You can now make a smart home smarter with a good Sonos sound system. Sonos lets you enjoy music all around the house like no other. With its great sound quality and the ability to take music to the next level, Sonos has risen to the best solution when it comes to delivering superior sound. The free Sonos Controller app and a stable Wi-Fi connection are all that is needed to make Sonos work. And thankfully, the app works with a tablet, PC, and phone.
Further reading: What is Sonos? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the Wireless Sound System
Things To Consider Before Buying a Tablet For Sonos Controller
Table could not be displayed.Specs And Features
A tablet for Sonos controller should be able to update to the latest version of iOS or Android. When you buy one, have the latest version of the operating system installed. For Android, this can be Android 10 or Android 11, and for iPad, iPad iOS14 is the best bet. Basically, it should have features that support the running of the app without any fuss. Each OS has its own advantages and disadvantages. Check what works best for your requirement.
Processor
A tablet with a fast processor would be ideal for the Sonos controller app to run smoothly. See if you can get a tablet with at least a 6-core CPU and a powerful GPU. The chip architecture is also important as this can significantly affect the battery life, performance, and size. Apple M1 processor and Snapdragon 888 can be good picks for iPad and Android, respectively.
Weight And Storage
When it comes to tablets, the lighter, the better. Tablet is not restricted to be kept in a single room. It should be light enough to carry around at home and outside. And about storage, there should be at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
Display Quality
The display is an important aspect because it is on the screen that you keep looking at while working on the tablet. Your eyes will thank you if the screen is at least 10-inch and has full HD resolution. The brightness can be 400 nits or higher. It would be even better if you could purchase one with an OLED screen that offers high contrast ratio.
Connectivity
A tablet to use Sonos controller would call for a dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac or Wi-Fi 5 and a USB Type-C port. Wi-Fi 5 delivers enough bandwidth to connect the Sonos devices without disruption. A USB Type-C port or a lightning port in iPads lets you connect your existing cables and accessories with the tablet.
Battery Life
A single charging of the tablet battery should let you use the device for a full day or more. A 7,000mAh battery is recommended for a 10-inch tablet, and for an 11-inch or 12-inch device, opt for around 10,000mAh batteries. Go through reviews thoroughly before making a buy. Most tablet batteries work great for 8-9 hours. It is best to avoid those that can’t even make up to 7 hours.
Budget
The budget factor is totally dependent on your personal preference. Decide how much you want to pay and how long you want to keep using it. Tablets cost from $200 to $500 and above. The features, model, and make are the factors that determine the price of the tablet. So, it comes down to whether you want to just use the Sonos app or do other things as well. There are even tablets that just cost $100. You may prefer doing research on how well these fit for your use.
Further reading: What Is SonosNet? What You Need To Know
Best Tablet for Sonos Controller
Apple iPad Pro
This iPad of 11 inches has an Apple M1 chip that promises a different level of performance. The Liquid Retina display has True Tone, ProMotion, and P3 wide color. The blazing-fast 5G speed is what makes this iPad stand out among others. The graphics are amazing, and playing console-level games has never been so interesting.
The iPad has got a TrueDepth camera system featuring an ultra-wide front camera with center stage. Additionally, there are Pro cameras and LiDAR scanners for videos, photos, and AR. The battery lasts one full day, which is a huge relief for travelers. You can expect a superfast connection to the internet, whether wired or wireless.
Apple iPad Pro is equipped with a thunderbolt port to connect to external drives and displays. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and 5G for lightning-fast downloads and superior quality streaming. Features like Face ID for authentication and Apple Pay are added advantages.
The iPad comes with four-speaker audio and five microphones of studio quality. The accessories that come with it are Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard, and Smart Keyboard Folio.
Apple iPad
Unmatched ease of use and versatility is the trademark of the new Apple iPad. It has a pretty 10.2-inch Retina display and an A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine. You can use multiple apps simultaneously and hand-write with scribble and that too in a Smart Keyboard.
iPad OS 14 lets you use Apple Pencil to do things like marking up a document, signing paperwork, and much more. The design of the iPad is thin and light, making it portable. Up to 10 hours of battery life lets you do all the work in time with the fastest Wi-Fi connection.
Equipped with stereo speakers, the new iPad also has 8MP back camera and a 1.2MPFaceTime HD front camera. It supports Apple Pay and Touch ID for secure authentication. There comes a lightning connector for charging and accessories too.
Apple iPad Mini 4
This is a renewed product, but it is as good as new. It is fully tested by Amazon-qualified suppliers who do a full diagnostic test, a cleaning process, and replacement of defective parts if any. Accessories and packaging could be generic, and it comes with a warranty of 90 days.
This has a fully laminated 7.9-inch Retina display, and 3.1 million pixels are packed into it, resulting in great visual effects and detailed graphics. Editing in the iPad is made hassle-free by the A8 chip and 64-bit second-generation architecture. The extremely thin design and 10-hour battery life is a boon to people on the move.
