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Sonos is rolling out a big app update that includes new Presets and early access to its AI voice assistant. You can create a preset to play music at a specific volume in a certain room, which will appear directly on the homescreen so you can quickly start playback.
If you’re in the US, you can also sign up for a spot on the waitlist for the new Sonos 27voice assistant on November 6th, with access starting on November 12th.
As teased by Sonos previously, you’ll be able to use the assistant to do things like start music, move playback to another room, group and ungroup speakers, and set timers. But Sonos says it can also complete more complicated requests using natural language, such as “Play the album with a sardine tin on the cover,” or “Who was the singer at the superbowl? Play their latest album on Hallway.”
These updates are part of efforts to recover from a disastrous app redesign in 2024, which Sonos CEO Tom Conrad has promised to reverse. The company launched a revamped Sonos 27 app operating system update in September with the ability to connect AI agents to the app. Sonos plans to allow users to create up to 10 custom agents as well.
Other features coming to the Sonos app in this update include the ability to swipe on the “Now Playing” screen or mini player to skip tracks, and a way to rearrange your favorites. The Sonos app can also work with the iOS-only System Health feature, which can help you spot problems in your setup.
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