Sonos Cancels Plans for MagSafe-Compatible iPhone Speaker

You know that feeling when a company teases something intriguing but then it never sees the light of day? That's the case with Sonos and their rumored MagSafe-compatible speaker for iPhones. The concept was simple yet innovative: a small, rectangular Bluetooth speaker that could magnetically attach to the back of an iPhone via MagSafe, instantly boosting the phone's audio performance.

The design was said to resemble Apple's discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack but a bit thicker to house the speaker components. By leveraging MagSafe technology, the speaker would snap securely to the iPhone, providing a seamless audio experience without the need for cables or additional setup.

On the technical side, the speaker relied on Bluetooth connectivity to maintain a stable connection without draining the iPhone's battery excessively. Wi-Fi wasn't a viable option here due to its higher power consumption and the impracticality of requiring Wi-Fi access on the go. Bluetooth offered the right balance between convenience and efficiency for a portable accessory like this.

A fascinating aspect of this project was the incorporation of audio transducer technology from Mayht Holding, a company Sonos acquired in early 2022. Mayht's innovative approach allowed for smaller and lighter speakers without compromising sound quality. Integrating this tech could have meant that, despite its compact size, the MagSafe speaker would deliver impressive audio performance worthy of the Sonos name.

But as appealing as the idea sounds, it's understandable why Sonos might have shelved the project. Identifying a clear target audience is crucial, and it's challenging here. For personal listening, most people opt for earbuds or headphones to keep their music private and avoid disturbing others. At home, users often prefer larger speakers or sound systems that offer richer, room-filling sound.

Using a small speaker attached to the phone might not fit neatly into most people's daily routines. Publicly playing music or videos through a speaker, even a high-quality one, can be frowned upon in many settings. It's possible they aimed this product at a younger demographic looking for portable audio solutions, but with the prevalence of personal audio devices, the demand might not have been strong enough.

Additionally, Sonos has been going through significant organizational changes, including layoffs affecting about 12% of its workforce. The company is focusing on streamlining operations and prioritizing products with clear market potential.

While we won't see the Sonos MagSafe speaker hitting the shelves, the concept does highlight interesting possibilities at the intersection of mobile devices and high-quality audio accessories. For those still interested, there are alternative products on the market, though they may not offer the same level of performance one would expect from a Sonos device.