Sonos Move 2 to Feature Stereo Audio and 24-Hour Battery Life: Report

According to The Verge, Sonos is reportedly planning to release an upgraded version of its portable speaker, the Sonos Move. The original Move was praised for being one of the few fully connected portable speakers at the time of its release in 2019. However, with advancements in technology, Sonos seems to have made improvements to the device. The leaked details suggest that the Move 2 will offer significant upgrades, with the most notable being the transition from mono to stereo sound. If you were dissatisfied with the sound quality of the first version, you might find the new version more satisfying.

The battery life of the new speaker jumps from 10 hours in Move to 24 hours of playback. You can easily organize all-day parties without mains power. The power supply is said to still be replaceable, and the lower idle power consumption can make it easier to use the speaker during the weekend.

Smaller but still useful updates are expected to come. Like Roam, Move 2 lets you share Bluetooth audio throughout your home. Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 6 support also help the speaker keep up with modern devices. You’ll need a USB-C adapter (like the Era 100) for line-in audio, but the same port can also charge your phone while camping. The IP56 dust and water resistance hasn’t changed, but it’s still good enough to withstand a rainy or windy day.

Other features may include revised controls, a microphone mute switch and a removable power supply in the base station. Google Assistant cannot be used for obvious reasons, but Alexa and Sonos’ own voice controls would be available.

Sonos will reportedly release the Move 2 at the end of September for $449, $50 more than its predecessor. This makes it as expensive as the Era 300 with surround sound. As before, however, the portability may justify the premium. You’re buying a speaker that can be useful both in your living room and in your backyard, saving you the trouble of getting two devices, as long as you’re willing to carry the speaker with you.