The only one on Sonos Wi-Fi
Sonos Roam 2
- Joins your Sonos system
- IP67 waterproof
Cheaper alternatives to the Sonos Era 100
Three cheaper speakers you can unplug and take anywhere.
Updated November 11, 2026
Plays well lying down or standing
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
- Deep bass for its size
- Adjustable EQ in the app
Cheapest of the three, and it floats
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Floats in water
- 14 hours of battery
The original
Sonos Era 100
Worth it if: It stays plugged in on a shelf
- Big, detailed sound for a small speaker
- Wi-Fi multiroom with other Sonos
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Era 100?
What the extra money buys
- Big, detailed sound for a small speaker
- Wi-Fi multiroom with other Sonos
- Bluetooth and line-in too
Worth it if
- It stays plugged in on a shelf
- You're building a Sonos system
Not worth it if
- You want to take it outside
- You only stream from your phone
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sonos Roam 2
It keeps the Sonos app and multiroom at home, then goes outdoors on battery. Reviewers at TechRadar enjoyed its full sound for such a small speaker but wanted more than ten hours of battery. What Hi-Fi? wanted more clarity.
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
Tom's Guide found deep, quality bass, a useful EQ and good sound whichever way it's placed. T3 rates it rugged with clean sound, but says battery life disappoints. It connects by Bluetooth alone, so it suits phones, not a Sonos system.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
TechRadar found its sound surprisingly rich and clear for the size, with solid battery life. T3 welcomed USB-C charging and IP67 protection, though little changed from the Wonderboom 3. There's no app or Wi-Fi.
Final recommendation: Already on Sonos? The Roam 2 keeps the app and adds a battery. The Bose SoundLink Flex 2 is the rugged outdoor pick, with deep bass for its size. The Wonderboom 4 costs least and floats. Keep the Era 100 for a shelf speaker with fuller sound and line-in.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Affordable | Affordable | Affordable | Budget |
| Battery per charge (claimed) | None | Up to 10 hours | Up to 12 hours | 14 hours |
| Water and dust rating | – | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 |
| Weight | – | 0.44 kg | About 540 g | 420 g |
| Power | Mains | Battery | Battery | Battery |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Is the Sonos Roam 2 as good as the Era 100?
Not at home. The Era 100 sounds bigger and fuller. The Roam 2 wins when you want to carry it or take it outside.
Does the Bose SoundLink Flex 2 work with Sonos?
No. It connects over Bluetooth only, so it can't join a Sonos group. You can still play to it from your phone.
Is the Wonderboom 4 loud enough for a room?
For a small room or a bathroom, yes. It's built for outdoors and travel, not for filling a living room.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Sonos Era 100 with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Sonos: Era 100, What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Era 100 review, TechRadar: Sonos Era 100 review, Sonos: Roam 2, What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Roam 2 review, TechRadar: Sonos Roam 2 review, Bose: SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen), Tom's Guide: Bose SoundLink Flex 2 review, T3: Bose SoundLink Flex 2 review, Ultimate Ears: Wonderboom 4, TechRadar: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review, T3: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review.