Sonos, the renowned multi-room music streaming giant, is set to shake up the market by venturing into the realm of streaming boxes. With rumors circulating about a potential Apple TV 4K competitor in the works, tech enthusiasts are buzzing with speculation.
After a challenging year in 2024 due to app-related issues, Sonos seems poised to bounce back in 2025 with a bold move into a new product category. According to reports from The Verge, Sonos is gearing up to unveil a premium streaming box priced between $200 and $400, posing a significant challenge to established players like the Apple TV 4K, Google TV Streamer, and Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
The rumored device, internally known as ‘Project Pinewood,’ is described as a sleek black square with a slim profile akin to a deck of cards. While details are still scarce, one standout feature is its purported user-friendly interface built on Android or Google TV, promising a seamless content aggregation experience alongside robust universal search functionality and Sonos Voice Control integration.
However, the partnership with a digital ads firm for the interface raises some eyebrows among industry watchers. Despite this, the inclusion of a remote control with shortcuts to popular streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ adds a layer of convenience that users have come to expect from premium streaming devices.
What truly sets Sonos apart is its reported HDMI passthrough capability, allowing users to connect various devices like gaming consoles and Blu-Ray players to the Sonos box for lag-free wireless audio transmission to Sonos soundbars and speakers. This unique feature hints at a potential game-changer in the streaming box landscape.
Furthermore, Sonos enthusiasts can look forward to configuring surround sound setups using a mix of Sonos speakers like the Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300, creating an immersive home cinema experience. Coupled with Gigabit ethernet and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, Sonos’s foray into the streaming box market seems poised for success.
As the tech world eagerly awaits further details on Sonos’s upcoming release, the prospect of a high-quality streaming box with innovative features is indeed tantalizing. Stay tuned for more updates as we keep a close eye on Sonos’s latest endeavor.