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Speakers

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 new UE Epicboom is a beefy $350 Bluetooth speakerThe new UE Epicboom is a beefy $350 Bluetooth speaker
A first look at Atmos FlexConnect, Dolby’s latest attempt to fix bad TV audioA first look at Atmos FlexConnect, Dolby’s latest attempt to fix bad TV audio
What goes into designing a solar-powered Bluetooth speakerWhat goes into designing a solar-powered Bluetooth speaker
The Eve Play brings AirPlay 2 audio to your Hi-Fi gear this NovemberThe Eve Play brings AirPlay 2 audio to your Hi-Fi gear this November
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Sonos must be so annoyed.

The service agnostic company was first to market with a speaker featuring both Alexa and Google Assistant, but JBL is first to allow simultaneous use of the two most popular voice assistants. Sonos previously said it was Google’s fault for blocking “concurrency” — a feature Sonos had been working on since at least 2017 — presumably out of spite for losing that lawsuit. We’ve reached out to Sonos for a reaction and will hopefully have something to publish soon.

Alexa and Google Assistant play together nicely, but not perfectly, on JBL’s new speakers

Jon Porter
Wes Davis
Wes Davis
For just $1,699.95, you could have a glowing Dolby Atmos party speaker.

JBL announced a new wireless party speaker today as part of a host of new products, like new earbuds and new smart speakers, debuting at IFA.

The company says the PartyBox Ultimate self-tunes, has Wi-Fi 6 and LE Audio-ready Bluetooth connectivity and supports the company’s multi-speaker connection feature. Oh, and RGB lights. It has those too.

A picture of the partyBox Ultimate. It has two RGB-ringed subwoofers and the speaker grill has an RGB strip surrounding it. It’s tall and skinny, standing on one end.
The PartyBox Ultimate is just one of the announcements from JBL.
Image: JBL
Dolby might have found a way to make built-in TV speakers sound much betterDolby might have found a way to make built-in TV speakers sound much better
Urbanista turns its solar-powered smarts to a Bluetooth speakerUrbanista turns its solar-powered smarts to a Bluetooth speaker
GameStop’s ongoing buy one, get one sale includes a host of great gamesGameStop’s ongoing buy one, get one sale includes a host of great games
Sonos’ $900 Dolby Atmos soundbar has a loud pop issue that’s taking years to fixSonos’ $900 Dolby Atmos soundbar has a loud pop issue that’s taking years to fix
The $219 WiiM Pro Plus is a modern audio streamer for your existing hi-fiThe $219 WiiM Pro Plus is a modern audio streamer for your existing hi-fi
Amazon’s latest Kindle is matching its Prime Day price for a limited timeAmazon’s latest Kindle is matching its Prime Day price for a limited time
Exclusive: the Sonos Move 2 is coming in September with stereo sound and 24-hour battery lifeExclusive: the Sonos Move 2 is coming in September with stereo sound and 24-hour battery life
Sony’s take-anywhere XB100 speaker is on sale for less than $50Sony’s take-anywhere XB100 speaker is on sale for less than $50
The ad-free Kindle Paperwhite Kids is $55 offThe ad-free Kindle Paperwhite Kids is $55 off
Amazon’s colorful Echo Pop is on sale for just $17.99 ahead of Prime DayAmazon’s colorful Echo Pop is on sale for just $17.99 ahead of Prime Day
Bose recalls over 1 million ancient subwoofers due to potential fire hazardBose recalls over 1 million ancient subwoofers due to potential fire hazard
This weekend is your last chance to save on a bunch of fantastic Switch gamesThis weekend is your last chance to save on a bunch of fantastic Switch games
Antonio G. Di Benedetto and Brandon Widder
LG’s brilliant C3 OLED just hit its lowest price ever at Amazon and Best BuyLG’s brilliant C3 OLED just hit its lowest price ever at Amazon and Best Buy
Arlo’s Essential Wired Doorbell is on sale for less than $60 right nowArlo’s Essential Wired Doorbell is on sale for less than $60 right now
The best Father’s Day gifts on a budget

We’ve rounded up a number of inexpensive gifts that dad will love, from portable speakers to camping stoves.

