Sonos Has a Speaker for Every Version of Your GCC Summer

Summer in the GCC has its own rhythm. Early mornings before the heat fully arrives. Long afternoons by the pool. Rooftop dinners, late drives and at least one friend who insists on taking control of the playlist. If you're anything like us, music is involved in all of it, obviously.

Sonos has three portable speakers designed to move with the day: the compact Roam 2, the new Play and the more powerful Move 2. Each one fits a different kind of plan, from a quiet beach morning to a gathering that becomes considerably louder than expected.

Roam 2: For People Who Actually Pack Light

The Sonos Roam 2 is the easiest one to throw into a beach bag and forget about until someone asks where the music is.

It weighs less than a pound, so it does not take over your hand luggage or compete with the seven unnecessary skincare products already inside. It is also waterproof and dustproof, which is important when sand, splashes and questionable poolside decisions are part of the plan.

The battery lasts for up to ten hours, enough to cover a morning by the water followed by a long lunch where nobody seems interested in leaving.

It comes in Black and White for the minimalists, as well as Olive, Sunset and Wave for anyone who wants the speaker to match the towel, sunglasses or general summer mood.

Play: The Staycation Favourite

Sitting between the Roam 2 and Move 2 is the Sonos Play, the newest addition to the line-up. It is compact enough to carry around without turning the journey into a workout, but powerful enough to fill a hotel room, balcony or rooftop. The stereo sound gives it more presence than its size suggests, while the battery runs for up to 24 hours.

That is basically an entire staycation on one charge. The Play can also top up your phone when the battery starts dying halfway through the day, which makes it the kind of friend who arrives prepared instead of asking to borrow your charger (woops, guilty of charge, we are that friend.)

Once home, it sits on its own charging base and works like a regular Sonos home speaker, meaning it is useful even when summer plans become sofa plans.

The Move 2 is for the bigger plan. It is the most powerful of the three, with stereo sound and a tuned woofer designed to fill a room and carry the music outside towards the pool.

There is a handle built into the back, so moving it from the kitchen to the garden does not require a complicated setup or several people giving instructions. The battery also lasts for up to 24 hours, which should outlive even the longest pool day or at least the people who said they were “just stopping by for an hour.”

The useful part is that the speakers are not limited to performing solo. When you are away from Wi-Fi, the Play can group with a second Play or a Move 2 over Bluetooth. Up to four speakers can play together, covering the beach, pool or rooftop without requiring everyone to crowd around one small speaker balanced dangerously close to the water.

Back home, all three connect to the wider Sonos system over Wi-Fi and can be controlled through the Sonos app. The music can move from the bedroom to the balcony without the playlist cutting out or somebody having to reconnect their phone every ten minutes.

So, Which One Are You?

The Roam 2 is for the person with one tote bag and a very organised itinerary. The Play is for the staycation, hotel room, road trip and anyone whose phone battery is permanently at 12%. The Move 2 is for the host - the person who invited six people and somehow ended up with 25 in the living room.

Whichever version of summer you are having, Sonos has clearly accepted one thing: the playlist is not optional.

The Roam 2, Play and Move 2 are available across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

More info on Sonos.com