Budget Bluetooth Headsets

Best Bluetooth headsets under $40

While there's no denying the coolness of Bluetooth headsets like the Aliph Jawbone Era and Plantronics Voyager Pro Plus, they come with a price. If you're looking to spend less, there are still some great alternatives out there for around $40. Not only do some of the new budget headsets give the higher-priced models a run for their money, but top-rated models from last year, such as the BlueAnt Q1, are still available online within the budget price range.

Our Best Reviewed choice in the Budget Bluetooth Headset category is the Aliph Jawbone Icon (*Est. $40) , which is also the winner in the Best Bluetooth Headset category. Its excellent sound quality, style and the apps available through the Aliph MyTalk website combine with its low price to ensure its place as our Best Reviewed budget headset. See our full review of the Jawbone Icon in the Best Bluetooth Headset section.

A few alternatives to the $40 Jawbone Icon include the slightly cheaper Motorola H17txt with MotoSpeak (*Est. $35) , that also earns praise from reviewers for its excellent sound quality. Its CrystalTalk technology cancels everyday noise and ensures audio clarity when making phone calls as well as when listening to streaming audio or navigation instructions from the phone. Over half the customer reviews for this product on Amazon.com give 4 or 5 stars out of a possible 5 for its sound quality, and there are recommendations from repeat purchasers of this headset. The reviewers on TopTenReviews.com like the H17txt's sleek design and compact size -- 1.6 inches long and 0.67 inches wide -- which is made possible as the mouthpiece retracts when not in use. Reversible ear hooks add to the headset's comfort. Like the more expensive headsets, the Motorola H17txt is A2DP-enabled and has multi-technology connectivity.

This model earned its Bronze Award on TopTenReviews.com not only for its sound quality but also for the MotoSpeak feature. This is a free and easy-to-use smartphone application that reads text messages, both the ones you receive as well as those you send, into the headset, in real time. Every feature of MotoSpeak is customizable, and the program reads more than 150 messaging-related abbreviations, such as LOL and L8R. However, the limited compatibility of the acclaimed MotoSpeak function is one of the H17txt's drawbacks; it's available only with Android and Blackberry phones. It is also not compatible with email or with some social media applications, including Facebook and Twitter. Another, though minor, drawback is that only one earbud comes with the headset.

Another choice in the budget category is the Sound ID 400 (*Est. $20) . Only 2.1 inches long and weighing less than 0.8 ounces, its slim, soft-touch plastic matte-black case is minimalist and discreet. Its excellent sound quality earns high ratings and recommendations from both TopTenReviews.com (3 out of 4 stars) and from CNET (4 out of 5 stars.) However, the Sound ID 400 has recently been discontinued, but is it still available in stores and through online shops.

Sound ID was founded by hearing specialists and their website states that all their headsets "complement the natural hearing process." The Sound ID 400 has three custom hearing choices, and the environmental mode amplifies the listening power between calls so that user's don't have to remove the headset. This model has some of the features of more expensive headsets: it is A2DP-enabled to stream audio and has multi-point technology. Although this model lacks integrated voice control, it does support your phone's voice-dialing options. In particular, CNET reviewers highlight its excellent compatibility with the iPhone 4.

There are some drawbacks to the Sound ID 400, though. Both professional reviewers and users comment on the lack of integrated voice applications. In addition, although the headset adjusts the volume automatically, reviewers bemoan the lack of a dedicated volume rocker switch. TopTenReviews.com gives Sound ID only 1 star out of 4 for their customer help and support, stating that they left a message on the company's website, the only way to contact customer support, and did not receive a reply until several business days later.

Although BlueAnt's Q1 (*Est. $30) Bluetooth headset has been superseded by the Q2 model, the Q1 is still available online for half its original cost. A previous Best Reviewed selection in this category, the Q1 can still compete with the features of more recent headset models. Its voice-controlled user interface allows hands-free operation of answering, rejecting and redirecting calls. Its text-to-speech function for text messages, however, is available only for Android phones. The reviewers at TopTenReviews.com appreciate the Q1's sleek, professional design and the up-and-down volume adjustment.