WiiM is best known for its music streamers and streaming accessories, but Munich High End saw them step into uncharted territory. And it could give Apple and Sonos cause for concern.
Ahead of High End, they announced several new devices, including a streaming amp, a home cinema subwoofer, and what I’ll be paying attention here, its first smart speaker.
The WiiM Sound could challenge the Apple HomePod
The WiiM Sound perhaps isn’t the most imagintive name ever thought of, but it fits in with WiiM’s simple and accessible approach to its products.
I saw it first-hand at Munich High End 2025, and in the flesh the speaker resembles the HomePod 2nd Gen in terms of design.
It has 1.8-inch touchscreen on top for control that’s similar to the HomePod 2; while there’s a forward-facing porthole screen. The screen is small but big enough to see from further away and it’s a nice way of presenting the track that’s currently playing.
The speaker feels premium in the hand and certainly looks it. It only comes clad in black as far as I could see (no white version), which means it didn’t stand out quite as much among the lights of the High End show floor, but it still looked pleasant to the eye.
I didn’t get a chance to hear how it sounded, and to be honest the High End showfloor is not the best place for that. But file support up to 24-bit/192kHz is better than what the HomePod can muster.
But it’s not just the audio performance that’ll make the WiiM Sound stand out from the likes of Apple and Sonos but convenience of the streaming app.
WiiM Home app will be the USP
The advantage and disadvantage of Apple’s products is that they work brilliantly if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. If not all your products are in the walled garden of Apple’s devices, then it makes what should be a simple issue of connecting your devices together slightly more complicated.
And it’s been a year since Sonos launched the version of its streaming app only for it to fall flat on its face with bugs and issues that were still being fixed at the end of 2024.
WiiM OS is a simple and accessible approach to the streaming and could have major appeal for people who want to connect multiple devices and stream with relative ease.
The WiiM Sound supports Chromecast, Alexa Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA, as well as voice control with Alexa or Google Assistant. You’re covered for all the major connectivity options and smarts aside from Apple’s AirPlay 2.
The lack of AirPlay 2 is a key to Apple viewing the WiiM as a potential rival, but WiiM’s appeal is more than that. You can adjust the sound how you like with various EQs and presets, much more than what you’re able to do with the HomePod.
It’s more versatile in terms of connectivity, with the ability to connect to TVs, turntables and stereo systems. Apple only really allows connectivity to its own products like the Apple TV 4K; while the Sonos Era 100 requires that you buy an adapter to connect it to other devices.
I saw the WiiM Sound wirelessly connected to Audio Pro system, acting as rear speakers in a 5.1 home cinema set-up along with the WiiM Sub Pro. Being able to connect to multiple devices from other brands wirelessly adds to its convenience and versatility which I think many would be very interested in.
But the price will be key
WiiM did not mention the price when it announced the Sound smart speaker, and it’s unlikely to be as affordable as the company’s other products such as it’s music streamers.
In fact, integrating the screen suggests it’ll carry a high price tag. In the conversations I had the price hadn’t been decided but don’t be surprised if it was as expensive, if not more so than the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen’s current RRP.
Given Sonos reduced the price of the Era 100 to £199, that squeezes WiiM in terms of what it can do with pricing, but getting the price right will be key to whether the WiiM Sound can make an impact in the smart speaker market. After all, I’m not sure smart speakers are as popular as they used to be.
