Sonos earbuds have been rumored for a while, but it looks like we’re a step closer to them seeing the light of day. While known for its multi-room speakers, a move into true wireless earbuds could really shake up the market.
A US patent filing discovered by zatsnotfunny shows a pretty clever case design that fits the earbuds into the top and bottom of the cylinder-shaped case, along with diagrams of the buds themselves. This allows for a much smaller case than if they were placed next to each other.
The Sonos earbuds have a long flat body that remind me a little of old mobile phone earpieces and have a wedged design that gets thicker towards what looks like a rubberized earpiece.
- This new Google Maps feature will stop you from getting lost ever again
- Electric scooters: the Scotsman e-scooter looks like it’s come from the future
- Mac Mini gets a new look, M1X chip and plexiglass top
The patent description confirms that this is indeed a charging case and that it will allow the earbuds to be charged as a pair or when just one is inserted while the other is being used. The larger earpiece could potentially help with increased battery life too.
Another diagram shows what looks like over-ear headphones with a charging adapter in the exterior of the cup. While the design of the headphone itself looks generic, the method of charging – perhaps magnetic – looks interesting.
While timing for these devices is unknown, the filing dates back to the start of February, which means that we could very easily see some earphones from Sonos as early as this summer.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
As T3's Editor-in-Chief, Mat Gallagher has his finger on the pulse for the latest advances in technology. He has written about technology since 2003 and after stints in Beijing, Hong Kong and Chicago is now based in the UK. He’s a true lover of gadgets, but especially anything that involves cameras, Apple, electric cars, musical instruments or travel.
-
Sonos Ace 2 reportedly in the works, with price cut coming for existing headphones
Would a Sonos Ace price drop be music to your ears?
By Chris Hall Published
-
Sonos' hiccups continue as "major outage" hits the system
If you use Apple Music with Sonos, you might already know
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Sonos Arc Ultra could be the reason you fall in love with the brand again
Thinner, sleeker and with 14 speaker drivers, Sonos' new soundbar seemingly has it all
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Sonos' app woes could end up being great for customers
Sonos has outlined its strategy to win back customer confidence
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
Sonos Arc Ultra could be coming soon alongside another speaker refresh
Can you guess what colour options they are expected to come in?
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Sonos' latest free update is its most useful yet, especially for iPhone owners
If you've had battery issues, download this update as soon as you can
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Sonos promises rapid-fire free updates to fix its broken app
Sonos formally apologises to unhappy customers and promises bi-weekly app updates
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
A new Sonos soundbar could be coming to replace the Arc – will pack in a bevy of new features
It might look familiar, but all is not as it seems
By Britta O'Boyle Published