We check out JBL’s most affordable smart speaker offering!

Since IFA 2017, smart speakers have been rising in popularity. Aside from Google, brands like Anker, Panasonic, Xiaomi, Apple, Samsung, and JBL have introduced their own take on the smart speaker, with the majority of them having support for either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

Recently, JBL made its Google Assistant-powered Link speakers official in the Philippines, making them one of the few smart speaker brands you can purchase locally. We got our hands on the Link 10—the brand’s smallest smart speaker to see for ourselves if this whole smart speaker trend is worth the extra that brands charge for it.

What is it?

The Link 10 is the smallest and most affordable smart speaker offering from JBL with a price of Php 9,999. While some may mistake the Link 10 for JBL’s earlier Flip 4, the Link 10 packs several features not available on the Bluetooth-only Flip 4.

What makes it different from JBL’s usual offerings?

Being a smart speaker, the Link 10 has WiFi connectivity on top of Bluetooth, though it sacrifices the 3.5mm jack for it. The Link 10 has Chromecast built-in, which lets you stream your songs (via Spotify, since Google Play Music is not officially available in the Philippines) without the need for an external audio source. Like the Flip 4, the Link 10 comes with an IPX7 rating.

The Link 10’s main selling point is that it comes with Google Assistant. In a nutshell, you can ask the Link 10 a variety of queries such as the weather and latest news, along with quick web searches via voice.

Is it easy to set up?

It is pretty straightforward: you download the Google Home app, and just follow the instructions on the app to set up the Link 10 for Chromecast, Spotify Integration, and Google Assistant Voice Match. It takes around five minutes to get everything set up before you can fully use all of the Link 10’s smart features. If you opt for a Bluetooth-only connection, it is as simple as pairing it with your Bluetooth device.

Using the Link 10 is easy: controls on top of the speaker include Bluetooth pairing, volume controls, Play/Pause, and Google Assistant. At the back, you have your power button, power indicator, and mute microphone.

There are two additional indicator lights in front: on top are four indicator lights that light up every time you use Google assistant and when you adjust the volume, and at the bottom are indicator lights that determine the strength of your WiFi signal.

How’s the user experience?

It is fun to use the Link 10’s smart speaker features, though there is room for improvement. The Link 10’s Google Assistant voice recognition can be a hit or miss depending on how loud your voice is and how far are you from the speaker.

 

Google Assistant has no problem answering usual queries like media controls, creating alarms, and asking for the weather. However, you will need to “train” it to give you better results when asking other questions like news updates on certain topics. Speaking of news, you can select a number of spoken news programs by configuring it in the Google Home app.

Startup time, however, is painfully slow: it takes a good minute before the Link 10 boots up and connects to your WiFi access point.

 

How’s the sound quality?

It is impressive. Bass is deep enough to not cause a distortion at higher volume levels. Mids and highs are clear on the Link 10—a testament to the quality audio majority of JBL’s products deliver.

Based on our use, we usually keep the volume within the 50% to 70% range. Going beyond 70% leads to distortion, compromising the overall sound quality. It is not a big deal either, as the Link 10 is loud enough to deliver quality sound to a small room.

 

How’s the battery life?

JBL advertises the Link 10 as having 5 hours of battery life, and based on our usage, we were able to wrangle around that much. While the battery life sounds decent, we wished that the Link 10 lasted longer—for reference, the Flip 4 can last up to 12 hours on a single charge, while the bigger Link 20 boasts 10 hours of continuous use.

Charging the Link 10 is done via a MicroUSB port hidden beside a flap at the back of the speaker. It takes around one and a half hour to fully charge the Link 10.

Should you buy it?

While some may find the Link 10’s asking price a bit pricey, the premium you pay for it is for its smart speaker capabilities: with Chromecast and Google Assistant built-in, you can integrate this speaker as part of your room should you consider building your own smart home.

The Link 10 is part of the first generation of smart speakers, and it has a few quirks. While Google Assistant has big potential, expect both Google and other brands to improve on the tech further for a seamless smart home experience.