Portable Speaker of the Year

Two winners from the same range of JBL speakers — and it’s not the first time they’ve taken out our awards. These are no mere Bluetooth speakers: they also connect to your home Wi-Fi network and have Google Assistant built-in, so you can use them just like any Google speaker, asking questions, requesting music, etc. And both the $249.95 Link Portable here and the $199.95 Link Music shown opposite are also blessed with the additional streaming platform of Apple’s AirPlay 2, making them even more versatile for iPhone and iPad users.

This taller Link Portable has the significant advantage of portability, sitting on its charging tray ready to be picked up and taken wherever required, and promising around eight hours of battery life depending on the level of playback, remembering that once outside the reach of your Wi-Fi, you’ll only have Bluetooth with which to play music. Another bonus is IPX7 waterproofing — that’s full immersibility (in fresh water).

If it’s a Google speaker you’re after, why not get one from Google? Because JBL is an audio company, and its speakers sound better, that’s why! While the Link Music opposite has the larger internal volume and slightly better sound, the Portable is still a goodsounding wireless speaker, outperforming the company’s previous Link 20, even though it’s an irony that such cutting-edge tech is delivered in a mono speaker, here with a single 49mm driver. But with Bluetooth, Google Assistant and AirPlay 2, portability, waterproofing, good sound and some discounts on the street, the Link Portable is a winner.

More info: www.jbl.com.au