Apple iPad Mini 4 has a front-facing 1.2MP camera and rear-facing 5MP camera. The A8 chip promises 30% faster CPU performance and 60% faster graphic performance than the previous version.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
Galaxy Tab A7 is a stylish addition to your already stylish life. It has a thickness of just 7mm and has a metal design that comes in three colors – silver, dark grey, and gold. The superior audio and the great screen are just perfect for an immersive experience. The quad speakers enable Dolby Atmos to surround sound, and the 10.4-inch display is more than sufficient for a good movie experience. The superfast processor and RAM make loading games quick.
The battery lasts a day, and even if you want to charge, the 15W fast charging makes the process faster. You can store up to 64GB of data and even insert a microSD card if you possess more photos, videos, and files.
Microsoft Surface Go 2
If you are looking for a high-res touchscreen, then this one suits you best. The touchscreen of Surface Go 2 is 10.5 inches in length, and the tablet weighs just 1.2 pounds. It has an adjustable kickstand and signature type cover that offer good performance and portability. There are full-HD front and rare facing cameras that naturally give amazing pictures.
The 10 hours of battery life is just what you need to do all your shopping and browsing. It has a USB-C port for connecting external devices and a headphone jack for all listening endeavors. The tablet is equipped with Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4425Y 8th Gen Intel Core m3 Processor and has a memory of up to 8GB.
It supports Intel HD Graphics 615 and has 128GB SSD storage. The operating system is Windows 10 Home in S Mode[4]. You can accessorize it with a surface pen, Surface Go signature type cover, and Surface mobile mouse.
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus
This tablet from Lenovo has a 10.3-inch FHD display with TDDI technology. It has a metal back cover and thin, narrow bezels that together lend a rich look. It is equipped with dual microphones, a 5MP front camera, an 8MP rear camera, and two side speakers tuned with Dopoundsy Atmos.
The Octa-Core processor is so powerful that it provides a 2.3 GHz main frequency for fast performance. It offers 32GB storage and 2GB RAM and has Android 9 Pie as the operating system. The advantage is that the device can be used as either a laptop or a tablet.
The specialty is that the tablet is for everyone in the family, including kids. There is a kid’s mode with parental control, dedicated content, and specialized eye protection. The posture and bumpy environment alerts are great features that warn you if the tablet is not being used the right way.
FAQ
How do I connect my Tablet to Sonos?
- Connect the tablet to the Wi-Fi network, same as that of Sonos.
- Open the Sonos app
- You will get a prompt to control the Sonos system. Tap connect. If this prompt doesn’t appear, go to the Settings tab and press Join nearby system. You may have to press and release the Join button on the nearest Sonos if there is more than one system.
- Follow the prompts and connect to the Sonos successfully.
Can I use Sonos with my Android tablet?
Yes, you can use Sonos with an android tablet after downloading the Sonos Controller for Android. Once done, you can use many features like:
- Play music from the tablet through the Sonos system
- Create playlists and control playback
- Add and play music from any streaming service on the Sonos system
- Make and manage groups to play different music in different rooms etc
Can I use Sonos with my Surface?
Yes, Sonos works well with the Surface tablet. You can download Sonos Controller for Windows 10, which makes it easier to use the controller. Here are some of the features that can be used with the app.
- Play music from Surface through the Sonos system
- Create playlists and control playback
- Add and play music from any streaming service on the Sonos system
- Make and manage groups to play different music in different rooms etc
What are the features important for a tablet for Sonos Controller?
The Sonos Controller app works best with Android and Apple devices. But this doesn’t mean that Sonos does not work with tablets having other operating systems. There is an audio input behind the Sonos Play:5, which can be connected to the tablet using auxiliary connectors. This way, the music from the tablet can be played on the Sonos. You can also stream audio to any grouped Sonos devices.
What is a good device to replace the Tablet for Sonos Controller?
A Sonos system needs an iOS or Android device to work. These OS versions can be used with the Sonos app.
- iPadOS 13 and higher
- iOS 12 and higher
- Fire OS 7 and higher
- Android 8.0 and higher (not supported on Chromebooks)
There are a few OS versions that no longer work with Sonos. But certain features like controlling playback and browsing music can still be done.
Below are the Windows and macOS versions supported by Sonos.
Sonos S1 desktop app:
- macOS 10.11 and higher
- Windows 7 and higher
Sonos S2 desktop app:
- macOS 10.11 and higher
- Windows 8 and higher
Conclusion
‘All the music on the earth’ is the apt mission statement for Sonos, given the way it can play music from literally any source. Whether it is the digital library on your tablet or a music streaming service, you can play anything on Sonos with the right tablet. The Sonos controller app is here to change the way you enjoy music.
Ref links:
- Connect to multiple Sonos systems from support.sonos.com
- Will Sonos wireless speakers work with my iPad or tablet? from imore.com
- Can I use Sonos with my Android tablet? from imore.com