As a long-standing Galaxy user and advocate for thoughtful technology design, I’d like to raise an integration concern that affects many users who rely on high-fidelity home audio: the limited, fragmented relationship between Galaxy devices (specifically the S24 Ultra) and Sonos speakers.
Currently, the Sonos experience on Android lacks native support for grouped speaker volume controls, persistent playback management, and smooth ecosystem-level interoperability — issues that appear rooted in the ongoing legal dispute between Google and Sonos over multi-room volume technologies.
This has resulted in a suboptimal reality:
Samsung Galaxy users can detect Sonos speakers in the Spotify app via Spotify Connect.
But volume controls for grouped Sonos zones are not accessible via phone hardware buttons or the system-wide media panel, forcing foreground use of Sonos’s own app.
Even the Sonos app itself does not allow grouped volume control from background or lock screen, disrupting what should be a seamless experience.
Legal Context That May Be Affecting UX
The Google–Sonos patent conflict over multi-room speaker synchronization and volume regulation led to changes in Android’s audio control framework:
In 2022, the U.S. ITC found Google violated Sonos patents; Google responded by removing key grouped volume features from Android.
In 2023, though the ruling was partially overturned, uncertainty remains around implementation rights and licensing.
Samsung, possibly as a precaution, seems to avoid deep integration with Sonos to sidestep legal exposure stemming from Google’s limited APIs.
A Viable Workaround: Spotify Connect as a Control Surface
Despite these limitations, there is a helpful interim path:
By launching playback from the Spotify app, users gain access to persistent volume and player controls for Sonos speakers, even from background and lock screen.
This method allows grouping and control of Sonos zones without needing to keep the Sonos app in the foreground.
It offers smoother day-to-day usability, but still feels like a workaround rather than true Galaxy-Sonos synergy.
My Request
Samsung has a long-standing reputation for empowering users through thoughtful innovation. I urge you to:
Explore direct partnerships with Sonos, independent of Google's middleware.
Advocate for volume API flexibility and grouped audio control across the One UI layer.
Consider SmartThings-level integrations for Sonos that reflect the same polish applied to other connected devices.
In doing so, Samsung would not only sidestep current limitations but lead the industry in creating a truly harmonious mobile–audio ecosystem.
@userlQcCM1wRc8 This is a user to user discussion area. If you want to send the request to Samsung, open the Samsung Members App -> Support -> Send feedback.
As noted in my post, I sent the issue to Samsung Support.
The purpose of the post in the community, user to user, is to spark discussion and awareness. As such, possibly more users who would like the issue to be resolved will reach out to Samsung directly as well.
Gotcha. Yeah, you are right about that. The more I dig into this, I am hearing that Pixel users don't experience the same issue. So now it would seem to be squarely back into Samsung's court to resolve, legal issues or otherwise.
