Brandwave

Sonos vs Ultimate Ears:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Sonos had more branded searches than Ultimate Ears among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand. Sonos had about 5,970 branded searches, while Ultimate Ears had 5,040. Sonos made up 7.4% of all bluetooth speaker brand searches we track, and Ultimate Ears accounted for 6.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bluetooth speaker brands, Ultimate Ears appeared in four of the five answers and Sonos in one. Ultimate Ears was mentioned before Sonos in four out of five answers.

Among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Sonos, about 18% more searches than Ultimate Ears

Sonos 6K searchesUltimate Ears 5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Ultimate Ears, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Sonos in 1

Ultimate Ears in 4 of 5Sonos in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Ultimate Ears, named ahead of Sonos in 4 of 5 answers

Ultimate Ears first in 4Sonos first in 1

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Top bluetooth speaker brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Ultimate Ears was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Sonos was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Ultimate Ears was listed before Sonos in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. JBL1st
  2. Bose2nd
  3. Ultimate Ears3rd
  4. Sony4th
  5. Soundcore5th
  6. Marshall6th
  7. Sonos7th
  8. Bang & Olufsen–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • JBL5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sony4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bose4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ultimate Ears4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Soundcore3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Marshall2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sonos1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bang & Olufsen0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about bluetooth speaker brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is Sonos or Ultimate Ears more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Sonos and Ultimate Ears by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight bluetooth speaker brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Sonos and Ultimate Ears among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Sonos, Ultimate Ears. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthJBLSonyBoseSonosUltimate EarsSoundcoreBang & OlufsenMarshall
Oct 202544.4%21.2%16.6%6.9%8.5%1%1.2%0.2%
Nov 202544.6%19.9%15.6%7.7%10.3%0.7%0.86%0.2%
Dec 202553.9%15.9%13.3%6.3%9%0.6%0.73%0.22%
Jan 202648.6%20.1%14.4%7.3%7.3%0.82%1.2%0.24%
Feb 202646.1%22.5%14.4%7.1%7.2%1%1.3%0.25%
Mar 202644.3%23%15%8.4%6.7%1.2%1.2%0.23%
Apr 202648.4%20.9%14.2%8.1%6.2%0.86%1.1%0.25%
May 202646.5%22.1%15.7%7.8%5.3%1%1.3%0.25%
Jun 202647%21.6%16.1%7.5%5%1.3%1.3%0.24%
Jul 202646.7%22.1%15.3%7.4%6%1%1.2%0.24%
Aug 202648%19.3%15.9%7.8%6.4%1.2%1.2%0.35%
Sep 202648.8%21.3%14%7.4%6.3%1.1%0.9%0.26%

How has the Sonos and Ultimate Ears comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Sonos took it in March 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sonos’ share of searches among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand moved from 6.9% to 7.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5K to 6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ultimate Ears’ share of searches among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand moved from 8.5% to 6.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.1K to 5K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand bluetooth speaker brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Sonos in New Zealand rose 20.4% over 12 measured months, from 5K to 6K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Ultimate Ears in New Zealand fell 16.8% over 12 measured months, from 6.1K to 5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

17 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sonos’ and Ultimate Ears’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Sonos

12 branded search terms

  • sonos
  • sonos amp
  • sonos arc
  • sonos five
  • sonos move
  • sonos one
  • sonos play
  • sonos port
  • sonos ray
  • sonos roam
  • sonos sound bars
  • sonos sub

Ultimate Ears

5 branded search terms

  • ue boom
  • ultimate ears
  • ultimate ears megaboom
  • ultimate ears wonderboom
  • ultimateears

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among bluetooth speaker brands

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