Bluetooth Headset Review

Comparing Bluetooth headsets

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology; in headsets, it allows for hands-free cell phone operation. Most Bluetooth headsets have a single earpiece, but some models have two, letting you stream stereo sound wirelessly from a cell phone that has music-playback capability. Oftentimes you can toggle between music playback and phone calls. With more states banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving, Bluetooth headsets are one way to comply. You can now get a high-quality Bluetooth headset for well under $75.

CNET has the most expansive collection of Bluetooth headset reviews. Editors review new headsets as they are released, even though a discontinued model may occasionally pop up in their roundups. TopTenReviews.com systematically tests and rates Bluetooth headsets in a variety of categories, such as features and ease of use. While PCMag.com's Bluetooth headset coverage isn't nearly as extensive, editors do a great job of testing these units and comparing models. The reviews from PC World are thorough and allow for comparison between different headsets. The user reviews at Amazon.com and CNET highlight both the pros and cons of using different models of Bluetooth headsets.

The development of technology for Bluetooth headsets is moving ahead quickly. In our last report (August 2010), we praised the Best Reviewed headset, the Aliph Jawbone Icon, as a "technological breakthrough." The Icon's technology and its associated features are now available in many of the latest Bluetooth headsets on the market. For example, many headsets now have text-to-speech capabilities, in some form, and are A2DP-enabled for streaming audio. Multi-point connectivity is a standard feature as is a visual battery meter that displays on smartphone screens. Even the headsets in our budget category have some of these features. This leaves the door open for ever-more advanced technology for Bluetooth headsets, and has created a high-end category. Our Best Reviewed product in that category, the Jawbone Era, is described by PCMag reviewers as "More than a headset; it's a potential audio computing platform." Perhaps we'll see these new technologies in next year's new models of Bluetooth headsets.