Sonos Unveils Ace Ultra Headphones, Beam Ultra Soundbar and Sonos 27
Sonos is making a major push into a new phase of its audio ecosystem with two new products and a redesigned software platform announced on September 1, 2026.
The company introduced the $449 Sonos Ace Ultra headphones, the $699 Beam Ultra soundbar, and Sonos 27, a new generation of its audio software that adds AI controls, deeper device integration and a redesigned app experience. Both new products are available for preorder September 1, with general availability scheduled for September 29.
What Sonos announced
The September 1 launch centers on three major pieces:
| Product | Price | General availability |
| Sonos Ace Ultra | $449 | September 29, 2026 |
| Sonos Beam Ultra | $699 | September 29, 2026 |
| Sonos 27 | Software update | Begins rolling out in September |
The announcements represent a broader attempt to connect Sonos hardware and software more closely after the company’s troubled 2024 app redesign.
Sonos Ace Ultra brings Wi-Fi into the headphones
The Sonos Ace Ultra is the company’s new premium wireless headphone and the successor to the original Ace.
One of its biggest changes is how it connects to the wider Sonos ecosystem. Using Wi-Fi, the headphones can link directly with compatible Sonos products, allowing users to move audio between their headphones and speakers.
Sonos calls this feature Headphone Linking. The company says it will initially be available as an Early Access feature.
The Ace Ultra also includes:
- A new 40mm driver
- Adaptive noise cancellation
- Aware mode
- Up to 35 hours of battery life with ANC enabled
- USB-C audio
- Bluetooth 6.0
- Adaptive EQ
- Support for aptX Adaptive Lossless
At $449, the headphones sit firmly in the premium category.
Beam Ultra targets home theater buyers
The Sonos Beam Ultra is a new soundbar positioned above the existing Beam while remaining smaller than the company’s larger Arc Ultra.
It uses nine drivers and delivers a 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration, including up-firing drivers designed to create a more immersive home-theater experience.
The Beam Ultra also includes AI-powered speech enhancement intended to make dialogue easier to hear.
Its U.S. price is $699, putting it between the regular Beam and the more expensive Arc Ultra in Sonos’ lineup.
Sonos 27 puts AI at the center
Perhaps the more important announcement is Sonos 27, the company’s new audio operating system.
Sonos is introducing its own Sonos 27voice assistant while also opening the platform to external AI systems through Sonos 27mcp.
That means users will be able to interact with Sonos through AI services such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, rather than relying exclusively on traditional speaker controls.
For example, an AI assistant could understand a request to change the music playing on a Sonos system and adjust playback without requiring the user to manually navigate the Sonos app.
Sonos says these AI features are opt-in, which is significant given the growing concern around AI being added to consumer products without clear user control.
Sonos is also redesigning its app
The software changes are not limited to AI.
Sonos is introducing a new app experience with improved navigation and changes intended to make common controls easier to access. The company says the updated navigation begins rolling out September 8.
That matters because Sonos has been trying to rebuild customer trust after its 2024 app overhaul caused widespread criticism. Users reported losing or struggling with features they relied on, including controls and accessibility functions.
The new software therefore has a bigger job than simply adding new features: it needs to make the Sonos ecosystem easier to use again.
What the new strategy means for Sonos
The September 2026 announcements show Sonos trying to become more than a company that sells connected speakers.
Its new approach combines:
- Hardware: headphones and soundbars
- Software: Sonos 27
- AI: Sonos 27voice and third-party AI integration
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi-based device linking
- Home theater: expandable surround configurations
The strategy could make Sonos devices more useful together, particularly for households already invested in the company’s ecosystem.
But the success of the strategy will depend heavily on execution. Sonos needs to deliver the software reliability customers expect while making AI useful rather than simply adding another layer of complexity.
When can you buy the new Sonos products?
Preorders for both the Sonos Ace Ultra and Beam Ultra begin September 1, 2026.
General availability is scheduled for September 29, 2026. Sonos 27 software features begin rolling out separately, with new app navigation and some AI-related capabilities starting September 8.
For existing Sonos owners, the important detail is that not every new feature will work on every older product. Some Sonos 27 capabilities depend on compatible hardware.
The bottom line
Sonos’ September 2026 announcement is more than a routine product refresh. The Ace Ultra, Beam Ultra and Sonos 27 together represent an attempt to rebuild the company’s software experience while making AI and device-to-device connectivity central to its next generation.
The biggest question is no longer whether Sonos can make premium audio hardware. It is whether the company can make that hardware, its software and AI features work together without repeating the usability problems that damaged customer confidence in 2024.