for holidays, hikes, or even the shower ✔️ Prefer effortless Bluetooth pairing straight out of the box ✔️ Are looking for a budget-friendly way to start your Sonos journey	✔️ Need powerful, room-filling sound both indoors and out ✔️ Value extended battery and bonus features like USB-C line-in and power bank functionality ✔️ Don’t mind the extra size or price for significantly better performance

Both of these Sonos speakers have a place in the lineup, but they serve different needs. The Roam 2 is ideal for those constantly on the go. It’s compact, rugged, and refreshingly easy to use. It also offers a lower-cost entry into the Sonos ecosystem without skimping on sound quality or design.

On the other hand, the Move 2 delivers bigger, bolder sound with proper stereo separation, extended battery life, and enough features to stand in as your main home speaker. It’s not the type of speaker you’ll throw in a bag, but it’s perfect if you want smart speaker functionality with the freedom to move it from room to room or out to the garden without being tethered to a wall socket.

For us, both are excellent portable speakers and the right choice comes down to how and where you feel you’ll end up using it most.

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