Sonos Unveils Ace Ultra, Beam Ultra, Sonos Fabric, and a New App: All the Latest Announcements

Sonos has introduced a new app. Stop me if you’ve encountered this before.

The smart speaker brand, once celebrated in the audio sector, damaged much of its gained goodwill with a series of software updates that disrupted its app in 2024. Nearly all app users expressed dissatisfaction, pointing to the loss of essential features such as volume control and accessibility tools designed for visually impaired individuals using the wireless speaker system. Sonos eventually acknowledged the issue, contemplated reinstating the old app, replaced its CEO, and had its new leaders issue a heartfelt apology to regain the trust of their outraged customers.

Now, Sonos claims it has released a completely revamped app, packed with various generative AI capabilities. The company also unveiled a new soundbar and its second pair of over-ear headphones. According to Sonos representatives, they aim to reshape their image from just a speaker company to a broader, more integrated entity.

“For years, people have viewed us as a speaker company,” states Brandon Holley, the interim hardware lead at Sonos. “What we actually are is an audio operating system.”

This operating system is referred to as Sonos 27, with several new features. Most notably: updates to the Sonos app.

Sonos 27 App

Sonos understands that the phrase “new Sonos app” might instill fear in its user base.

“When I mention that, I know exactly the reactions it prompts,” says Sid Patel, vice president of software at Sonos, in conversation with WIRED. Patel mentions that the app was crafted using a “customer-centric feedback listening approach,” which includes actively engaging with the community on platforms like Reddit. New user-friendly features will include improved tab navigation, enhanced room sorting, and adjustments to the volume controls within the app. In the fall, Sonos plans to introduce system health views to help diagnose connection problems for individual products.

A standout feature is Sonos 27voice, the company’s integration of generative AI, which is now available for early access. This allows users to interact with the speakers akin to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, enabling music requests based on mood. It also includes a Model Context Protocol, allowing connections to your preferred AI service, letting you ask ChatGPT to play music on your speakers.

The company is also promoting its Sonos Custom Agents, enabling users to personalize their agents for various tasks throughout the system, such as activating speakers in specific rooms at set times. Users can even modify the voices, allowing for fun options like having the AI in your kitchen sound like an elegant French chef or a pirate in your bathroom.

“Clearly, AI is a hot topic these days,” remarks Patel. “As such, we’ve incorporated various AI elements into our system.”

When asked which products would support Sonos 27 and its AI features, a Sonos representative stated via email that Sonos 27 would be compatible with the S2 app, but not the S1 app—used for controlling some older Sonos products. Therefore, owners of older Sonos hardware will miss out on these new AI functionalities.

“Sonos 27 is engineered to leverage the capabilities of newer hardware, so not all products will support every new feature,” the representative noted. “We aim to be transparent about these limitations while ensuring ongoing support for security and updates for as long as the hardware allows.”