I can't comment on the relative merits of the two, given I solely have long-term exposure to the Google ecosystem having made that call a while back, but I certainly have no regrets; we purchased a Max a month or so back and it certainly has far superior sound to the smaller Google Hub that we've shifted into a different room.

While you say it's for 'Spotify etc', are you meaning for playing music on, or acting as a controller? Do you want the screen for watching video as well? As mentioned above, the screen resolution is average but the viewing experience is fine; just note there's no Netflix support (not even via Chromecast), which is quite frustrating.

As mentioned above, if you're looking at using it for the built-in speakers, then yeah you'll no doubt get better sound from a dedicated speaker; but if you're not too fussy about audio quality, and don't need to have it party-loud it'll do ok. Personally, I tend to use it more to control Spotify playing on the stereo (via a Chromecast) whereas the rest of the family mostly use the built-in speaker. (If you're happy to listen to music playing from your phone's speaker, like my wife is, you'll be fine with the sound of these smart screens!)

Few shops in NZ sell the Max; best option at the moment is to purchase from NL's, but via The Market website; they're offering $60 off purchases over $300, plus if you take up the (three-month?) free membership offer you'll get free shipping; takes the $400 Hub down to $340 incl delivery, which is as good as you'll get, I imagine (given NL's won't otherwise offer anything off the Hub, which is typical for parallel imported products).

gzt: One or two places have the JBL View on limited offer for $299:

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/audio/home-audio/stereos/micro-sound-systems/jbl-link-view-voice-activated-speaker-with-smart-display-black/prod180895.html

I've seen these in the Spark store. It has a more 'design' feel compared to Alexa and Hub. Has HD. Using the same O/S as Hub? At this price I might have bought JBL if the sound is as good or better.

I've also seen this in a Spark store: yep, it looks the part from an external design perspective, but that has to be one of the poorest quality displays I've come across in a long time! Dull and dim, and makes the screens on either of the Hubs look downright stunning.

Note, it's also an 8" screen vs 10" on the Hub Max. Makes a significant difference if wanting to view the screen from any distance - this was the main reason we swapped out the Hub for a Hub Max, as a 10" is basically twice the size of a 7".

gzt: I wonder if this JBL issue was a result of store brightness and lack of adaption. There may be a manual setting to bump this up.

I did have a fiddle but no dice. I've also read reviews that included comments that supported my own observations, eg:

 Picture quality is detailed, although the screen looks a touch washed out, with blacks verging on grey.

 

Viewing angles are decent, with you able to see the screen clearly whether you’re looking at from the side or looming above it. An ambient light sensor adjusts brightness automatically, so that it’s visible in all conditions.

 

Overall, the colour reproduction and image quality of the Google Home Hub are better than on the JBL Link View.

Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/jbl-link-view