Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Google - Nest Mini (2nd gen) | Sonos - Era 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Dolby Atmos | false | true |
| Output | 15 W |
Between the Nest Mini (2nd gen) and Era 300, the Nest Mini (2nd gen) comes out ahead in output, while the Era 300 wins on dolby atmos. Overall, the Nest Mini (2nd gen) scores 76 and the Era 300 scores 95 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Era 300 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 19.0 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Nest Mini (2nd gen) if you care most about output. The biggest gaps in its favor are output. The single most decisive one: Output: 15 W vs W.
Pick the Era 300 if you care most about dolby atmos. Its strongest claims are dolby atmos. The single most decisive one: Has Dolby Atmos.
Both ship with comparable matter / thread, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Era 300 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Google - Nest Mini (2nd gen) or Sonos - Era 300?
Sonos - Era 300 leads the current Mars Score by 19.0 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare output, dolby atmos against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Google - Nest Mini (2nd gen) if…
Google - Nest Mini (2nd gen) has the measurable edge on output w.
Choose Sonos - Era 300 if…
Sonos - Era 300 has the measurable edge on has dolby atmos.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Google - Nest Mini (2nd gen) wins
- ▲Output: 15 W vs W.
Why Sonos - Era 300 wins
- ▲Has Dolby Atmos.
Spec comparison
Audio
| Spec | Google - Nest Mini (2nd gen) | Sonos - Era 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 15 Wlead | |
| Stereo pairingⓘ | true | true |
| Dolby Atmosⓘ | false | truelead |
| Built-in display | false | false |
Assistant & Smart Home
| Spec | Google - Nest Mini (2nd gen) | Sonos - Era 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Voice assistant | Google Assistant | Alexa,Sonos Voice |
| Matter / Thread | true | true |
| Zigbee hub | false | false |