Sonos Reportedly Shelved MagSafe iPhone Speaker Due to Challenges

According to a report by The Verge, Sonos recently abandoned the development of a compact speaker designed to magnetically attach to the back of iPhones using Apple’s MagSafe technology.

The envisioned speaker bore a resemblance to Apple’s discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack in shape and size but was notably thicker to accommodate advanced audio components.

Unlike Motorola’s 2016 MotoMod Soundboost speaker, which utilized pogo pins for audio transmission, the Sonos prototype relied on a Bluetooth connection due to MagSafe’s lack of audio passthrough capabilities. This design choice was intended to provide users with a portable yet powerful audio solution that could easily attach to their iPhones.

Sonos had high hopes for this product, especially after acquiring Mayht Holding in 2022. The acquisition brought in innovative transducer technology, later branded as “SoundMotion,” known for delivering impressive bass performance in compact designs.

However, the project faced several challenges. Technical limitations, concerns about its market appeal, and the realization of a limited target audience led Sonos to abandon the development of the MagSafe speaker.

In parallel with these developments, Sonos has been undergoing significant organizational changes. Following a problematic app redesign in May 2024, the company has been striving to regain customer trust. The app’s issues led to a decline in revenue and the eventual resignation of former CEO Patrick Spence.

As part of this restructuring effort, Sonos announced the layoff of approximately 200 employees, accounting for about 12% of its workforce. Conrad stated that the company had become “mired in too many layers that have made collaboration and decision-making harder than it needs to be.”