The gadget of the week
WOW: TRUE SMARTS IN INTELLIGENT SWITCH BETWEEN WI-FI, BLUETOOTH Five key questions to ask about new Sonos Roam smart speaker.
WHAT IS IT?
It is a compact smart speaker, designed to bring Sonos technology and quality to the ultraportable segment of the market.
HOW MUCH IS IT?
R3 990 at South African stores, $169 (around R2 500) online in the US, but you will have to pay shipping and customs duty if you buy it online, bringing it to a similar price.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Portable Bluetooth speakers are so commonplace, they are given out as cheap corporate gifts, with quality matching the price.
However, there is a vast gap between a regular connected speaker and a smart speaker.
In the USA, Amazon’s Echo range and Google Home dominate the latter market, but neither company sees South Africa as a worthy consumer technology market.
Sonos has stepped into the gap, with an ultraportable device that supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Via the Sonos S2 app, it can be paired with a smartphone or tablet.
The true smarts come in with its intelligent switching between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. While using it at home, it links to other devices via a home Wi-Fi network. However, as soon as one leaves the confines of that network, it automatically links to one’s smartphone or other device via Bluetooth.
It is built for portability, being both lightweight and rugged.
Its potential uses are underlined by rubberised end caps for shaky environments like off-road driving, and it is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance.
That rating means it can be submerged under one metre of water for up to 30 minutes.
The big benefit here comes from outdoor usage in all conditions.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST PROS?
It looks great, and will blend easily into most environments, complementing a study or living room with its elegant but unobtrusive design.
It’s light and compact, weighing about a sixth of the Sonos Move, the brand’s previous portable leader.
Deep bass and a rich sound profile makes it comparable to any speaker in its price range, with the added advantage of that portability and durability.
It is powered via both USB-C cable and USB power adapter, and is compatible with wireless chargers using the Qi standard.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CONS?
Automatic switching between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth works well in the home, but Bluetooth pairing can be tricky outside that area since the power button doubles as the Bluetooth pairing button.
It can be hit and miss before connecting to a new device that has not already been paired at home.
It comes with a USB cable, but no charging brick or wireless charger, so that could set you back further.
It’s expensive.
If you are not impressed with advanced tech or durability and have basic needs from a Bluetooth speaker, there are numerous acceptable alternatives for well under R1 000.