Smart speakers · Ranked #1 of 9 · Top pick, narrowly

Sonos Era 100

89
Highly rated
Average of 12 professional reviews
12 of 12 recommend it · broad agreement
Where the 12 reviews landedRange 80–100
Score printed by the outlet Estimated from the verdict

Exact average 89.3 · 7 printed, 5 estimated · printed scores only: 91

Sonos Era 100Image: Sonos

12 professional reviewers tested the Sonos Era 100, and 12 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and connectivity. Most common complaint: price.

Reviewed by The Disconnekt, What Hi-Fi?, WIRED and 9 more

The catch: There is no Google Assistant, and line-in needs a paid adapter.

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What 12 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 100
    The DisconnektHands-on review · 2024

    An excellent small speaker with sleek design, strong sound for its size and plentiful features, with few complaints beyond missing Google Assistant and Dolby Atmos.

    Read The Disconnekt review
  2. 95
    What Hi-Fi?The outlet's top rating, counted as 95 · Hands-on review

    The reviewer finds the Era 100 a big step up from the Sonos One, with open, detailed sound and a rich feature set including Bluetooth.

    Read What Hi-Fi? review
  3. 90
    WIREDHands-on review

    A big sound upgrade over the Sonos One with real stereo, deeper bass and effective room tuning.

    Read WIRED review
  4. 90
    Trusted ReviewsHands-on review · 2024

    A fun, weighty speaker with more bass than the Sonos One and added Bluetooth and Quick Tune, though midrange subtlety suffers and it costs more than before.

    Read Trusted Reviews review
  5. 90
    The AmbientHands-on review · 2024

    A thorough redesign of Sonos' entry-level speaker, with Bluetooth, line-in and better audio than the One.

    Read The Ambient review
  6. 90
    SlashGearHands-on review · 2023

    The reviewer finds the Era 100 a clear improvement on the Sonos One, with wider stereo sound and more bass plus Bluetooth and line-in.

    Read SlashGear review
  7. 80
    The VergeHands-on review · 2023

    The reviewer finds the Era 100 a clear upgrade over the Sonos One, with stereo sound, Bluetooth and line-in.

    Read The Verge review
  8. 89est.
    Popular ScienceNo printed score · Hands-on review

    After weeks of testing, the reviewer finds the Era 100 a musical, natural-sounding speaker with real stereo and added connectivity.

    Read Popular Science review
  9. 89est.
    Digital TrendsNo printed score · Hands-on review

    The reviewer finds the Era 100 a worthy successor to the Sonos One with expansive sound, built-in Bluetooth and easy tuning.

    Read Digital Trends review
  10. 89est.
    EngadgetNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2023

    The reviewer finds it a clear upgrade over the Sonos One, with louder, clearer sound and useful new features.

    Read Engadget review
  11. 85est.
    Business InsiderNo printed score · Buying guide · 2026

    Named best overall smart speaker in a tested buying guide, praised for full sound, flexible connectivity and multiple voice assistants.

    Read Business Insider review
  12. 85est.
    The GuardianNo printed score · Buying guide · 2023

    The reviewer calls it Sonos's best small speaker and a top smart speaker for music, with big, detailed sound and a strong platform.

    Read The Guardian review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

How it compares

Direct comparisons by professional outlets, exact models only, in our words. Shown as evidence; they never change the critic score.

vs Sonos Era 30086

  • RedShark News (2025) picks the Sonos Era 300. Still choose this one if: you cannot stretch to the pricier model and still want a capable, good-value compact stereo pair.
  • TechRadar: it depends. Choose this one if: you want a cheaper, compact smart speaker for a small space or moving around the house.

vs Amazon Echo Studio (2025)79

  • Tom's Guide: it depends. Choose this one if: sound quality is your main priority, or you need a wired input for gear like a turntable.

What critics praise most

Sound quality12 of 12
Connectivity11 of 12
Ease of use3 of 12

What critics dislike most

Price6 of 12
Controls and app3 of 12

Other smart speakers critics rate highly

Also reviewed, not yet scored

Common questions

Is the Sonos Era 100 worth it?

Most critics think so: 12 of 12 recommend it. There is no Google Assistant, and line-in needs a paid adapter.

Do critics agree about the Sonos Era 100?

Broad agreement: scores range from 80 (The Verge) to 100 (The Disconnekt), a spread of 20 points across 12 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.

What do critics dislike about the Sonos Era 100?

Price (6 of 12 reviews), Controls and app (3 of 12 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Sonos Era 100?

The WiiM Sound (critic score 88), .