Sonos is set to release the Move 2 on September 20th for $449, as announced today. This new product is the third portable speaker from Sonos, following the original Move and the smaller Roam. The Move 2 boasts several significant improvements over its predecessor: it supports stereo audio (unlike the original, which was mono-only), offers more than double the battery life, and features redesigned controls in line with the recent Era 300 and Era 100 speakers.
In terms of external design, the Move 2 closely resembles the original Move. It remains a substantial “portable” speaker, but it does include a built-in handle for easier transportation within your home and outdoors. Inside the Move 2, there are two tweeters for stereo separation and a single woofer that focuses on mid-range vocal frequencies and deep bass. Battery life has significantly increased from 10 hours to an advertised 24 hours of continuous playback, providing more than double the endurance compared to the previous model.
The Move 2 is now more versatile as well. You can play audio on the speaker via Bluetooth and sync that audio across your other home speakers, a feature the original model lacked. Similar to the Era lineup, the Move 2 supports line-in, provided you purchase Sonos’ USB-C dongle, which acts as an analog-to-digital converter. The rear USB-C port can also charge other devices using the Move 2’s 44Wh battery.
The Move 2 will be available in Sonos’ standard black or white, with an additional olive green color option. The capacitive touch controls match those of the Era speakers, now including dedicated track controls and a separate volume slider bar. Like its predecessor, the new Move is rated IP56 for dust and water resistance and is designed to withstand everyday drops.
Automatic Trueplay, a feature carried over from the original Move, optimizes sound output based on your specific environment using the built-in microphones. These microphones can also be used for hands-free voice controls with Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control. Unfortunately, Google Assistant is not available on the Move 2 at launch.
Other improvements include a smaller charging base with a detachable power adapter, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and a more than 40% reduction in idle energy consumption compared to its predecessor. Similar to the previous model, Sonos will offer a replacement battery for the Move 2.
The Move 2 looks promising with its stereo upgrade, extended battery life, and enhanced versatility. While it may not revolutionize the single-unit speaker concept, these improvements could have a more substantial impact on the overall user experience. The original Move was a favorite among Sonos products, so the sequel’s performance is highly anticipated.
