Sonos Launches AI Voice Assistant This Week, But Canada Will Have to Wait

Sonos has announced its new, smarter voice assistant, dubbed Sonos 27voice. Early access to Sonos 27voice opens this week on November 6 as part of its latest software overhaul.

As the company details, the Sonos 27voice assistant is included in the company’s Sonos 27 platform, bringing more natural conversations and expanded functionality to compatible speakers. Unlike the company’s original Sonos Voice Control assistant, the updated version can interpret conversational requests and answer general knowledge questions.

For example, users could ask Sonos to play a specific album without naming it outright. Sonos 27voice can supposedly use contextual clues. The assistant can also recommend music based on mood, genre or listening preferences. Beyond music playback, Sonos 27voice supports timers, weather updates and compatible smart home accessories.

Unfortunately, Canadian users will have to wait. Early access is limited to the United States and English-language interactions, with a broader release planned for 2027. Those in the US looking to test Sonos 27voice will have to request early access in the Sonos app and be approved.

Interested users must request access through the Sonos app and receive approval before testing the assistant. Alongside its voice assistant, Sonos is rolling out software version 27.3 with several improvements for iOS and Android.

The biggest addition is Presets, which lets users save music, room selection, and volume settings for one-tap playback. Users can also reorder favourites and swipe to skip tracks directly from the Now Playing screen.

On iOS, a new System Health feature provides information about connected speakers, Wi-Fi networks and potential troubleshooting issues. The changes follow Sonos’ efforts to improve app navigation and volume controls earlier this year.

The company continues rebuilding confidence following its controversial 2024 app redesign, which introduced bugs and removed several popular features. Sonos says the latest update is rolling out gradually, so some users may not see the new functionality immediately.

Canadian users can access the general app improvements, although Sonos has not confirmed when 27voice will become available in Canada.