We’ve surveyed the reviews of CNET, Trusted Reviews, PCMag, PCWorld, Top Ten Reviews and Amazon and come up with the best rated bluetooth headsets:
Aliph Jawbone Era
Aliph Jawbone Era ($120)
Top Review Sources:
- PCMag: 4.5 out of 5 stars, Editors choice,
- CNET: 4 out of 5 stars, Excellent, Editor’s choice
- Amazon: Average 4 out of 5 star user reviews
Being the first Bluetooth headset to boast an accelerometer, the Aliph Jawbone Era is at the forefront of cutting edge technology. With this, you can answer and hang up calls simply by tapping the headset. Along with this it boasts HD audio, praised by PCMag as “the best single-ear Bluetooth music experience I’ve ever had”, and the ability to run its own apps: such as an on screen battery meter. Aliph’s headsets are renowned for being sleek, attractive young things, and the Jawbone Era is no exception, yet as a result there is apparent distress in wearing it for too long. Other than this, the Aliph Jawbone Era is unanimously praised for its innovation and functions. Prices run around $130.
The Aliph Jawbone Era is available from Amazon.
Blueant Q2
Blueant Q2 ($75)
Review Sources:
- CNET: 4 out of 5 stars, Excellent
- PCMag: 4 out of 5 stars, Very Good, one of their ’10 Best Headsets’
- Amazon: 4 out of 5 star average review, 149 reviews
Being a voice controlled headset, one of the big pros of the Blueant Q2 is its ease and convenience of use. While you still have to touch a button on the headset to prompt the voice control, it’s capabilities (including being able to teach you what to say if you ask “tell me what to say”), are vast and seemingly geared toward someone on the move. Once you pair the headset with your phone, it will learn up to 2,00 of the contacts stored on the phone so that it can announce the caller’s name when they try to contact you. In addition, the Q2 reportedly has excellent sound quality, but as PCMag found, poor noise cancellation abilities. Prices come in around $55 to $80.
The Blueant Q2 is available from Amazon.
Sound ID 510
Sound ID 510 ($70)
Review Sources:
- PCMag: 4 out of 5 stars, Very good, one of their ’10 Best Headsets’
- PCWorld: 4 out of 5 stars
- CNET: 4 out of 5 stars, Excellent, A “truly excellent Bluetooth headset for iPhone owners”
In EarPrint, the ID 510 is the first ever headset to have its own iPhone app. The app allows users to modify the sound of the headset, and therefore make it an incredible versatile and customizable product. The app also includes the clever headset locator function, whereby the lost headset first flashes its LED light, and then beeps until you find it. The Sound ID 510’s volume control is touch sensitive, activated by sliding your finger up and down which reportedly can be precarious. The manufacturer has informed us that this headphone now works with Android devices and BlackBerries. Prices range between $90 and $130.
The Sound ID 510 is available from Amazon.
Plantronics Savor M1100
Plantronics Savor M1100 ($60)
Review Sources:
- PCWorld: 4 out of 5 stars, Top Bluetooth Headset, 2011 Innovations Awards Honoree
- CNET: 3.5 out of 5 stars, Very good
- Amazon: 4 out of 5 star average review, 67 reviews
- Top Ten Reviews: 4 out of 4, #1 Bluetooth Headset, Gold Award Winner
A name that you can trust in the Bluetooth headset world, Plantronics’ Savor M1100 is notable largely due to its Vocalyst technology. With this you can not only send texts, emails and tweets using only your voice; you can listen to the replies being read back out to you as well. Unfortunately the Vocalyst is only free for a year, at which point you will have to upgrade to the Pro version at $3 a month, or $25 a year. Other than this the headset is incredibly light and comfortable to wear, and features simple vocal and non vocal controls. The sound quality is good, yet there is only one volume control and therefore can only change the volume in one direction until it reaches its maximum and then repeats itself. At $60 to $100 this is a good all round headset.
The Plantronics Savor M1100 is available from Amazon.
