The newSonos Roam 2speaker is an update to Sonos' already beloved Roam speaker, complete withIP67 water- and dust-resistance, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity (hello, wireless lossless audio!), a small form factor, and great sound quality.
After trying the Sonos Roam 2, I’ll never need another wireless speaker
From the excellent sound quality to its ultra-portable weight and size, Sonos' Roam 2 is truly one of the most impressive speakers I’ve ever used.
But one major caveat to this speaker is its heftier price point as $179 is a lot to ask for aportable speaker. Thankfully, many alternatives exist, they just might not check every single box that the Roam 2 does.
Best cheaper Sonos Roam 2 alternative overall
JBL Flip 6
Small and packs a punch
Like the Sonos Roam 2, the JBL Flip 6 is IP67, compact, and sounds great. Plus, it has a companion app so you can adjust EQ, and connect other compatible JBL speakers to it too.
TheJBL Flip 6is a great compact Bluetooth speaker that can be compared in many ways to the Sonos Roam 2, notably in its IP67 water- and dust-resistance, its customizability in its companion app, its portable tube shape, and its battery life. And being $50 less than the Sonos Roam 2, that seems like a great argument to say that the JBL Flip 6 is one of the best cheaper alternatives to the Sonos Roam 2 you can get.
The main ways in which it differs are that it doesn’t have Sonos-specific features like Trueplay or anything very similar to it. But that’s partially where you’re saving money, because those extra features in a speaker are just bells and whistles. Some people might feel like they really need them, but the majority of people just need a good speaker, and the JBL Flip 6 fits that criteria very well.
A year later and the JBL Flip 6 still packs the perfect portable punch
The JBL Flip 6 thinks harder about sound rather than turning to smarter features, and it makes for an ideal everyday speaker.
Best cheaper Sonos Roam 2 alternative from Sonos
Sonos Roam SL
Just a gen behind, without a mic
The Sonos Roam SL has the same design and sound architecture as the Sonos Roam, but it doesn’t offer a microphone and so misses out on a couple of features.
If you still want a Sonos speaker that’s similar to the Roam 2 but want to save just a bit of money, theSonos Roam SLis a good option for you. It looks extremely similar, sounds great, and has pretty much all the same features as the original Sonos Roam, it just doesn’t have a built-in microphone. This means it doesn’t have smart assistant capabilities or Trueplay, but apart from that, it’s an extremely similar speaker.
The Sonos Roam SL has the same IP67 water- and dust-resistance, and allows wireless connectivity over both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so you can enjoy lossless audio if that suits your fancy. And with all of these similarities, you get to save about $20, and potentially more if it goes on sale.
Sonos Roam vs Sonos Roam SL: Do you really need microphones?
Sonos sells two versions of its portable Bluetooth speaker, but only one of them supports voice assistants like Amazon Alexa.
Best ultra-budget Sonos Roam 2 alternative
Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The best bang for your buck
The Anker Soundcore 2 Bluetooth speaker is light and portable, sounds good, and does all of that at a much lower price point than the Sonos Roam 2. It has a much longer battery life of 24 hours, too. It’s only IPX7, so it has no dust-resistance, but it’s still water-resistant.
If you’re looking to save a lot of money on a portable Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, the Anker Soundcore 2 Bluetooth speaker is a really good option worth considering. The speaker sounds really good, has a 24-hour battery life, is very light and portable, and has IPX7 water-resistance. This means it’s not dust-resistant like the Sonos Roam 2, but it can still withstand being submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
The main aspects you miss out on by buying this cheap and alternative compared to buying the Sonos Roam 2 are mostly just the bells and whistles inherent to a Sonos speaker, like smart assistant support, Trueplay, and more advanced features in a companion app. While the Anker Soundcore 2 can’t do any of that, that won’t be a problem for most people, since most of the time, all you really need is a speaker that works and sounds good.
Best Sonos Roam 2 alternative for iOS users
Beats Pill (2024)
Pricey, but lovely
This is still a pretty pricey option, but it’s $30 cheaper than the Sonos Roam 2, and has fantastic sound and comparable features. It integrates seamlessly with iOS, so Apple users will like this one a lot.
The new updatedBeats Pillspeaker is still a very premium option, but allows you to spend $30 less than you would be spending on the Sonos Roam 2. It has features like IP67 water- and dust-resistance, a very long 24-hour battery life, and it integrates seamlessly with iOS, making for a really easy and convenient experience if you own an iPhone.
With great sound quality, improving a lot on the previous iteration of the speaker, and its similarly elongated tube shape, the Beats Pill is a very suitable alternative to the Sonos Roam 2. It certainly is still expensive at $150, but that extra $30 you save is still significant considering how good quality the Beats Pill is.
Beats' new Pill effortlessly converted my picnic blanket setup into the ultimate private party
The Beats Pill makes its 2024 comeback loud and clear.
Best ultra-portable Sonos Roam 2 alternative
Take it with you anywhere
The JBL Go 3 is even more portable than the Sonos Roam 2, it’s also IP67, and it sounds wonderful. It doesn’t have all the Sonos bells and whistles, but it’s way easier to carry around and take with you wherever.
Most of the above speaker options are roughly a similar size and shape to the Sonos Roam 2, but if you want a speaker that’s even more portable, theJBL Go 3has a handy carrying strap so you can hold on to it easily wherever you go, and its small footprint takes up very little space while still bringing big sound to the room. This ultra-portable speaker really packs a punch, and it’s a fraction of the cost of the Sonos Roam 2, since it lacks a lot of the bells and whistles that it has.
The JBL Go 3 is IP67 just like the Roam 2, so you get a great sounding speaker with the same durability out of the JBL Go 3. It doesn’t have a companion app though, so you won’t be able to adjust EQ of the speaker. Thankfully the sound profile the speaker has is already really great, with clear treble and loud but not overwhelming bass tones.
Why this JBL speaker is my go-to beach companion this summer
Affordable, dust-proof and water-resistant, and loud, the JBL Go 3 is a sound choice for portable summer sound.
Bottom line: Which is the best cheaper alternative to the Sonos Roam 2?
The JBL Flip 6 is my pick because of all the similarities it bears to the Sonos Roam 2, while costing $50 less. With its great sound, customizability in its companion app, and sleek portable design, the JBL Flip 6 is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a solid Bluetooth speaker.
It’s portable, it sounds great, it’s IP67, what’s not to love?
How did I choose these cheaper alternatives to the Sonos Roam 2?
In choosing which speakers to include in this list, I considered a variety of factors, like water- and dust-resistance, sound quality, shape and size, design, and most importantly, price. I made sure to consider a variety of uses and needs for different people and their circumstances, hopefully finding enough options that everyone can find something they like in this guide.
