Sonos unveils Sonos 27, a major software overhaul introducing a redesigned app, AI assistant support, and seamless device hand-offs, signalling a new era for its smart home audio platform.
Sonos has unveiled Sonos 27, a broad software overhaul that it is presenting as a reset for its audio platform after a troubled app revamp in 2024. The company says the update will bring a redesigned mobile app, wider support for AI assistants and more automated ways of handing audio between devices, all from 8 September. According to Sonos, the aim is to make the system feel more like an operating system for the home than a conventional speaker app.
The relaunch matters because Sonos spent much of the past two years repairing damage caused by its previous app redesign. That update, pushed out before the launch of the Sonos Ace headphones, stripped out familiar functions and drew complaints about bugs, performance problems and accessibility flaws. The backlash, which followed a steep fall in Sonos’s valuation, led to a change at the top of the company and a renewed focus on software stability under chief executive Tom Conrad.
In a statement, Conrad said Sonos 27 builds on the company’s long-running belief that the home needs a dedicated audio system. The new platform adds Sonos 27mcp, which Sonos says will allow outside AI assistants and agents, including ChatGPT, to control its speakers. It is also introducing Sonos 27voice, its own assistant for music and mood control, while planning Sonos Custom Agents for next year, letting users create personalised AI helpers with their own models, voices and personas.
The app itself has been simplified with a new layout, including shortcut buttons for Home, System and Search, plus a virtual volume control designed to mimic a physical dial. Sonos says the interface was shaped and tested with input from its user community, a pointed contrast with the reception to the earlier redesign. Industry coverage from SoundGuys and Tom’s Guide says the company is also aiming to fix the practical frustrations that followed the 2024 rollout, particularly around navigation and everyday control.
One of the more notable additions is Sonos Fabric, the company’s name for a set of device-to-device awareness features. Sonos says compatible portable speakers can automatically become rear surrounds when placed behind a sofa, while headphones will be able to pass audio to nearby speakers as a listener moves around the home. The company describes this as automatic hand-off, though real-world performance will determine how seamless it feels in practice.
Sonos is also using the platform launch to refresh its hardware line-up. The Beam Ultra is a new mid-sized soundbar that promises 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos from a smaller chassis, and the Ace Ultra is a higher-end update to its headphones with improved noise cancellation, more microphones and longer battery life. Sonos says the Beam Ultra will cost £699 and ship from 29 September, while the Ace Ultra will start at £399, with the original Ace remaining on sale at a lower price.
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