Sheena Vasani
Sonos lays off 7 percent of employees as demand cools for its speakersSonos lays off 7 percent of employees as demand cools for its speakers
The next Sonos Move has shown up at the FCC ahead of its summer releaseThe next Sonos Move has shown up at the FCC ahead of its summer release
Sonos is slashing prices on speakers and soundbars ahead of Father’s DaySonos is slashing prices on speakers and soundbars ahead of Father’s Day
Sonos wins $32.5 million patent infringement victory over GoogleSonos wins $32.5 million patent infringement victory over Google
The Verge’s 2023 graduation gift guide

We found a wide range of gifts that’ll help graduates as they embark upon their next adventure, whether that’s college or a career.

Sheena Vasani
Where to preorder Amazon’s new Echo devicesWhere to preorder Amazon’s new Echo devices
Google’s Pixel 6A is $100 offGoogle’s Pixel 6A is $100 off
Sheena Vasani
The second-gen Apple Pencil for iPads has dropped to a new low price of $85The second-gen Apple Pencil for iPads has dropped to a new low price of $85
Sonos will stop playing local files on Android devices later this monthSonos will stop playing local files on Android devices later this month
Bose is slashing prices on earbuds and headphones ahead of Mother’s DayBose is slashing prices on earbuds and headphones ahead of Mother’s Day
Chris Welch
Chris Welch
Google and Sonos will square off in a federal trial starting Monday.

The long-running patent dispute between Sonos and Google is headed to the courtroom on Monday. The whole-home audio brand is insistent that Google copied its smart speaker technology. Sonos has already picked up a win at the ITC, but next week the federal trial kicks off.

US District Judge William Alsup is openly frustrated that these two companies have been unable to work something out and just settle already.

“By the end, our parties’ legal bills will likely have been able to build dozens of schools, pay all the teachers, and provide hot lunches to the children,” he wrote in a previous filing.

Google, Sonos head to trial in contentious smart speaker patent fight

[Reuters]

Apple’s latest iPad Air is $100 off in both the 64GB and 256GB configurationsApple’s latest iPad Air is $100 off in both the 64GB and 256GB configurations
Sonos’ exciting new product category is... commercial audioSonos’ exciting new product category is... commercial audio
Anker’s bassy Sport X10 earbuds are on sale for less than $60 right nowAnker’s bassy Sport X10 earbuds are on sale for less than $60 right now
Apple’s colorful HomePod Mini is down to one of its best prices to dateApple’s colorful HomePod Mini is down to one of its best prices to date
Chris Welch
Chris Welch
Party speaker season is upon us.

LG’s latest party speaker, the beefy XBoom XL7, is now available for $599.99. You’re getting a 250-watt system with 20 hours of battery life, an 8-inch woofer, and IPX4 water resistance. It’s got the built-in telescoping handle and wheels for keeping the party moving. Karaoke mode? Obviously.

But the real draw, as usual, is all the customizable lighting. The woofer ring lights up, but that’s old hat. This thing does text and even full-on animations. I challenge someone to get The Verge logo on there.

Your move, Sony.

The Apple Watch SE and Beats Fit Pro have dropped to their best prices to dateThe Apple Watch SE and Beats Fit Pro have dropped to their best prices to date
The newest iPad Mini and Google’s Pixel 6A top our favorite deals of the weekThe newest iPad Mini and Google’s Pixel 6A top our favorite deals of the week
Brandon Widder and Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Sonos Era 300 review: too ahead of its time

When you find a good spatial audio song, Sonos’ new speaker can blow your mind and sounds like nothing else. But it trails the Sonos Five at stereo playback and suffers from the wildly inconsistent state of Atmos mixes.

Chris Welch

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