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Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) — Spatial Audio · Siri · Matter hub
Apple

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)

Spatial Audio · Siri · Matter hub

88
/ 100
From $299
VS
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) wins by 2
Sonos Era 100 — Stereo · Wi-Fi 6 · Line-in
Sonos

Sonos Era 100

Stereo · Wi-Fi 6 · Line-in

86
/ 100
From $249
Specdex verdict

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) lands at 88 and Sonos Era 100 at 86. That puts Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) if…

  • ✓Best mono speaker sound at this price
  • ✓Built-in Matter hub
  • ✓Adaptive room sensing

Pick Sonos Era 100 if…

  • ✓True stereo from one speaker
  • ✓USB-C line-in
  • ✓Trueplay tuning
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)

Compared on the sound sub-score

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads on sound (92 vs 88).

Features

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)

Compared on the features sub-score

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads on features (88 vs 86).

Value for money

Sonos Era 100

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sonos Era 100 more score per dollar ($249 vs $299).

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) 88
vs
86 Sonos Era 100

Score breakdown

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
88
sound 92
features 88
ease 96
value 84
design 0
ecosystem 0
Sonos Era 100
86
sound 88
features 86
ease 0
value 0
design 90
ecosystem 86

Specs side-by-side

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) versus Sonos Era 100 — full spec comparison
Spec Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) Sonos Era 100
Drivers
4″ woofer + 5 tweeters
2 tweeters + 1 mid-woofer
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0, Thread, Matter
Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0, USB-C
Voice
Siri
Amazon Alexa + Sonos Voice
Spatial
Dolby Atmos Music
—
Trueplay tuning
Auto room-sensing
—
Weight
2.3 kg
—

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)

Pros
  • +Best mono speaker sound at this price
  • +Built-in Matter hub
  • +Adaptive room sensing
Cons
  • −Apple ecosystem only
  • −No 3.5mm input
  • −No Spotify Connect (still 2025!)

Sonos Era 100

Pros
  • +True stereo from one speaker
  • +USB-C line-in
  • +Trueplay tuning
Cons
  • −Sonos app issues persist
  • −No voice assistant in EU
  • −Bass-light vs larger rivals

FAQ: Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) vs Sonos Era 100

Which is better, Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) or Sonos Era 100? +

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) worth the price? +

At $299, Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in ease.

Is Sonos Era 100 worth the price? +

At $249, Sonos Era 100 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.

Does Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) or Sonos Era 100 last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound, Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) or Sonos Era 100? +

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) — leads on sound (92 vs 88). Compared on the sound sub-score.

Which is better for features, Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) or Sonos Era 100? +

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) — leads on features (88 vs 86). Compared on the features sub-score.