Speakers are foundational to the way we enjoy music from Spotify, Apple Music, and other services — and our own music collections. And increasingly, they’re also a convenient way of controlling smart home devices compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Companies like Sonos offer multiroom audio platforms capable of synchronizing music across speakers of all different sizes. Whether you’re looking for a smart speaker or a simple Bluetooth speaker to take everywhere, The Verge covers the best of what’s out there in 2025.
The DukeBox is a modern take on the jukebox from the company’s experimental LG Labs division. It combines front-firing speakers on the bottom and a 360-degree speaker on top with a vacuum tube audio system behind a transparent OLED panel that can display things like track information, album art, or... a fireplace, naturally. It’ll be demonstrated at the big CES show starting next week in Las Vegas.
Sonos’ long-rumored wireless headphones will finally see the light of day in 2024, and the company has a loaded product pipeline in development beyond that.
Today, Sonos posted a video to its social media channels and wrote “there’s a lot of noise about the next Sonos launch.” It also launched this website where customers can “hear from the source” about new hardware. (The video used in the clip already appeared in a prior teaser for the Sub Mini, so I wouldn’t read into that much.)
Know more about upcoming Sonos devices? I’m always a message away on Signal at (845) 445-8455.
The all-new 2024 Tacoma lineup (which is adding a hybrid option) uses a portable Toyota-branded JBL “FLEX” device as a center speaker for the main audio system when docked away — and since two of those Toyota speakers can pair for stereo sound... all you need are two Tacomas.
Rivian’s all-electric R1T and R1S also have a removable Bluetooth Camp speaker / lamp that elegantly hides away, although future models could swap in a drawer instead.
The internal email from Chief Product Officer Maxime Bouvat-Merlin did not specify how many jobs will be lost. Per Bloomberg, the cuts will happen today, and are the result of “a shift in product strategy.” The email also disclosed that a team is dedicated to headphones inside Sonos, which might be behind the “major product in a new multibillion-dollar category” mentioned in yesterday’s earnings call.
Also discussed this week: Nilay’s ideal commute, our CSS hopes and dreams, and all the reasons T-Pain is the absolute ideal Vergecast guest. Plus, you know, Sonos and Google and antitrust and Pixels and the Meta Quest 3 and everything else happening in tech this week. But especially T-Pain.
The iconic Zeppelin speaker design has been around since the iPod days, and now features some McLaren-inspired styling to go along with the 2021 wireless refresh. Multiroom connectivity is also improved — just like Google’s — only days after Sonos lost its patent lawsuit. Prices start at £799 / $899 / €899.
Sonos has an ever-growing lineup, and after you’ve bought your first speaker, you’ll likely want to put one in every room.
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With stereo sound, twice the battery life, and line-in playback, the Move 2 improves upon the original at every turn — unless you need Google Assistant.
Very early this morning, the new UE Epicboom was announced. It’s a pricey chonk of a Bluetooth speaker that should produce some powerful sound with the help of adaptive EQ tuning.
But it turns out that somehow, this is the first Ultimate Ears portable speaker to finally make the change from Micro USB to USB-C. Thanks to the commenters who pointed that out. And praise be, UE.
