Home Speakers / Sonos Era 100 vs Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Sonos Era 100 vs Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Sonos Era 100
Sonos multiroom with voice control — the default mid-range smart speaker.
Wins overall by 0.2 points
Quick Verdict
This is close. The Sonos Era 100 edges ahead by 0.2 points, but that margin is inside the noise — the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is a defensible pick on its own terms. Superb sound and a Thread hub — held back by Wi-Fi 4 and no Bluetooth audio.
The Sonos Era 100 and Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) are both current-generation home Speaker models, and the Sonos Era 100 is $130 cheaper than the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) ($219 vs $349). On Multiroom, the Sonos Era 100 leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house. On Connectivity, the Sonos Era 100 leads (7.5 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. On Value, the Sonos Era 100 leads (8.0 vs 6.0/10) — performance and features relative to price. Overall, the Sonos Era 100 scores 7.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.6/10 for the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Sonos Era 100 | Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.00 | $349.00 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2023 |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa and Sonos Voice Control; Google Assistant is not supported on Era hardware | Siri |
| Drivers | 2x angled tweeters plus 1x midwoofer | 1x 4-inch high-excursion woofer plus an array of 5 horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own neodymium magnet, and a 4-microphone array |
| Power Output (W) | Sonos publishes three class-D digital amplifiers but no wattage | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 — for setup and proximity only, NOT a Bluetooth audio input |
| Streaming Protocols | Sonos app, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect; no Chromecast | AirPlay 2, native Apple Music and direct Spotify playback |
| Multiroom System | Sonos | AirPlay 2 and Apple Home |
| Stereo Pairing | Yes | Yes, with a second HomePod 2nd Gen only — it cannot pair with a 1st Gen or a mini |
| Smart Home Hub | No | Yes — Apple Home hub, Matter controller and Thread border router |
| Spatial Audio | No | Yes |
| Line In | Yes, but only via the optional Sonos Line-In Adapter, sold separately | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, White | Midnight, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on low-end weight and extension. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Multiroom
The Sonos Era 100 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on how well it groups with other speakers around the house. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Sonos Era 100 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.5 — a 2.0-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on materials, finish and how it looks in a room. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Voice Assistant
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on which assistants are built in and how well they work. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Sonos Era 100 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Sonos Era 100 if…
- • Multiroom matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 scores 9.5/10 here (how well it groups with other speakers around the house).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 scores 7.5/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs).
- • Value matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 scores 8.0/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $130 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is multiroom or voice-control.
Choose the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) if…
- • Bass matters most to you — the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 8.5/10 here (low-end weight and extension).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 9.0/10 here (tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size).
- • Your main use case is smart-home or home-theater.
Pros & Cons
Sonos Era 100
Pros
- +Sonos multiroom with voice control, and genuinely good stereo separation for the size
- +List price has been cut from $249 to $219
- +Humidity resistant
- +Doubles as a rear surround for a Sonos soundbar
Cons
- −No Google Assistant support at all on Era hardware
- −Not a smart-home hub
- −Line-in requires a separately sold adapter
- −The Sonos app has been a real sore point since its 2024 rewrite
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Pros
- +Outstanding sound for the size — the five horn-loaded tweeters do real work
- +Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and it doubles as an Apple TV 4K sound system
- +Full Apple Home hub with Thread border router
- +Room sensing genuinely adapts to placement
Cons
- −Wi-Fi 4 in a $349 product released in 2023
- −Cannot be used as a Bluetooth speaker — there is no Bluetooth audio input
- −Price rose from $299 to $349 in June 2026
- −No aux input
- −Requires an Apple device to set up, and Siri only fully controls Apple Music
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Sonos Era 100 or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Sonos Era 100 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Multiroom, the Sonos Era 100 or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Sonos Era 100 scores higher on Multiroom (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Sonos Era 100 or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Sonos Era 100 scores higher on Connectivity (7.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs.
Which is better for Value, the Sonos Era 100 or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Sonos Era 100 scores higher on Value (8.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Which is better for Bass, the Sonos Era 100 or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores higher on Bass (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — low-end weight and extension.
Is the Sonos Era 100 worth the price difference over the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Sonos Era 100 is the cheaper option at $219 versus $349. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Multiroom.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Sonos Era 100 is the better fit if you mainly care about multiroom or voice-control. The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is the better fit for smart-home or home-theater.
What's the warranty on the Sonos Era 100 vs the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Sonos Era 100 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) — $219.99
Premium Option
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) — $219.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.