The first Sonos Move, released in September 2019, expanded the horizons of the Sonos sound system With a built-in battery and the addition of Bluetooth connectivity, it finally allowed users to take Sonos-quality sound on the go

And now you can take the new Sonos Move 2 out for even longer In addition to user-friendly upgrades such as simultaneous Bluetooth and Wi-Fi pairing, this second-generation speaker more than doubles battery life (up to 24 hours compared to 10 hours for the first generation) and now supports stereo sound [Considering these improvements, plus the continued availability of Sonos' Auto Trueplay ambient tuning technology, the Sonos Move 2 replaces its predecessor as one of the best Bluetooth speakers and best outdoor speakers available for purchase Yes, even if it costs $449 more Yes, even at the higher asking price of $449 My Sonos Move 2 review below explains why

The Sonos Move 2 is available as of September 20 for $449 / £449 / €499 / $799 Australian, $50 more than the debut original and available directly from Sonos stores seen, but Sonos speakers are rarely discounted

Since the launch of the original Move, Sonos has introduced the Sonos Roam, a $179 speaker whose compact size and high IP rating make it ideal for portable use Going forward, Sonos Move 2 and Sonos Roam will be available as battery-powered branded products

The Sonos Move 2 and Sonos Move are probably indistinguishable at first glance The refreshed speakers have the familiar tall oval shape of 95 x 63 x 5 inches Perhaps the biggest aesthetic difference is that the Sonos Move 2 is now olive in color, in addition to the ubiquitous black and white of the Sonos brand

The control array at the top is also slightly different The capacitive touch buttons are still present, but the volume is now controlled by the same slider as on the Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300 home speakers Other features include a pause/play button, a skip/play button, and a microphone status button that lights up when the voice assistant is actively listening for hands-free commands

A speaker mesh covers most of the exterior, with a recessed control panel on the back This panel contains a power button, a button to switch from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth, and a button to turn the microphone on or off The top of the cutout also serves as a handle, allowing the Sonos Move 2 to be carried around However, it weighs 661 pounds (85 kg) and is not fun to carry far It's convenient enough to take with you to your home or outdoor living room, but I wouldn't throw the Move 2 in my backpack the way I do with the Sonos Roam or many other portable speakers

On that note, the Sonos Move 2 has the same IP56 rating as the original, so you can be a little rough with it if you decide to take it on an adventure The speaker is dustproof and waterproof and can withstand coarse sand and wet nights if left outside Accidental splashes are no problem at all, but you don't want to risk completely submerging the speaker by placing it too close to the edge of the pool

Sonos Move 2 is one of the few speakers that offers both Wi-Fi connectivity for integration with a home system and Bluetooth playback for listening to music where Wi-Fi is not available When at home, you can use Sonos Move just like any other Sonos speaker And when you leave the network, Bluetooth will play what you did the last time

Move 2 is even more versatile than the original, with the option to pair to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth simultaneously It can also stream via Bluetooth to a stereo set of Wi-Fi connected Sonos Move 2 speakers via the Sonos app The Sonos app allows you to connect to all audio streaming services through a single interface, with free streaming stations via Sonos Radio; it can also connect via AirPlay 2, a quick way to access your speakers from the Spotify app I still prefer to use it as a When listening to my vinyl collection, I often use my Sonos-compatible record player, the Victrola Onyx Stream

But how does the Sonos Move 2 sound? I listened to a variety of genres in a variety of environments, and the speaker delivered a first-rate performance across the board The emotional vocals of Taylor Swift's "Getaway Car" sounded crisp and clear, and the song's delicate synths remained balanced even when the speakers were turned up to maximum volume and the bridge was sung The Steve Miller Band's "The Joker," one of my favorite songs of all time, had a sophisticated sound that I don't usually hear If there's one thing the Sonos Move 2 has going for it, it's a belief in delivering a dynamic audio experience, and the sound was very much in line with that belief, with the iconic bass guitar riff reaching rhythmic depth and the cymbals ringing with a clarity that is often lost when speakers muddy the midrange

At least some of this is thanks to Auto Trueplay, a feature based on the Trueplay tuning technology found in Sonos' home speakers But whereas Trueplay tuning requires you to walk around the room waving your phone around for Sonos to output the best sound for your environment, Auto Trueplay automatically makes spatial adjustments It is best used outdoors, where the speaker compensates for the lack of reflective points and compensates for ambient sound

In addition to physical control via the speaker and the Sonos app, Sonos Move 2 can also be controlled via voice assistant; its compatibility with Amazon Alexa makes Sonos Move 2 the best smart speaker if you have that platform at home It can function as a Paired with Alexa, my Sonos Move 2 was able to control my Nanoleaf Lines wall light, turn on my Clorox air purifier, and add items to my Amazon shopping cart

Sonos Move 2 also includes the Sonos Voice Assistant Unlike Alexa, which only works when the speaker is connected to Wi-Fi, the Sonos Voice Assistant also works over Bluetooth; activated by the wake phrase "Hey Sonos," this assistant is ideal for hands-free playback controls, such as adjusting volume It can also search for songs from Sonos Radio and Apple Music, but unfortunately cannot yet activate music from Spotify or YouTube Music

Battery life is one of the biggest improvements of the Sonos Move 2 over the first generation While the previous generation version lasted only 10 hours, Sonos Move 2 offers up to 24 hours of playback This is a significant increase in stamina and eliminates the need to charge the speaker frequently This is a major point of convenience, as it was to be expected in my testing It also matches the battery life of the $499 JBL Boombox 3, a close competitor to the Sonos Move

The Sonos Move 2 also comes with the same charging stand, which gives you a dedicated place to leave it at home to charge If you need to charge the Sonos Move 2 on the go, you can use the USB-C port on the back If I were worried about whether the Move 2 would last all day, I might bring an external battery pack with a USB-C connection for charging, just in case Fortunately, the speaker automatically turns off when not in use, saving power

Despite the Sonos Move 2's popularity, few other speakers have the same functionality both inside and outside the home This versatility is why Sonos has been able to avoid charging $449 for the unit Of course, the sound quality, sleek build, and smart features also help justify the hefty price

If, after reading about the Sonos Move 2, you don't imagine moving it much in person, the Sonos Era 300 may be a better choice for immersive listening, though it is the same price with Dolby Atmos and impressive spatial audio, the Era 300 is an audio smart home speaker designed for fans Still, if you're drawn to the flexibility of taking a great-sounding smart speaker inside or outside the home, the Sonos Move 2 is the speaker for you