Jada Jones/ZDNET
In addition to a pair of trusty headphones for private listening when you're out in public, you need a portable speaker to keep the music bumping when you're outside grilling, swimming, or walking. A speaker to have inside for jamming out while you're cleaning, cooking, or hosting friends is a bonus, and one that's stylish enough to go from your outdoor hike to your indoor dinner party is a rarity.
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Although smart home speakers and portable Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen -- and I've tested plenty to know -- few are a blend of both. The Sonos Roam 2 is the one I reach for, even a year after its release.
Here's why it's still my favorite.
It's a perfect blend of style and functionality
Jada Jones/ZDNET
The Roam 2 has an IP67 rating, meaning it can withstand tumbles in the dusty outdoors and brief drops in water. Like all Sonos products, it sports a sleek, nondescript design, an outlier in the sea of rugged speakers with angular edges, loud color combinations, and flashy branding.
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Sonos' Move 2 speaker is also water-protected, but it's not built for accidental submersion in water and is harder to carry on the go. Plenty of Bluetooth speakers, like Sony's Ult Field 3, JBL's Charge 6, and Bose's SoundLink Max, are waterproof, but nothing beats the simple yet easily recognizable Sonos design that's modern and elegant enough to display around the home. Not to mention, the Move 2 is cheaper than them all.
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