Can Sonos enable native Chromecast and Gemini support on its speakers?

This would be especially useful now that Gemini is becoming the default Google assistant across Android and smart home devices, and users increasingly expect consistent behaviour across their connected devices.

Would, I suspect, require legal permission from Google, which seems unlikely. 

I’m not sure Sonos has the electronics inside to use Chromecast, but I’m not sure how it works, having never used it.

That’s a fair point. Google Cast does require Google certification and agreements, but many third-party speaker brands already support it, so it’s more of a partnership decision than a technical impossibility.

On the hardware side, Chromecast is software-based and runs on a wide range of devices with different chipsets. Sonos speakers already handle streaming, buffering, and multi-room sync, so it’s likely more about product direction and licensing rather than raw electronics capability.

That’s really why I raised it here - to see if this is something Sonos might consider as part of making their speakers more open and easier to use within today’s mixed ecosystems.

I would think, given the legal issues Sonos and Google are seemingly constantly in might be a barrier to Google allowing Sonos access. 
 

My guess would be that Sonos has already requested, for the exact reasons you suggest, and been rebuffed.

That could be true, and I agree the legal history between Sonos and Google may well be a factor.

At the same time, things do change over time as platforms and assistants evolve. Gemini is becoming more central to Google’s ecosystem, and Chromecast is already widely supported across many third-party devices and most mainstream applications.

Sonos also has a large and growing user base, and bringing Sonos speakers more fully into the Google ecosystem could benefit both sides by extending Gemini and Chromecast to high-quality audio hardware already present in many homes.

From that angle, it feels like something that could benefit both platforms, if the commercial and partnership pieces ever align.

According to Gemini, only two non-google smart speakers support the AI voice assistant, and I’m doubtful of that response as it states that this is based on user reports, not any manufacturer published information.  I can’t even find that Insignia Voice Assistant, and the Lenovo clock seems to be future release?  Not sure.

All this to say, I don’t see much indication that Google is that interested in putting Gemini on non-Google smart speakers.

That’s fair, and I agree the public information is still patchy.

From my own experience though, Gemini for Home is clearly rolling out in phases and on a home-by-home basis. I’m in India and have two separate homes set up in the Google Home app. Gemini for Home has already been enabled in one of those homes, while the other is still on the older setup.

Google has also indicated that Gemini for Home will roll out to non-Google branded speakers that already support Google Assistant. In my case, I have a couple of Xiaomi IR smart speakers that are Google-enabled, and I already use them for Google voice commands to control non-WiFi devices like IR-based air conditioners and other appliances.

So Google is clearly extending Gemini beyond its own hardware for third-party speakers that already supported Google Assistant. From that perspective, Sonos feels like a logical candidate if and when Google and Sonos align on a partnership.

I’ll believe it when it happens. I just don’t have a lot of faith that Google, or Apple and Amazon, are that interested in working with other brands anymore.  It was useful to get their voice assistance established and users dependent on their services, but that need does really seem to be there anymore.  Google is much more interested in getting you to buy a new Nest device than getting your existing Xiaomi to work.  

That said, I do hope that the new wave of AI voice assistance is rather open and available to all, without additional purchases.  I just don’t think that will happen.

I get where you’re coming from, and I share some of that doubt as well. The big platforms have definitely become more hardware-focused over time.

The only reason I’m a bit more optimistic in this case is because of how Gemini for Home is actually being rolled out. From what I’m seeing, it’s not tied to buying new hardware, but to the home setup itself.

In my case, Gemini is already active on my existing Xiaomi Google-enabled speakers in one home. When I move the same speaker to another home that hasn’t received the rollout yet, it switches back to Google Assistant until Gemini is rolled out there as well.

It’s also worth noting that Xiaomi is no longer producing its IR smart speaker models. What’s available now is either remaining stock or devices already in use, so there isn’t really a growing third-party hardware pipeline in this space.

As a result, if someone wants a premium speaker that works well with Gemini or Gemini Live going forward, Sonos sadly isn’t an option today. The realistic alternatives are Google’s own future Home speakers, or brands like JBL or Bose that have continued to work closely with Google.

Like you, I do hope the next wave of AI assistants stays more open. From what I’m seeing so far, this feels more like an ecosystem transition than a push to force hardware upgrades, at least for now.
It would be great to see Sonos and Google collaborate again in the near future.

Just to add one more point from my side - what makes this situation frustrating is that Sonos speakers like the Era 100, Era 300, and Arc are premium quality devices that are far more capable and deliver outstanding sound quality.

It feels like a missed opportunity that Sonos speakers can’t be part of the Gemini ecosystem today.
I really hope Sonos and Google can find a way to collaborate again in the near future.

Hi ​@naria 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

Thank you - I've marked this thread as a feature request and it will be seen by the relevant teams for consideration. Keep the ideas coming!

Hi Corry,

Thank you for the welcome. I appreciate you marking this thread as a feature request and passing it on to the relevant teams.

Glad to share ideas. Thanks again for taking the time.