Sonos Rolls Out New Presets and Early Voice‑AI Beta Access in Major App Refresh

Sonos revealed a major update to its mobile app that adds configurable Presets and gives users early access to an upcoming voice‑assistant AI beta, underscoring a strategic effort to enhance smart‑home integration.

With the new Presets, listeners can set a particular mix of music, volume and speaker placement, then lock that setup to the app’s home screen. A single tap on a preset triggers playback exactly as saved, providing households with a fast, repeatable listening arrangement without digging through menus.

In addition to Presets, Sonos is launching a limited beta of its voice‑controlled AI assistant, developed internally under the code name "27voice". Testers will try out spoken commands for choosing tracks, adjusting volume, and managing multi‑room playback, and will also experiment with new features like context‑aware suggestions and third‑party service integration.

Long recognized for its high‑fidelity wireless speakers and strong multi‑room system, Sonos has encountered rising competition from tech giants that pair audio hardware with their own AI platforms. By introducing a native voice assistant and finer control through Presets, the firm seems to be strengthening its appeal to users who favor a dedicated, privacy‑centric audio solution.

The deployment starts this week for iOS and Android devices, displaying Presets as tiles on the app’s main dashboard. Current Sonos accounts will be updated automatically, while joining the AI beta will necessitate a brief opt‑in enrollment. Early input from beta participants is slated to influence the final feature set ahead of a wider public launch later this year.

Analysts observe that the step mirrors larger smart‑home trends, where frictionless voice control and rapid access to personalized media are becoming standard expectations. Should the beta succeed, Sonos could use its existing hardware lineup to take on ecosystems such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri, all while preserving its unique brand identity.

In the meantime, Sonos users can anticipate a more intuitive method for launching favorite playlists and a preview of the next wave of voice‑powered audio control, paving the way for additional innovations on the company’s software roadmap.