DevicesAudio
Same-category comparison
Apple HomePod (2nd generation)vs Sonos Era 100
Both are audio. Rows that do not match are marked Differs. The feature paragraphs under each name are AI-generated.
Apple
HomePod (2nd generation)
Confirm the current Apple price. Setup requires an iPhone or iPad.
Pros
- • Thread border router and a temperature/humidity sensor in a speaker you can hear.
- • Spatial audio and a stereo-pair option are on the spec page.
- • Smoke and CO sound recognition is listed, which is a safety feature rather than a music feature.
Cons
- • 802.11n Wi-Fi only, and no Ethernet jack.
- • An iPhone or iPad is mandatory for setup.
- • Siri and Apple Home are the platform. There is no Alexa on this speaker.
Sonos
Era 100
Confirm the current Sonos price. Line-in and Ethernet adapters are extra.
Pros
- • Stereo from one small speaker, with Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 both listed.
- • A physical microphone switch.
- • Wi-Fi 6, and it does not ask to be your door lock’s hub.
Cons
- • No Thread and no Matter hub. It will not commission a bulb.
- • The analog and Ethernet jacks are paid adapters.
- • Voice control here is Sonos Voice Control, not a full smart-home platform.
Hardware
| Spec | Apple HomePod (2nd generation) | Sonos Era 100 |
|---|---|---|
| DriversDiffers | 4-inch high-excursion woofer and five horn-loaded tweeters | Two angled tweeters and one midwoofer, three class-D amplifiers |
| SizeDiffers | 6.6 in high, 5.6 in wide, 5.16 lb (2.3 kg) | 7.18 × 4.72 × 5.14 in (182.5 × 120 × 130.5 mm), 4.44 lb |
| SensorsDiffers | Temperature and humidity, accelerometer. Four-mic array. Sound Recognition for smoke and CO alarms. | — |
| RadiosDiffers | 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Thread, Ultra Wideband. No Ethernet port. | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4 and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0. No Thread radio is listed. |
| PowerDiffers | 100–240V, 50/60 Hz. Operating 32–95°F. | 100–240V internal supply |
| InputsDiffers | — | USB-C. Line-in needs the Sonos Line-In Adapter. Ethernet needs the Sonos Combo Adapter. Both are sold separately. |
| MicsDiffers | — | Far-field array with a hardware mic switch |
Software
| Spec | Apple HomePod (2nd generation) | Sonos Era 100 |
|---|---|---|
| VoiceDiffers | Siri. Touch controls for play, skip, and volume. | — |
| AudioDiffers | Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, room sensing, stereo pair, AirPlay multiroom | — |
| Smart homeDiffers | Apple Home hub with Thread. Apple’s footnote limits Thread to HomeKit- or Matter-enabled Thread accessories. | Not a Matter controller or Thread border router |
| SetupDiffers | iPhone 8 or later, or a recent iPad, on current software. An Apple Account. | — |
| ControlDiffers | — | Sonos app, Sonos Voice Control, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth |
| TuningDiffers | — | Trueplay on iOS and Android |
What you buy with it
| Spec | Apple HomePod (2nd generation) | Sonos Era 100 |
|---|---|---|
| What else you buyDiffers | Nothing else to make it a Thread home hub, if the household already uses Apple devices. | The line-in or Ethernet adapter if you need either jack. A second Era 100 if you want a stereo pair. |
| What it will not doDiffers | It will not set up from Android. It is not a Zigbee hub. | — |
| In the boxDiffers | HomePod and a power cable | — |
| AccountDiffers | — | Sonos account for the app and updates |