The Sonos Roam SL is a top-end Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in early 2022. Available in either black or white, the speaker is designed for outdoor use since it is dust- and water-resistant. Weighing only 0.9 pounds, the speaker is also quite portable, and the manufacturer claims that its battery can keep the music playing for up to 10 hours. A day-long battery life is pretty standard for the best speakers in the market, and although the Roam SL doesn’t quite get to that, it is still great for listening to music while on the go. The speaker’s connectivity options are also quite good since it offers both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Its Bluetooth range of up to 334 ft compares well to that of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers around, and with support for Apple AirPlay over WiFi, it remains a solid choice for Apple and iOS users.
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Sonos Roam SL Review
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Published
True Score
True Score is an AI-powered algorithm of product tests and customer reviews.
Meh
Experts
Consumers
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Product specialists praised the Sonos Roam SL for its high build quality and easy-to-use companion app. They lauded its connectivity and were happy with its wide soundstage. Still, they were disappointed with its lack of speakerphone functionality and its missing voice assistant support.
Product Snapshot
Overview
The Sonos Roam SL is a top-end Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in early 2022. Available in either black or white, the speaker is designed for outdoor use since it is dust- and water-resistant. Weighing only 0.9 pounds, the speaker is also quite portable, and the manufacturer claims that its battery can keep the music playing for up to 10 hours. A day-long battery life is pretty standard for the best speakers in the market, and although the Roam SL doesn’t quite get to that, it is still great for listening to music while on the go. The speaker’s connectivity options are also quite good since it offers both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Its Bluetooth range of up to 334 ft compares well to that of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers around, and with support for Apple AirPlay over WiFi, it remains a solid choice for Apple and iOS users.
Consensus
our Verdict
Expert testers hailed the Sonos Roam SL as a well-built outdoor speaker that features both water and dust resistance, as well as a companion app. Product analysts from PC Mag liked how simple the Sonos app was to use and also liked that it could be integrated with Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music. They lauded its clear vocals, while testers from Rtings agreed that the speaker’s low latency over Bluetooth and WiFi connections was great for watching movies and listening to music. They also liked how light and portable it was, and during their tests, they were satisfied with its wide soundstage. The Sonos Playbar Soundbar also delivers a wide soundstage, but it is designed for indoor use. See our Sonos Playbar Soundbar review for more info.
However, testers were disappointed with the Sonos Roam SL, as it did not have speakerphone functionality or voice assistant support. These are features that the Sony SRS XB13 has, so if you cannot compromise on such features, check out our Sony SRS XB13 review.
ReasonS to Buy
- Great build quality
- Lightweight and portable
- Good battery life
- WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Wide soundstage
Reason to Avoid
- No speakerphone functionality
- No voice assistant support
Sonos Roam SL Specs
 | Battery Life | 10 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | Yes |
 | Charge Time | 2 hrs |
 | Size | 168 mm (w) x 62 mm (h) x 60 mm (d) |
 | Smart App | Yes |
 | Speaker Pairing | Yes |
 | Water Resistant | Yes |
 | Wattage | 10W |
 | Wireless Range | 40 m |
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Speakers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| Min Frequency Response (Hz) | 87.2 |
| Max Frequency Response (Hz) | 18,500 |
| Battery Life (Hours) | 4.9 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 85.6 |
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Product Comparison
 Sonos Roam SL Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 67 | 81 | 86 | 86 |
Ranking | # 106 / 109 | # 57 / 109 | # 7 / 109 | # 5 / 109 |
Market Context |
The Sonos Roam SL is a top-end Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in early 2022. Available in either black or white, the speaker is… |
The Sonos Roam SL and the Sonos Roam are identical-looking speakers that buyers may have a hard time differentiating between. Still, the Roam SL has… The Sonos Roam SL and the Sonos Roam are identical-looking speakers that buyers may have a hard time differentiating between. Still, the Roam SL has a microphone that is missing on the Roam and has built-in support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Roam SL also gets slightly louder than the Roam. We’ve gone ahead and delved into it in our Sonos Roam review. |
The Sonos Roam SL is a lot smaller and therefore lighter than the Sonos Move, but the Sonos Move has a microphone and also features… The Sonos Roam SL is a lot smaller and therefore lighter than the Sonos Move, but the Sonos Move has a microphone and also features voice assistant support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The battery life on the Sonos Move is also longer, lasting up to 10.1 hours compared to 4.9 hours on the Sonos Roam SL. |
The Sonos Roam SL is capable of WiFi connectivity while the JBL Charge 5 is not, but the JBL Charge 5 offers a longer-lasting battery… The Sonos Roam SL is capable of WiFi connectivity while the JBL Charge 5 is not, but the JBL Charge 5 offers a longer-lasting battery life of up to 14.5 hours compared to the Sonos Roam SL, which lasts up to 4.9 hours. The Charge 5 also supports multi-device pairing, while the Sonos Roam SL does not. |
Battery Life | 10 hrs | 10 hrs | 11 hrs | 20+ hrs |
Built In Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Charge Time | 2 hrs | 2 hrs | 2 hrs | 4 hrs |
Size | 168 mm (w) x 62 mm (h) x 60 mm (d) | – | – | – |
Smart App | Yes | Amazon Alexa app, Google Assistant, Sonos app | Sonos app | JBL Portable |
Speaker Pairing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Water Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wattage | 10W | 10W | 25W | 30W |
Dig Deeper |
Score Card
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
Any product with a True Score above 60 is a Meh
Expert Scores
Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.
100.6Category Trust Rating
67The Sonos Roam SL is alright for music. It has a neutral sound profile out… Read MoreBy:
Tim Gideon
43.6Category Trust Rating
70The portable Sonos Roam SL is the exact same speaker as the non-SL model for… Read MoreBy:
John Panoryios
55.2Category Trust Rating
NRhe Sonos Roam SL marks Sonos’ first truly portable Bluetooth speaker range that you can… Read MoreBy:
Unknown
15.6Category Trust Rating
NR“No bottom line found for this product” Read MoreBy:
Unknown
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