JBL Link View hands-on

A couple of Google Assistant powered devices with displays were announced here at CES 2018 but none of them are quite like the Link View from JBL. The Link View as the name suggests is part of JBL’s Link series lineup but what sets this one apart is the fact that it comes with a screen.

With Google Assistant on board this means you can ask all of the usual questions or commands that you normally would with any other Google Assistant device. But with the addition of a screen, the information will also be displayed visually for things such as the weather, cooking recipes, driving directions and more.

The screen measures in at 8 inches with a resolution of 720p which doesn’t sound stunning on paper but it’s more than enough to get the job done for this type of application. Watching YouTube is also possible and video calls can be made through Google Duo as the Link View comes equipped with a 5 MP front facing camera. Chromecast is also built in and you can stream both to and from the JBL Link View via Bluetooth.

I can’t comment on the build quality though as the unit was enclosed inside of a plexiglass case. I was a fan of its symmetrical oval design and the black color will make it blend fairly easily into a majority of homes. The main drawing point of this particular Google Assistant device, aside from its screen, is its 10 Watt dual front-facing stereo speakers.

Again, because this was a prototype unit behind glass I was not able to get a proper sound demo but knowing JBL’s reputation for quality audio, it will most likely sound leaps and bounds better than other Google Assistant devices. JBL hasn’t provided any information on how much the Link View is going to cost when it hits shelves but you can expect it in stores this summer.