Sonos Era 100
Stereo · Wi-Fi 6 · Line-in
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Spatial Audio · Siri · Matter hub
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Era 100 lands at 86 and Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) at 88. That puts Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sonos Era 100 if…
- ✓True stereo from one speaker
- ✓USB-C line-in
- ✓Trueplay tuning
Pick Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) if…
- ✓Best mono speaker sound at this price
- ✓Built-in Matter hub
- ✓Adaptive room sensing
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound
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 100Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Sonos Era 100 more score per dollar ($249 vs $299).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sonos Era 100 | Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 2 tweeters + 1 mid-woofer | 4″ woofer + 5 tweeters |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0, USB-C | Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0, Thread, Matter |
| Voice | Amazon Alexa + Sonos Voice | Siri |
| Spatial | — | Dolby Atmos Music |
| Trueplay tuning | — | Auto room-sensing |
| Weight | — | 2.3 kg |
Sonos Era 100
- +True stereo from one speaker
- +USB-C line-in
- +Trueplay tuning
- −Sonos app issues persist
- −No voice assistant in EU
- −Bass-light vs larger rivals
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
- +Best mono speaker sound at this price
- +Built-in Matter hub
- +Adaptive room sensing
- −Apple ecosystem only
- −No 3.5mm input
- −No Spotify Connect (still 2025!)
FAQ: Sonos Era 100 vs Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Which is better, Sonos Era 100 or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)? +
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sonos Era 100 worth the price? +
At $249, Sonos Era 100 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.
Is Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) worth the price? +
At $299, Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in ease.
Does Sonos Era 100 or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) 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, Sonos Era 100 or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)? +
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) — leads on sound (92 vs 88). Compared on the sound sub-score.
Which is better for features, Sonos Era 100 or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)? +
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) — leads on features (88 vs 86). Compared on the features sub-score.