Apple Now Selling Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker, AirPods Pro Cases

[MacRumors]

Apple in the last few days updated its online Apple Store with new products that include cases for the AirPods Pro and the Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker.

Apple is stocking the Incase AirPods Pro Case made from Incase's proprietary Woolenex material, with the case priced at $30.

Apple is also selling a new Catalyst Waterproof Case for the AirPods Pro, which is also priced at $30 and is available in black. The Incase AirPods Pro case is shipping out in mid-January, while the Catalyst case will arrive to customers in late January. Apple retail stores will have the AirPods cases later in the month as well.

Alongside the two new AirPods Pro cases, Apple is also now offering the Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker in its online store. Apple previously had a partnership with Sonos and offered several Sonos speakers for sale, but there hasn't been a Sonos speaker in stock from Apple for quite some time.

The Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker features AirPlay 2 support, which allows it to work alongside other AirPlay 2 speakers like the HomePod.

Apple is selling the Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker for $180, but the Sonos website has the same speaker on sale for $30 off through Sunday, so the Sonos website is a better buy at the current time. Amazon is also offering the speaker at a $30 discount.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos and Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Article Link: Apple Now Selling Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker, AirPods Pro Cases

 

[Shanghaichica]

They don’t seem to be pushing the homepod that much anymore. It’s a shame as it’s a great sounding speaker. All they need to do is continue to work on siri and that is all software based. It doesn’t need New hardware.

 

[icanhazapple]

They don’t seem to be pushing the homepod that much anymore. It’s a shame as it’s a great sounding speaker. All they need to do is continue to work on siri and that is all software based. It doesn’t need New hardware.

As long as Airplay 2 is something Apple continues to support, speakers are a commodity. You can always pay more money for a "better" speaker, which is usually a highly subjective analysis anyway.

But I agree that Homepod offers quite a bit of value at the price point.

 

[roar08]

The AirPods Pro case is nice; it was actually available before Christmas - mine arrived on the 21st. My wife has the pink version for her Gen 2s. Good cases, and they include a small sticky 3M square in the inside the lid so it doesn't come off like so many cases.

 

[Gutwrench]

They don’t seem to be pushing the homepod that much anymore. It’s a shame as it’s a great sounding speaker. All they need to do is continue to work on siri and that is all software based. It doesn’t need New hardware.

Besides Siri being a disappointment, HomePod pretty much priced itself out of the home assistant market.

 

[robjulo]

Depends on what price point you are talking about. Regular retail? Heck no. There are smart speakers (Sonos Ones for example) that sound just as good (if not better in blind tests) are cheaper, support Airplay along with many, many other services at a cheaper price point.

As long as Airplay 2 is something Apple continues to support, speakers are a commodity. You can always pay more money for a "better" speaker, which is usually a highly subjective analysis anyway.

But I agree that Homepod offers quite a bit of value at the price point.

 

[roar08]

They don’t seem to be pushing the homepod that much anymore. It’s a shame as it’s a great sounding speaker. All they need to do is continue to work on siri and that is all software based. It doesn’t need New hardware.

They need to re-enable the EQ. It sounded amazing when it first launched but the update that disabled the EQ was a mistake. The EQ lets people choose exactly how their music sounds, specifically if they disagree with how Apple thinks it should sound. You can use Airfoil -- a great product by Rogue Amoeba -- but you shouldn't have to.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Cool! Accessories for the accessory to an accessory of an accessory!

(iPhone -> AirPod -> AirPod Charger -> the case for that charger.)

 

[Shanghaichica]

Besides Siri being a disappointment, HomePod pretty much priced itself out of the home assistant market.

I do have a lot of the echo dots and google home minis, because they are often on sale and can be put in every room of the house. However I don’t think there is anything wrong with spending more for a better quality speaker.

 

[confessJason]

Besides Siri being a disappointment, HomePod pretty much priced itself out of the home assistant market.

More important: no one cares about audio quality enough to buy one of these pieces of garbage. And if they did, they would buy the superior Google Max.

 

[BWhaler]

Sonos is fantastic. Glad to see Apple supporting them.

And the SL series is the right single speaker to buy from them as it doesn’t have microphones—no Amazon/Google spyware.

 

[Gutwrench]

I do have a lot of the echo dots and google home minis, because they are often on sale and can be put in every room of the house. However I don’t think there is anything wrong with spending more for a better quality speaker.

I have Dots everywhere, and I agree!

 

[loybond]

via Imgflip Meme Generator

 

[Zmmyt]

They don’t seem to be pushing the homepod that much anymore. It’s a shame as it’s a great sounding speaker. All they need to do is continue to work on siri and that is all software based. It doesn’t need New hardware.

add SpotifyConnect, instant buy.

 

[Shanghaichica]

add SpotifyConnect, instant buy.

What’s SpotifyConnect?

 

[I7guy]

More important: no one cares about audio quality enough to buy one of these pieces of garbage. And if they did, they would buy the superior Google Max.

I bought one and love it. Do not care to use anything google, even if only MR posters think it's superior.

 

[Zmmyt]

What’s SpotifyConnect?

the speaker streams music straight from the Spotify servers. your phone acts more like a remote. it doesn't affect the phone's battery. it's wonderful.

 

[roar08]

Sonos is fantastic.

This. Got a Playbase for Christmas and it's awesome.

 

[Shanghaichica]

the speaker streams music straight from the Spotify servers. your phone acts more like a remote. it doesn't affect the phone's battery. it's wonderful.

What's the difference between that and just using your voice to play music? Wouldn't that stream directly from the servers?

 

[iAssimilated]

add SpotifyConnect, instant buy.

What's the difference between that and just using your voice to play music? Wouldn't that stream directly from the servers?

The Homepod only supports this type of streaming with Apple Music.

This. Got a Playbase for Christmas and it's awesome.

What a neat product!

 

[Shanghaichica]

What's the difference between that and just using your voice to play music? Wouldn't that stream directly from the servers?

OK. I see. I have HomePods, echos and google home devices. I don't limit myself.

 

[iAssimilated]

Of the many gripes I see about the Homepod in threads, the limitation of only being able to stream Apple Music is one of the biggest. People want the freedom to stream from their preferred music source. I get it, but being someone who only listens to my iTunes library on my Homepods, it is not a feature I miss or desire.

 

[redneckitengineer]

So those Catalyst cases.. I had one for my Airpods and looking forward to it for my Pros. They're fantastic for just clipping on a belt loop or camelbak and heading out. They're the only one that keeps the lid shut and therefore prevents lost buds. All the other can risk the lid flipping and falling out.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I feel like $30 is a bit steep for an AirPod case. You can find a lot of very workable cases on amazon for around $7-10.

 

[Bswails]

I don’t know why it would work well. Sold two of the three HomePods I had to go with the home minis I had..google home breaks all the time for me. And oddly the one second gen mini is the biggest problem. Apple and Sonos played better. I think the issue now was the investment I made with the GE bulbs..I’ll never buy another smart home product that requires a hub again lol.