Smart speakers like Sonos One can help users control their smart devices more freely. After pairing your smart speakers with voice assistants, you can control all the devices connected with your voice assistant.
It is one of the best ways to centralize and control your smart units.
With Sonos One, you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues as it can work with almost all of the well-known smart assistants. Moreover, the pricing here is not that out of range.
So, if you need smart speakers for your home, then Sonos One might be the perfect fit for your needs.
The only completed part about owning this unit is the initial setup. So, you will have to spend a bit of time trying to set up the system at first.
This is especially true if you’re new to the market and don’t know how to go about adjusting minor programming bugs and errors.
With that said, there are two generations of Sonos One smart speakers, the Gen 1 and the Gen 2. Let’s go over the differences between the two variants so you can decide which one you’d like to buy for your smart home.
Sonos One Gen 2 vs Gen 1
| Specifics | Sonos One Gen 2 | Sonos One Gen 1 |
| Weight | 4.08 lbs. | 4.08 lbs. |
| Sound | Phenomenal | Phenomenal |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Smart Controls | Extensive | Limited |
When you bring these units side by side, the only difference that you will see will be in the price tag.
While the setup offered by the Sonos One Gen 2 is more robust and offers more features, there are no differences in the basic design and the overall look.
So, if you were only concerned about the aesthetics of the unit, there is no need to get alarmed.
Both of these options have maintained a good spot in the market and will continue to dominate for years to come.
However, when you’re talking about owners trying to optimize controls over their smart devices, almost every single one will recommend the Gen 2 over the Gen 1.
The compatibility options and the voice input through the Gen 2 are far better than the Gen 1.
Moreover, you will only be limited to a handful of devices when working with the Gen 1 system.
So, you can think of the Gen 1 unit as a basic speaker that will not add much value to the table. Similarly, you can think of Gen 2 as the perfect solution when it comes to optimizing smart controls over your setup.
Now, you might think that if there is such a huge difference in the compatibility features and the voice controls, why didn’t the company invest in upgrading the design?
The answer here is that this brand wanted to keep the price tag low for this unit, and you will find it at a 20-dollar premium.
This minimal difference in price is more than enough to bring all the traffic toward the Sonos One Gen 2, and you will get amazing performance from this unit.
It all comes down to how you’re planning on getting through the situation, and keeping track of these points will keep you sorted.
The best thing here is that the design for both units is phenomenal. You will get a modern look, and it will fit perfectly with your existing decoration.
So, if you’re new to the market and don’t know how to go about setting up the unit, Sonos One Gen 2 might be the ideal fit.
Lastly, if you’re still not sure about the purchase and need a decent fix, then going with the expert opinion will serve you well.
So, be sure to ask the dealer, and he will make the job much easier for you. All you have to do is to explain your end, and the dealer will provide you with more details.
Here are specifics on both of these units to help you better decide on the final fit.
Sonos One Gen 2
The Sonos One Gen 2 is a newer version of the Sonos One smart speaker. In terms of design and general outlook, you won’t be able to find any difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2.
Users have mentioned that the sound quality is the same, and you can’t tell the difference between the two models by just listening to them.
The Gen 2 is 20 dollars more expensive and is priced at around 200 dollars which used to be the previous price tag for the Gen 1.
The form factor is the same, and you won’t feel any improvement in the sound quality by upgrading to Gen 2.
There are, however, a few differences when you look at the internal hardware of the device.
According to Sonos, the Gen 2 has a stronger processor and more memory in the device. Moreover, you can also utilize the new BLE feature for the initial setup.
However, currently, there are no new features besides extensive control that have been introduced to this device.
Meaning that you can get the same range of features from your Gen 1, and upgrading to a Gen 2 at this point would not be a complete waste of money.
But Sonos did mention that they would be introducing new features soon that will be exclusive to the Gen 2 variant.
The stronger processor and increased memory will allow the Gen 2 to deliver these features.
However, there is nothing planned currently, and there have been no further updates regarding this matter by Sonos.
So, it would be better for you to keep using the Sonos One Gen 1 until Sonos announces a new feature that you need for your smart home. Until then, then Gen 1 will work just fine for your automation needs.
Sonos One Gen 1
With the introduction of Gen 2, the price of Gen 1 was reduced by 20 dollars. It might not be that big of a difference for some people, but you can still think of it as a nice discount.
Considering that there are no additional features in Gen 2 as compared to Gen 1.
The only difference between the two devices is that the Gen 2 is more expensive and has more processing power in it, along with the support for more smart commands, which can come in handy when Sonos introduces exclusive features for the Gen 2.
When you look at the audio quality and the function of Sonos One as speakers, you won’t be able to find any difference. Even if you’re an audiophile, both speakers will sound the same to you.
Both generations have the same model design, and the only difference is in the internal power of the devices as well as the smart controls.
So, you will be missing out on a few features when sticking with the Gen 1 system over the Gen 2.
Sonos One Gen 2 is more powerful than Generation 1 due to more memory and a fast processor.
With that said, it might not be worth it for most users to upgrade to a Sonos One Gen 2 immediately if they are not worried about smart controls.
As the Gen 2 doesn’t offer anything that your current Gen 1 can’t do in terms of basic features.
When Sonos adds new features for the Gen 2 model, then you can think of buying it if you’re interested in the new feature.
The price difference isn’t that expensive, and you just have to pay 20 more dollars for the newer version.
So, if you want to future-proof your smart speakers and don’t want to bother with upgrading them later, then you can always pay the 20 bucks to buy the Gen 2.
That way, when Sonos introduces new features, you will be able to access them with the Gen 2 model.
Wrapping Up
Can’t seem to finalize the decision between the Sonos One Gen 1 and the Gen 1 system. We’ve listed some of the pointers that can help you figure out the best fit for your needs.
Most of the time, you will find that the owners like to stick with the Gen 2 system because of its better features.
On top of that, the price difference is only 20 dollars depending upon the dealer you choose for your unit.
So, this minimal difference will not discourage the purchase, and you can stick with the new Sonos system to optimize the performance of your smart system.
It all comes down to how you’re planning on developing your control over smart devices.
So, you can either choose the Gen 1 for its streaming features or go with the Gen 2 to get a comprehensive set of values from the device.
Hopefully, you will not have to go through much hassle when trying to find the right fit.
You can always engage an official expert from the store to help guide you through the decision.
He will make your job much easier, and you will not be stuck with a unit that doesn’t bring any value to your system.