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March 2006
Buying a Bluetooth headset
Shopping tips for a hot cell-phone accessory
Bluetooth, the technology that allows cell phones to be used with wireless headsets, is coming on strong this year. Many more
Bluetooth phones are available at prices that start around $130--sometimes less with rebates and promotions. Bluetooth headsets
now cost as little as $30, and many models are smaller than they were, thus reducing the nerd factor to wearing these ear
adornments.
Bluetooth eliminates fumbling for the phone when it rings, and it's much more convenient than being tethered to (and often tangled up in) a wired headset. When paired with a cell phone that has voice activation (like virtually all Bluetooth models), the earpiece has all the functionality needed to make or take calls. The phone itself can be as much as 30 feet away.
Here are some tips on buying a Bluetooth headset, including some caveats and recommendations based on our latest tests:
Compactness will cost you. Small is indeed beautiful in an earpiece, and it helps you to avoid the disconcerting tendency of the long, bulky headsets to "flap" in the wind or when you turn your head. But modest size often comes at an immodest price. A small, sleek earpiece can cost upwards of $150--as much or more than a Bluetooth phone. Also, smaller models also tend to have smaller batteries--and thus a shorter talk time on a charge than their bulkier cousins.
Expect some setup time and effort. Headsets and Bluetooth phones need to be electronically introduced in a sometimes-tricky procedure known as pairing. Some models have a dedicated pairing button that simplifies the process. As this procedure's name implies, most Bluetooth devices are monogamous. If you buy a new Bluetooth headset or wish to connect your phone to another Bluetooth device, such as a printer or PDA, the phone must sever ties with the original headset and pair with the new device.
Consider charging convenience. As with other portable devices, Bluetooth headsets require periodic recharging--an added chore when you're already managing
the energy needs of the cell phone and perhaps other mobile gear. All models come with wall chargers; a dedicated car charger
is typically $10 to $30 extra. All three Jabra models we tested come with a cable for recharging via computers' USB port or
(with an adapter) a car's cigarette lighter. And a Plantronics headset we tested comes with cables for charging in from some
phones or from an AA battery. Of course, you'll minimize recharging if you choose a model with maximum talk time on a charge.
While most headsets let you gab for 4 to 5 hours between charges, the best in our tests--two from Jabra and one from Motorola--operated
for 8 or more hours before fizzling out.
Look for useful features. Call mute and/or call hold is common. Equally important, and less often present, is an audible low-battery warning, which can help you avoid dropped calls. Most Bluetooth phones will voice dial once you teach them that "Mom," let's say, equals a certain number. Phones with voice command follow your commands right out of the box without the usual training. With voice command you can also dial a number by pronouncing the digits and instantly summon voicemail and other common applications.
RECOMMENDATIONS
No Bluetooth headset offers long battery life, minimal size, and maximum convenience--all at a low price. But the Jabra BT350, $80, offers a decent compromise among those considerations. It provides a full 9 hours of talk time on a charge. Like the other Jabras we tested, it includes a USB cable for charging from a PC or laptop. However, it's relatively thick and so may flap around on your ear.
If you're prepared to spend somewhat more, the Jabra BT500, $120, has a more stable design. It hangs comfortably behind the ear and has a pairing key for simpler setup. Talk time is a little less than its cheaper brandmate, but is still considerable at 8 hours. Like the BT350, it lacks low-battery alert.
More comfortable choices are the Jabra JX10, $180, and Motorola H700, $120, both among the smallest, lightest, and most unobtrusive models we tested. But you have to accept trade-offs. The Jabra is about the size of a postage stamp, but talk time is only 4 hours. The slightly thicker Motorola provides an additional hour or so of talk time. It has a low-battery warning feature, while the Jabra has a pairing button for easier setup.
Shopping tips for a hot cell-phone accessory
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Bluetooth eliminates fumbling for the phone when it rings, and it's much more convenient than being tethered to (and often tangled up in) a wired headset. When paired with a cell phone that has voice activation (like virtually all Bluetooth models), the earpiece has all the functionality needed to make or take calls. The phone itself can be as much as 30 feet away.
Here are some tips on buying a Bluetooth headset, including some caveats and recommendations based on our latest tests:
Compactness will cost you. Small is indeed beautiful in an earpiece, and it helps you to avoid the disconcerting tendency of the long, bulky headsets to "flap" in the wind or when you turn your head. But modest size often comes at an immodest price. A small, sleek earpiece can cost upwards of $150--as much or more than a Bluetooth phone. Also, smaller models also tend to have smaller batteries--and thus a shorter talk time on a charge than their bulkier cousins.
Expect some setup time and effort. Headsets and Bluetooth phones need to be electronically introduced in a sometimes-tricky procedure known as pairing. Some models have a dedicated pairing button that simplifies the process. As this procedure's name implies, most Bluetooth devices are monogamous. If you buy a new Bluetooth headset or wish to connect your phone to another Bluetooth device, such as a printer or PDA, the phone must sever ties with the original headset and pair with the new device.
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Look for useful features. Call mute and/or call hold is common. Equally important, and less often present, is an audible low-battery warning, which can help you avoid dropped calls. Most Bluetooth phones will voice dial once you teach them that "Mom," let's say, equals a certain number. Phones with voice command follow your commands right out of the box without the usual training. With voice command you can also dial a number by pronouncing the digits and instantly summon voicemail and other common applications.
RECOMMENDATIONS
No Bluetooth headset offers long battery life, minimal size, and maximum convenience--all at a low price. But the Jabra BT350, $80, offers a decent compromise among those considerations. It provides a full 9 hours of talk time on a charge. Like the other Jabras we tested, it includes a USB cable for charging from a PC or laptop. However, it's relatively thick and so may flap around on your ear.
If you're prepared to spend somewhat more, the Jabra BT500, $120, has a more stable design. It hangs comfortably behind the ear and has a pairing key for simpler setup. Talk time is a little less than its cheaper brandmate, but is still considerable at 8 hours. Like the BT350, it lacks low-battery alert.
More comfortable choices are the Jabra JX10, $180, and Motorola H700, $120, both among the smallest, lightest, and most unobtrusive models we tested. But you have to accept trade-offs. The Jabra is about the size of a postage stamp, but talk time is only 4 hours. The slightly thicker Motorola provides an additional hour or so of talk time. It has a low-battery warning feature, while the Jabra has a pairing button for easier setup.
