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Home » Electronics » Bluetooth Headsets » Bluetooth Earbuds

Bluetooth Earbuds, Stereo Bluetooth Headset

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Most headsets have a Bluetooth earbud that rests in the user's ear, as well as a hook that wraps around the back of the ear. The Motorola HX550, Jabra Wave, and Jawbone Icon include various sizes of earbud covers to ensure a comfortable fit.

Unsurprisingly, the super-cheap Samsung WEP460 does not. Some users posting reviews at CompUSA lament that the Bluetooth earbud doesn't fit in their ears. The Samsung headset is small and light but doesn't feel too comfortable, according to the reviewer at CNET.

A reviewer at PCWorld notes the strange design of the Motorola Finiti earbud covers, which are two different shapes for wearing with or without the over-ear hook. One didn't fit securely, leading the reviewer to opt for the Bluetooth earbud designed to be worn with the hook.

For the most part, consumers and experts seem to find the other inexpensive headsets on our list comfortable and secure. A user who posted a review at RadioShack considers the Motorola HX550 comfortable enough to wear for hours in the car. The Jawbone Icon weighs less than .3 ounces, so it's easy to wear for long periods, consumers say. Reviews on Amazon indicate that the headset's fit options and extremely light weight ensure comfort.

The Jabra Wave looks like it could squash your whole ear but is so light that many users say they barely notice it's there. An expert at Phone Arena doesn't go that far. While it doesn't strain the ear, he says, you can feel it most of the time. Although the Wave offers several fit options, a user commenting on the Apple Store site complains that, no matter how you twist it, the Bluetooth earbud doesn't feel comfortable and won't stay put.

An expert reviewer at CNET praises the comfortable design of the LG Tone HBS-700, a stereo Bluetooth headset. Unlike single-ear devices, the LG Tone HBS-700 sits around your neck, out of sight under your collar. You don't have to have the earbuds in to tell when you're getting a call -- this stereo Bluetooth headset will vibrate. The design is especially good for those who wear glasses, which might bump into an over-the-ear hook.

Bluetooth Controls.

The controls on budget Bluetooth headsets typically include a multipurpose call button for answering calls, redial, voice dial support, call mute, call hold, and call transfer from the headset to the phone or vice versa. Bluetooth headsets commonly feature an LED display that shows the Bluetooth connection status, battery life, and call connection status. A power switch to turn the device on and off is useful for preserving battery life.

People with big fingers tend to have a problem with small headset controls. For instance, a CNET reviewer comments that the multipurpose call button on the Motorola Finiti is so small it's easy to miss. The Plantronics M100 (starting at $20) is an appealing choice, but the design requires users to tap a headset control once for one thing and twice for another, which can get complicated, according to reviews. One feature admired by users posting reviews of the Motorola HX550 at Amazon is a flip-out boom mike that makes the headset easy to turn off and on. Voice-activated headset controls eliminate the tendency to push the wrong button. Most cheap headsets have the capability to respond to at least some voice commands, to answer or ignore a call. Voice alerts tell users how much talk time they have left or when they are leaving the headset's range.

The Motorola Finiti boasts voice-activated controls, but some users posting reviews on an HTC EVO 4G forum complain that the caller ID doesn't work properly: It's supposed to give the name of the caller but instead just recites the phone number.

The lack of a volume rocker on the Jawbone Icon disappoints a consumer who posted a review on CNET, but most other users seem to appreciate the simplicity of having only one button and an on/off slider. The LG Tone is likewise simple and extremely intuitive, according to reviews. There are two sides to this stereo Bluetooth headset (one for each ear), which makes the controls easy to find. In a review on Amazon, a user says it takes only a few minutes to get the hang of it.

by Elizabeth Sheer (Google+ Profile)

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Plantronics M100 Review
Motorola Finiti Review
Samsung WEP460 Review
Jabra Wave Review
Jawbone Icon Review
Motorola HX550 Review
LG Tone HBS-700 Review

 

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