JBL announced the Link Bar — a $399 soundbar that doubles up as an Android TV device along with Google Assistant integration — back at I/O 2018, and we now have mode details on availability. The Link Bar is now up for pre-order on B&H Photo for $399 , and retail availability is set to kick off from Oct. 16. B&H's dates do tend to run long, though, so don't be surprised if the retailer doesn't actually start shipping it until after that.
As spotted by Android Police , the soundbar offers a PrivacySwitch option that lets you mute the microphones when not using Assistant, and there's also the option to stream music directly to the device as it also has Bluetooth functionality.
Hands-on: JBL Link Bar soundbar with Android TV and Google Assistant
The Link Bar is turning out to be one of the more interesting products in this space, as you're essentially getting an Android TV box in addition to an Assistant-integrated soundbar for the price of a Google Home Max. If you're interested, hit up the link below to pre-order the Link Bar.
