Google Assistant is Finally Coming to Sonos One
18 months after it promised this functionality, Sonos will finally bring Google Assistant compatibility to its entry-level smart speakers.
“Through a software upgrade, Sonos One and Beam will support the Google Assistant in the U.S., with more markets to come over the next few months,” a Sonos letter to investors notes. The upgrade arrives next week.
Sonos launched its Alexa-powered Sonos One in late 2017. At the time, it promised to bring Google Assistant support by the end of 2018 via a software upgrade. But in November, the firm delayed that capability without really stating why. However, a March refresh of Sonos One with more powerful innards and Bluetooth LE capabilities suggested that the original version of the smart speaker couldn’t handle the processing power needed to effectively run Google Assistant.
While Sonos’ high-end speakers will not get digital assistant support, it’s likely that the firm will rev those products over time, adding that support. But the recently-released Sonos Beam TV soundbar will be upgraded to support Google Assistant too.