Sonos Kills Streaming Player Plans After Controversial Year
Sonos needed a big win in 2025 after a brutal 2024, during which a major app update left customers frustrated and furious. The company appeared to be grasping for reinvention, with rumors swirling about a high-priced streaming video player that would expand its brand beyond audio.
Now, it appears those plans are dead. According to The Verge, Sonos has canceled its long-in-development streaming player, codenamed Pinewood. The decision was reportedly revealed during a company-wide meeting, just two months after the departure of Sonos’ longtime CEO. While this likely means no major new product categories for the rest of 2025, it also marks a return to focus on its core strength: high-quality audio solutions.
A Risky Bet That Never Made Sense
The leaked details of Pinewood always seemed at odds with Sonos’ identity. The device was allegedly a boxy streaming player with a built-in HDMI switch, allowing users to connect multiple media sources while leveraging Sonos’ wireless speakers for a soundbar-free home theater setup. While this could have helped resolve lip-sync issues, its rumored $200–$400 price range put it dangerously close to (or above) premium streaming devices like the Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield—with no clear competitive advantage.
Another red flag? Sonos was reportedly partnering with The Trade Desk, a digital advertising company, raising concerns that Pinewood might serve ads or track user data. Given that Sonos has traditionally focused on hardware-driven experiences, this potential pivot toward ad-supported services only fueled skepticism.
A Smarter Path Forward
The cancellation of Pinewood prevents Sonos from making a costly mistake and doubling down on the same kind of miscalculated expansion that hurt its reputation with the poorly received Sonos Ace headphones. Instead of pursuing an overpriced streaming player in a highly competitive market, Sonos can now focus on winning back its customers by refining its multi-room speaker ecosystem, improving its software experience, and regaining consumer trust.
Ultimately, walking away from Pinewood may be the smartest move Sonos has made in a while. Now, the challenge is to rebuild its brand and prove that it can still lead in the world of premium audio.