Sonos planned to launch a MagSafe speaker for iPhones. The device would attach to the back of iPhones, delivering louder, richer sound quality than the built-in speakers.
However, technical limitations eventually forced the company to shelve its plans.
Sonos envisioned a MagSafe external speaker for iPhone
Sonos is known for its audio products, like soundbars and speakers. It also launched its first pair of high-end headphones, the Sonos Ace, in 2024. However, the company faced a tough 2024 due to its revamped app. Despite promising a lot, the buggy and unfinished S2 app left the company’s loyal fanbase frustrated. It eventually led to the ouster of the CEO, Patrick Spence, and a reduction in the workforce.
Before launching the buggy app, though, Sonos engineers were reportedly working on a MagSafe speaker for the iPhone. It would magnetically attach to the back of the device but rely on Bluetooth for music streaming, as MagSafe doesn’t support data transfer. The Verge reports Sonos envisioned the speaker with a rectangular design, with the prototypes having a design similar to Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack, albeit thicker.
Sonos apparently planned to use its transducer technology to improve sound quality despite the speaker’s compact size. Eventually, the company decided against launching the speaker due to “technical limitations, questionable appeal, and a limited target market.” As for the transducer tech, Sonos debuted it on its Arc Ultra Soundbar last year.
Sonos’ top priority is to fix its buggy app
With Sonos now struggling to stay relevant and focused on regaining customer trust after its buggy app, the MagSafe speaker is unlikely to ever see the light of day. As the company’s former CEO made it clear, Sonos number one priority right now is to fix all the issues with its buggy app.
Like the idea of a MagSafe speaker? There’s the Scoshe BoomCan MS, which Cult of Mac reviewed.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
