Sonos Roam dives headfirst into the already popular arena of portable Bluetooth speakers. However, being from Sonos, it has a few tricks up its triangular form that might just be enough to separate it from the crowd.

Joining its larger hybrid sibling, the Sonos Move, Roam also sports both Bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity, meaning that you can choose to either pair it with a phone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 or go global via wireless network streaming, which also enables you to add it into your existing Sonos ecosystem. There is also a 3.5mm input for when a wired connection to the source is required.

Using wi-fi gives Roam access to your home network and opens the doors to streaming services such as Spotify, Amazon Music and Tidal. It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. It also enables AirPlay 2 and control via the Sonos S2 app.

On that note, those Sonos-y tricks include being able to automatically switch between wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity and connected devices. So when you take it out of wi-fi range, it automatically attaches to your Bluetooth without you having to pair it - this also works in reverse when you come home. The Sonos Roam also gets the all-new Sonos Swap feature. This neatly enables you to pass whatever music the Roam is playing to the nearest Sonos speaker by merely long-pressing the play/pause button. We heard similar tech mentioned amongst the skill set of the rumoured Sonos headphones we are still expecting to appear this year.

Finally, there's Auto TruePlay which is, in essence, room calibration tech. Using the speaker's microphones, Roam measures the frequency response of its surroundings and adjusts its sound profile accordingly. Furthermore, when Roam detects that it's in a new location, it automatically updates its settings. Unlike the same feature that debuted on the Move, the Roam's version doesn't rely on a wi-fi network, as it also calibrates when linked to Bluetooth. Don't worry if you have a Move, though. The same functionality is available for that, too, via a software update.

Sound is delivered by the teamwork of a custom-designed racetrack woofer and tweeter driven by two Class H amplifiers via an adjustable EQ output.

The Sonos Roam isn't too shabby on the portability stakes either. Measuring just 16.8 x 6.2 x 6cm, it's smaller than a water bottle. It also tips the scales at only 430g. Prepared for the British summer, Roam is blessed with an IP67-rating which certifies it safe to be immersed in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes, as well as being dustproof.

Additionally, and ensuring that your picnic doesn't fall silent, the Roam's built-in rechargeable battery promises 10 hours of music playback - or 10 days in automatic sleep mode. When the time comes to recharge, Sonos Roam comes with USB-C charging and is compatible with standard Qi wireless chargers; however, Sonos offers its own charging base (€228), which the Roam attaches to magnetically.

Roam is available starting Apri 20th for £159/ €179 and can be pre-ordered in black or white from sonos.com.

Visit Sonos for more information