Sonos and Ikea end their partnership on the 'Symfonisk' home audio line
Sonos and IKEA Partnership Ends, Focus Shifts to Core Products
In a significant move, Sonos and IKEA have ended their collaboration on audio products, effective from 2025. The decision comes as Sonos seeks to strengthen its unified platform and distinct hardware, while IKEA pursues simpler, more affordable furniture-integrated speakers independently.
IKEA has launched new Bluetooth speaker products, such as the Nattbad and Blomprakt, emphasizing easy, straightforward use and designs that blend with home decor. These products do not incorporate Sonos technology, marking a departure from the collaborative efforts between the two companies.
Despite the ending of the partnership, Sonos has indicated that it will continue to support the Symfonisk line of products through its software platform. This strategic vision involves solidifying their ecosystem and software stability for existing products. As a result, current Symfonisk owners can expect continued software and ecosystem support from Sonos.
The decision to end the partnership followed a challenging year for Sonos, particularly after its May 2024 app update, which removed popular features and introduced bugs. However, Sonos reported a 3% year-on-year growth in revenue in its quarterly earning report, largely attributed to a 14% reduction in operating expenses.
In other news, the price of Sonos' Era 100 speaker has been reduced from its launch price of £249 to £199. Despite these issues, Sonos has moved the majority of its US-bound production out of China to avoid tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump.
The Symfonisk devices, including the first-gen lamp and bookshelf speaker, generally received positive reviews, earning four stars. Existing Symfonisk devices will remain on sale while stocks last.
However, no new information about the rumored Sonos streaming box or Sony headphones was provided in this update. Additionally, no guidance was given on which Sonos speaker to buy.
Despite the challenges faced, Sonos continues to strive for improvement, with a focus on software polish and long-term platform reliability rather than immediate new hardware launches. The company's recent CEO, who stepped down at the start of 2025 due to customer complaints about the app, had emphasized this focus.
- Amid discussons about the Sonos and IKEA partnership ending, Sonos is focusing on strengthening its core products, aiming for a unified platform and distinct hardware.
- IKEA has introduced new Bluetooth speakers like the Nattbad and Blomprakt, offering easy use, home decor friendly designs, and no Sonos technology integration.
- Sonos will still support the Symfonisk line of products via its software platform, ensuring continuous software and ecosystem support for existing Symfonisk owners.
- The price of Sonos' Era 100 speaker has been reduced, making it more affordable at £199, while most of Sonos' US-bound production has been moved out of China to dodge tariffs.
- Existing Symfonisk devices will continue to be on sale, having received positive reviews, and no new information about the Sonos streaming box or Sony headphones has been disclosed.
- Sonos is prioritizing software polish and long-term platform reliability over immediate new hardware launches, in line with its focus set by the previous CEO who stepped down at the start of 2025.
- In the realm of smart-home devices, gadgets, and technology, keeping up with news about Sonos, switching to simpler IKEA speakers, or scouting for deals on headphones and amplifiers has become a growing interest for tech enthusiasts.
