The only one on Sonos Wi-Fi
Sonos Roam 2
- Sonos multiroom at home
- Waterproof and light
Cheaper alternatives to the Sonos Era 100
Cheaper, portable and waterproof: three ways to swap the Era 100.
Updated 11 November 2026
Plays well lying down or standing
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
- Quality bass
- Rugged, IP67
Cheapest of the three, and it floats
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- 14-hour battery
- USB-C charging
The original
Sonos Era 100
Worth it if: You want the best sound at home
- Open, detailed stereo from one box
- Part of a Sonos multiroom setup
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Era 100?
What the extra money buys
- Open, detailed stereo from one box
- Part of a Sonos multiroom setup
- Adds Bluetooth and line-in
Worth it if
- You want the best sound at home
- You'll pair two for stereo
Not worth it if
- It needs to go in the garden
- You don't use the Sonos app
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sonos Roam 2
You stay in the Sonos app, and it comes with you. What Hi-Fi? liked its strong features and meaty sound for its size. TechRadar enjoyed the audio but found ten hours of battery on the short side.
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
Tom's Guide liked its deep bass, handy EQ and the way it adapts to how it's placed. T3 found it tough, with clean sound, but says it's barely changed from the original and battery is disappointing.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
T3 calls its sound great for the size and welcomes USB-C and IP67. TechRadar found it rich and clear for something so small, with good battery. Neither found much new over the Wonderboom 3, and there's no app.
Final recommendation: Sonos owners should look at the Roam 2, which keeps multiroom and adds a battery. For rugged outdoor sound, the Bose SoundLink Flex 2 has deep bass for its size. The Wonderboom 4 is the cheapest and floats. Keep the Era 100 for the best sound at home.
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 | Budget | 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
Can I group a Roam 2 with my Era 100?
Yes. Both use the Sonos app over Wi-Fi, so the Roam 2 joins the same multiroom system at home.
Which Era 100 alternative has the longest battery?
The Wonderboom 4, at up to 14 hours. The Bose Flex 2 is rated at up to 12 and the Roam 2 at about 10.
Is the Bose SoundLink Flex 2 waterproof?
Yes, it's rated IP67 against water and dust, like the Roam 2 and Wonderboom 4.
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.