Exclusive: Sonos Move 2 coming in September with stereo sound and 24-hour battery life

Sonos’ next portable speaker is close — even if it’s going to miss the peak of the outdoor summer season. I have learned that Move 2 will be released around the end of September. Yes, it’s called Move 2 and not Move (Gen 2). The device will have a similar design to the first generation model. And it’s still a heck of a lot more than six pounds. But Sonos has made significant improvements to sound performance, battery life, connectivity, the charging base and more. The image above, obtained from sources familiar with Sonos’ plans, is your first look at the Move 2.

The biggest upgrade for listeners is that the Move 2 switches from mono output to true stereo playback thanks to the inclusion of dual-angled tweeters; the original move had only one. As before, the speaker will also contain a woofer that handles bass frequencies. Automatic Trueplay will re-optimize Move 2’s sound every time you change its position.

Battery life has seen significant gains compared to the original Sonos Move. The company’s new speaker will deliver up to 24 hours of continuous playback – far eclipsing the advertised 10 hours of the first-generation Move. The battery will again be replaceable, and the Move 2 is designed to use less energy in idle mode, which should improve standby endurance. The Move 2 will have tweaked controls carried over from this year’s Era 100 and 300 – including the dedicated volume slider.

Like the Sonos Roam, the Move 2 will be able to play Bluetooth audio across the rest of your Sonos system when you’re at home. The original wasn’t capable of this handy trick because Bluetooth and Wi-Fi couldn’t be used simultaneously. The new speaker supports line-in audio over its USB-C port (if you purchase the necessary adapter), and you’ll also be able to charge mobile devices using the same port, which can come in handy if you’re outdoors somewhere far, far away from an outlet. Many larger Bluetooth speakers can charge external devices, so I’m glad Sonos is catching up in this regard. Speaking of outdoor use, the Move 2 retains the original’s IP56 dust and water resistance and again uses shock-absorbing materials to protect against drops and accidental tipping.

Sonos has also paid attention to some minor details: for example, the wireless charging base now has a removable power adapter compared to the hard-wired original. The speaker has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, and there is a new switch on the back of the product to disable the voice assistant microphones. (Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control are supported, but Google Assistant is still MIA after being dropped from the Era speakers.)

The Move 2 will be offered in three colors: black, white and a new olive option. It’s set to be priced at $449 in the US – a $50 increase over the original’s current MSRP – and is due for release in late September.

Although a bit heavy, the original Move has become perhaps my favorite product in the entire Sonos lineup due to its sheer versatility and impressive sound quality. Now Sonos is taking the obvious next step by evolving the device in several key ways – with stereo sound and all-day battery life at the top of the list.

The edge has contacted Sonos for a statement, but the company typically does not comment on rumors and speculation.