Should you buy the Sonos Move or the Bose Portable Smart Speaker?
- aug
- 13
Sonos Move
Portable powerhouse
Pros
- Great sound
- Alexa and Google integration
- 11-hour battery life
- AirPlay 2 support
- IP 56 weather resistance
- Bluetooth support
- Includes charging dock
- Supports Apple Music
Cons
- Expensive
- Shorter battery life
The Sonos Move is as close as it gets to the perfect portable speaker for everyone. 11-hour battery life, weather resistance, AirPlay 2, and of course, great sound, the Sonos Move has it all. The downsides? It lasts an hour less than Bose's offering, and it is more expensive.
Bose Portable Smart Speaker
Affordable alternative
Pros
- 360-degree sound
- Bluetooth support
- 12-hour battery life
- IPX4 weather resistance
- AirPlay 2 support
- Alexa and Google integration
Cons
- Charging dock sold separately
- Doesn't support Apple Music
Bose's Portable Smart Speaker is an affordable alternative to the Sonos Move that covers all of the basics and adds an extra hour of battery life. However, this speaker doesn't work with Apple Music, and it doesn't include the grab and go charging dock like the Move.
They may look similar, but choosing between the Sonos Move vs. Bose's Portable Smart Home Speaker depends on convenience and compatibility with Apple Music. The Sonos Move includes just a few of these extras that we believe makes it the best for most.
If you want a portable speaker that offers great sound, weather resistance, long battery life, customizable voice controls, and support for all of the major music services, then the Move is the one for you. If you value portability and price, then the Bose Portable Smart Speaker may be a better fit. This speaker is slimmer, weighs less, and is easier on the wallet, but lacks extras like an included charging dock and support for Apple Music.
Portable power in smart home speakers
Both the Sonos Move and Bose Portable Smart Speaker have a wide range of features that makes each a fantastic choice for tunes in and around the home. Both speakers sport weather resistance and operate completely wireless with built-in rechargeable batteries, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Each speaker can keep the tunes flowing for hours at a time without the cord, and they both can be used around water and in dusty areas.
Break it down now...
While slightly different in their delivery, both options support whole-home audio, which keeps everything in-sync as you move from room to room, and grouping, which allows them to work with other speakers creating a more immersive experience. For smart controls, both of these speakers allow you to choose which voice assistant to use, either Amazon's Alexa, or the Google Assistant, and they also work with Apple's AirPlay 2 technology.
| Sonos Move | Bose Portable Smart Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 9.44" x 6.29" x 4.96" | 7.54" x 4.69" x 4.09" |
| Weight | 4.08lbs | 2.34lbs |
| Finishes | Black, White | Black, Silver |
| Weather Resistance | Yes (IP 56) | Yes (IPX4) |
| Built-in battery | Yes (11 hours) | Yes (12 hours) |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Charging Dock | Yes (Included) | Yes (Not Included) |
| Handle | Yes (Integrated) | Yes (Flip-up) |
| Wall mountable | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| AirPlay 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-room audio | Yes (Sonos, AirPlay 2) | Yes (Bose, AirPlay 2) |
| Audio out | No | No |
| Voice controls | Yes (Alexa, Google) | Yes (Alexa, Google) |
| Smart home controls | Yes (Alexa, Google) | Yes (Alexa, Google) |
Convenience and compatibility
As you can see, the Sonos Move, while more expensive, has a couple of key features that make it an overall better experience. The included wireless charging dock makes topping off the speaker easy, and more importantly, since you don't have to worry about a cable, you can just grab it and go whenever you desire.
On the go, the Move gets 11 hours of battery, and it works with Bluetooth allowing all of your friends and family to direct what is playing. Plus, the Sonos Move is the only portable speaker that supports Apple Music, so if you rely on Apple's service for your tunes, then the Move is the way to go.
More portable, more battery
At almost half the weight, and with a slimmer profile with a more traditional handle, Bose's speaker is easier to throw into a bag. The speaker is also much lighter in price, and its battery lasts an hour longer than the Move. Although it may not have Apple Music baked-in, or have a fancy charging dock in the box, it is almost as capable as the Move. With whole-home audio, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and 360-degree Bose sound, this speaker has plenty to enjoy.
Which should you buy Sonos One or the Bose Portable Smart Speaker?
If price and portability are the most important factors to you, then go with the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Bose's speaker is lighter, cheaper, and eeks out an additional hour of battery. However, the Sonos Move, with its slick charging dock, compatibility with all of the most popular music services, and of course, great sound, makes it a speaker that can suit the needs of almost everyone.
Sonos Move
Portable powerhouse
$399 at Amazon$400 at Best Buy$399 at BH Photo
Flexible design, flexible controls
The portable Sonos Move offers just about everything, excellent sound, AirPlay 2, whole-home audio, IP56 weather resistance, and 11-hour battery life. Although it is expensive, the Sonos Move supports Apple Music and comes with a slick charging base.
Bose Portable Smart Speaker
Affordable alternative
Extra hour, less cost
$299 at Amazon$300 at Best Buy$299 at Walmart
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker offers an additional hour over the Sonos Move, and it comes at a more affordable price. The lower price doesn't mean fewer features, though, as it still comes with AirPlay 2, whole-home audio, and 360-degree sound.