TheSonos Oneand theApple HomePod 2are two of the best - vocalise smart speakers , but if you had to choose between the two , which should you get ?
The Sonos One bid splendid heavy quality and boasting a option of voice assistants from Alexa , Google and even Sonos ’ own voice control ; while the HomePod 2 is the heir to one of the well - sounding speaker system on the market place , with added smarts to buffet up its capabilities .
Price
Sonos lists the speaker at £ 199 , but it can be bought for around £ 185 on Amazon UK .
The new HomePod cost more than the original did ( at least after its price cut ) at £ 299 . That easy make the HomePod 2 the more expensive of the two , but cost is only one factor to take into consideration as we ’ll find out .
Design
The Sonos One is 162 x 120 x 120 mm ( HWD ) , while the HomePod 2 is 168 x 142 mm ( HD ) which realise the HomePod sequel slimly large of the two but not by much . In terms of its footprint the difference should be fairly bare .
In terminus of weight the HomePod 2 is 2.3 kilo to the One ’s 1.85 kg but you ’re unlikely to be hauling this speaker around the house as you would aportable speaker . Both carry a detachable mains cable , which is useful if the cable becomes damage as you wo n’t have to transmit both the cable and the speaker for hangout .
The similarity proceed with touch controls on the top surface , though the HomePod 2 is the more typical of the two with its screen , though it does n’t do much other than pulse when music is play . There ’s bulk control , play / break dominance and a long push can spark off Siri . On the Sonos the touch modality control can be used to play , pause , aline the intensity , and skip tracks as well as a release to mute the representative helper .
Aside from the Sonos featuring an Ethernet cable’s length for a pumped-up draw up to the internet , there ’s not all that ’s different here . esthetically , the mesh fabric covering of the Apple speaker is more attractive than the Sonos ’s useful looks ( and it finger unusual to contact too ) , but both are intended to dethaw into the environs they ’re in without becoming a misdirection .
Features
Sonos ’ approach to features is mostly program agnostic . What that intend is that it does n’t pluck and prefer between features , rather trying to post as many features onboard as it can . When it comes to voice command the One supportsAmazon Alexa(in multiple external languages),Google Assistantand Sonos Voice Control , while also supporting Siri viaAirPlay . you may use your Sonos One to play music , check the late news , set alarms , ask questions and more .
The HomePod 2 is all about Apple ’s Siri , which you ’d expect from an Apple equipment . A HomePod 2 can be used to play music , get travel updates , news and mutant , specify timers , make call or agenda date . To set the talker up does require an iOS gimmick ( there ’s no way to set up with an Android ) . If you do n’t have an iOS gimmick , the HomePod 2 is n’t for you .
Set - up is via Apple ’s Home app and configuration with an iOS equipment is fast and easygoing by hold it nigh to the speaker with a prompting jump the set - up outgrowth . you may setup the One with an iPhone or Android equipment , but when it comes to room standardization serviceTrueplay , it ’ll only bring with an iOS gimmick .
This is because Sonos trust the body of Apple ’s microphones more than the various options across the Android ecosystem . You ’ll need to recalibrate the speaker each time you move it , which can get bothersome . It perhaps even makes Sonos ’ approach even more confusing compared to Apple ’s approach , which at least is coherent in sticking with iOS devices ( even if that ’s also frustrating ) .
The HomePod 2 also does room standardisation but unlike Sonos it does this process automatically . There ’s no penury to complete the Trueplay process every time the verbaliser is move about .
As far as drivers go , the One is packed with two course of study - D amplifier , a mid - woofer and a tweeter . The HomePod features a 4 - inch high - excursion woofer with a custom amplifier , five tweeters and interior low - frequency standardization microphones for robotic bass chastisement . The Sonos ’ set - up is much simple , but arguably the number of drivers and level of complexity of the HomePod 2 makes it the more versatile and skilled of the two .
The One is kitted out with a six mike far - field regalia so part helper can get word voices better , while the HomePod 2 just has four for Siri to hear you .
Spotify can be used to play music , but it ca n’t be made the default organization – only Apple Music can , which also mean that Siri vocalism commands ca n’t be used with Spotify or any other music service .
With the Sonos One the speaker reserve for canonical commands with Spotify , Tidal , Pandora , TuneIn Radio andAmazon Music . you could position two speakers up in stereophony or play different track in different rooms if you have a multi - room setup . As the talker corroborate AirPlay 2 so you may teem audio from iOS - enabled devices .
The HomePod 2 is the more innovative in terms of its smarts . It has a temperature sensor to detect the humidness and temperature of a room , and with automations you could , for model , ask it to fill up the blinds if it ’s too gay etc . It ’ll also listen out for Mary Jane or atomic number 6 monoxide alarms and enjoin the exploiter ( via an apprisal on an iPhone or Watch twist ) . There ’s alsoMatter compatibilityandHomeKit documentation , admit the HomePod 2 to seamlessly fit into a sassy home and ‘ talk ’ to other devices on the same internet .
By equivalence the Sonos ecosystem is less restricted , but if you are an iOS lover and will use the HomePod 2 with other Apple machine in the nursing home , it work more sense to get that speaker instead . If you have other Sonos product in the home then it equally ca-ca more horse sense to opt for that speaker over the other .
Sound Quality
The Sonos One offer up a full - scope speech sound , so it ’s capable of reproducing bass , midrange and treble frequencies with its driver set - up , taking a neutral overture to audio . While triplex can be diffused , it ’s much preferable to a hissy spirant musical note . Bass is imposingly inscrutable and controlled , while the midrange bury its teeth into plenteousness of particular . It can go aloud too but you ’ll seldom finger the pauperization to go beyond 70 % .
Sound timbre is where the HomePod 2 clamber , much like the original . It ’s versatile and sound great across a bit of genres . The sound is balanced , capable of moving between bountiful bass and quieter , more elusive tunes with no trouble at all . The Dolby Atmos / Spatial Audiosupport impart a more immersive feel to soundtrack with more depth to well motley tracks . Even without Atmos it ’s a wide , room - fill speech sound that not many smart speakers around this price can compete with .
Verdict
The Sonos One and the Apple HomePod 2 are both telling wise speaker , and while out of the two the Sonos One is the good speaker ‘ most ’ people , if you ’re in the iOS ecosystem , the Apple HomePod 2 is the speaker that good suits you take .
If you ’re an Android user , the HomePod 2 ’s lack of compatibility with non - iOS devices is a bugbear . Sonos is the more considered choice , with plenty of accompaniment for part assistants , very good audio and can be had for less but both and equally great speakers at their respective Leontyne Price item .
