Consumer electronics company Sonos recently unveiled its new collaboration with Danish design firm HAY for the release of the Sonos One smart speaker in a wider range of colors, including red, yellow, and green. The three new flavors were picked from HAY’s 2018 color palette in an attempt to make the Sonos One stand out more or blend in with its surroundings, and the new color options will be available for purchase this fall. However, the upcoming Sonos One units set to receive HAY’s color treatment will reportedly be priced higher than the standard Sonos One which is currently available only in black or white, and these additional flavors will presumably be available for a limited time only, having been referred to by HAY as a “limited edition collection.” With that in mind, the expected higher price tag might be explained by this sense of exclusivity, seeing how the internal hardware won’t undergo any changes, judging by the official announcement.
Sonos has put a lot of faith in the design of its smart speaker, having wrapped the unit in a square cylinder with rounded corners, featuring a predominant speaker grille permitting 360-degree sound, along with a series of discrete touch controls at the top of the device. The OEM created the design of the Sonos One so that the unit can blend in with its environment and surrounding furniture, and to an extent, this was the reason why the device was initially launched in two neutral colors including black and white. However, for certain prospective customers, color is an important factor, and according to HAY co-founder Mette Hay, the additional three flavors of the Sonos One weren’t simply chosen for their beauty but for their ability to make the smart speaker disappear in its surroundings or provide additional contrast to those who might be needing it in their living rooms.
The limited-edition HAY Sonos One will launch this September via the OEM’s official website and will also be available for purchase in select flagship stores located in NYC, London, and Berlin, as well as the HAY House in Copenhagen. A red, yellow, or green Sonos One will reportedly cost buyers $229 or €259/£229, up from the standard $199 (€229/£199) price tag presently attached to the ongoing white and black models.