Apple HomePod (2nd gen) vs Sonos Era 300

Dolby Atmos flair changes the calculus here: the Sonos Era 300 edges out the Apple HomePod (2nd gen) in this smart speaker matchup, backed by a higher owner rating, broader connectivity with an optional wired Ethernet adapter, and far wider integrations across Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Home Assistant. Voice assistant choice tilts the same way, since the Era 300 answers to both Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control while the HomePod works only with Siri. The Apple HomePod (2nd gen) still has real advantages worth weighing: it costs less, it doubles as a Thread border router and Matter bridge for smart home hub duties the Era 300 skips entirely, and it is the only one of the pair with any temperature or humidity sensing. For the widest ecosystem compatibility and Sonos' most spatially ambitious sound, the Sonos Era 300 is the stronger buy; for a cheaper speaker that also runs your Thread and Matter devices, the Apple HomePod (2nd gen) still makes sense.