To many people hands-free Bluetooth headsets seem a little over the top and unnecessary. But for many others who rely on their phone and make lots of calls each and everyday, they’re a game-changer.
Sure if you only had one or two calls to make per day you could pick up your phone each time, but if you need to make more than ten calls or thereabouts, it’s going to be a hassle. Meaning you can say hello to hand strain and goodbye to multi-tasking.
But although a good Bluetooth headset can make your constant calling life infinitely easier, once you go out searching for a great headset you’ll find that choosing the best Bluetooth headsets among the myriad knockoffs and imitations can be a pain. And even if there are some devices that look similar, the actual features and functionality can vary wildly.
But don’t worry, below you’ll find the very best Bluetooth headsets currently available.
Plantronics Voyager 5200
Great for work and play
Weight: 2kg | Battery life: 7 hours | NFC: No | Bluetooth version:Bluetooth 4.1
The Plantronics Voyager 5200 is one of the very best Bluetooth headsets around, from a brand name that is well respected when it comes to headsets. It’s designed with comfort in mind, so you can wear it for extended periods without it bothering you and it sits securely in place too, so it won’t fall off. It’s also completely hands free, as caller ID will announce the name of whoever is calling you and you can simply say “answer” to take the call. Its noise-cancelling is effective even in busy environments and multiple microphones ensure strong voice quality, for a great all-round Bluetooth headset. Its also coated in sweat proof material which gives it a robustness that other Bluetooth headsets lack.
Sony MBH22
Smart, simple and reliable
Weight: 9.3g | Battery life:6 hours talk time / 8 days standby | Bluetooth version:Bluetooth 4.2
The Sony MBH20 headset used to sit at this point in our list. It was a simple, easy-to-use headset with good battery life, but it’s since been replaced by the MBH22. Although they both have a similar, simple design, this latest model is packing some newer features.
There are the same minimal buttons, but now there’s a USB Type-C connector instead of an older microUSB port. It’s still a good, comfortable fit although there is only one earpiece, which means that might not be the case for everyone.
You can connect two phones at the same time to switch between calls if you’re that in demand, as well as smart access to Google Assistant and Siri.
Plantronics Voyager Focus UC
The Platronics Voyager Focus looks noticeably different than the other headsets on this list. In fact, it looks more like traditional headphones. But this pair is built with comfort in mind. Ideal for office use and extended wearing, the Voyager Focus has soft, padded over-ear earpieces that won’t drive you mad to get them to sit comfortably. It also has a thin boom mic that extends out, and can be swiveled away when not in use. If you need to drown out noisy office chatter, you can activate the noise-canceling feature, which works a bit better than others on this list considering the over-ear form factor.
Jabra Stealth
Beyond appearance, the Stealth’s design is comfortable enough for all-day wear and is simultaneously intuitive, simple and effective. The Jabra Stealth performed better than most competitors in audio quality and overall call performance. It’s easy to set up and pair, and its two buttons are simple to figure out after little use. It received high marks for its audio and voice quality during our tests. The max volume level stays around 84 dB, and its ear cushions block enough ambient noise that you can clearly hear notifications and calls even on the lower end of the volume range. The Stealth is more likely to fit comfortably because it offers more options than the other headsets we reviewed. You can choose between six earpiece size options and two ear hooks to find your ideal wearing style. At 8 grams, the Stealth is one of the lightest Bluetooth devices we tested, which is a good thing if you’re planning on wearing it all day. Its battery lasts for up to six hours of talk time and up to 10 days on standby. We conducted our tests over five days of semi-frequent use, all on a single charge. Once the battery is depleted, it takes about two hours to get back to full. The Stealth charges via an included micro USB cable, but note that the box doesn’t include a wall adapter or car charger.
Jabra Motion
If good call quality is your first priority, look no further. You’ll enjoy motion- and environment-sensitive, noise-cancelling features — meaning you won’t have to worry about hearing prospects on a busy sales floor. And with seven hours of battery life, you won’t have to recharge mid-day.
Sennheiser Presence-UC
The Presence-UC features superior sound thanks to their proprietary HD Voice Clarity Technology. This high-definition audio technology makes the call as clear as possible, not only on the wearer’s side but on both sides of the connection.
The Presence has three microphones, rather than the usual two. The triple mics help to eliminate background noise. Sennheiser goes further than most Bluetooth headset manufacturers with Sennheiser Speak Focus technology, which eliminates most background noise, and WindSafe, which acts to eliminate wind sounds from a call. On top of all this, the ActiveGard feature will detect and eliminate sounds and noises that may be dangerous to the ear due to their high decibels or pitch.
This Sennheiser headset also features a high quality detachable ear hook for extra convenience. Its battery generally lasts for eight to ten hours – the longest on our list – thanks to its support for Bluetooth 4.0 LE. If superior audio technology and sparkling sound is what attracts you to a Bluetooth headset, the Sennheiser Presence-UC is the top-quality choice.
Sony WH-1000XM3
The excellent-sounding Sony WH-1000XM3 is more comfortable and 20 percent lighter than its predecessor. It offers slightly improved noise canceling and performs better as a headset for making calls. Battery life is strong, and it has some nifty extra features geared toward frequent travelers.
TOORUN M26 Bluetooth Headset
A much less expensive option comes from a company called TOORUN. Its M26 Bluetooth headset pairs with Bluetooth 4.1, and you can pair it with two devices. It also offers plenty of on-ear controls so you don’t need to get your phone out of your pocket to start a call. There’s also noise cancellation built-in to keep your surroundings from leaking into your call. This charges over Micro-USB, meaning you’ll be able to find spare chargers easily. You get up to seven hours of talk time, and five hours if you decide to use it for music.
Motorola Boom2+ Headset
The Boom2+ is one of Motorola’s premium modern options, and the construction and features show. The silicon earpiece is nice and soft so you’ll be able to leave it in your ear for extended periods of time, and at only .02 pounds, the weight won’t bog you down either. That flexibility is important, too, because the USB-rechargeable lithium-ion battery can give you up to seven hours of talk time on a single charge, so you’ll definitely be using it a lot.
The Bluetooth connectivity supports up to 300 feet of range, so even if you leave your phone across the room and wander on a call, you won’t drop the connection. Finally, Motorola has pulled out an extra trick to give you additional call clarity by including multiple microphones – one to pick up your voice itself, and the other to register background noise and snuff it out using built-in noise-canceling tech.
