No Hands Required
Jabra Wave Red
Jabra Wave is a comparatively large, over-the-ear Bluetooth headset. It is a good-looking headset but may not be ideal for a formal outing.
The Wave might be big, but it is not heavy. Even though half the headset goes behind the ear, it’s very comfortable. The top part is soft and can be bent to get a good fit. It took a while to sit properly, but most users should be able to put it on quite easily.
The Wave is well-built, has several buttons on its body. The call/pairing button is at its lowermost tip. The charging port has a thin cover, which keeps the dust out.
For all the comfort, it would have been great if the Wave had performed well in noisy environments. Voice reception was fine but the user’s voice mingles with the background noise. In quiet environments, the Wave performs well. Its range is about five feet, so don't go too far from the phone. It costs Rs 3,899.
Nokia Luna
At first glance, few would guess that the Nokia Luna is a Bluetooth headset. Its elegant design allows the headset to fit into its cradle with a light ‘click’ sound, when pressed and another tap makes it pop out of the cradle.
The cradle is about the size of a golf ball with a micro-USB charging port on one end. The cradle supplies a trickle of power to the Luna, keeping it charged on the go.
The quirky, triangular headset comes with a tiny multi-function button. With this, one can receive and end calls, pair it with other devices and power the headset on or off. Those with small fingers might be comfortable with this button, but most people will find it difficult to use.
Call clarity on the Luna is very good. While on call, the audio is clear and the person on the other end of the line will not have any trouble hearing you.
The Luna is a near field communication (NFC) enabled device. Just tap any other NFC-enabled phone and it will pair with the device.
Though it has most traits of a good Bluetooth headset, the lack of an over-the-ear holder makes it risky to use. Each time you touch your ear, there is a chance that the Luna might fall off. It is not recommended for use in crowds, unless you put it in the cradle.
If a holder could be added and the button made bigger, the Nokia Luna would be a must-have accessory. It costs Rs 4,530.
Plantronics Marque M155
Marque M155 looks like most Bluetooth headsets available in the market. It appears rather professional and is compact and comfortable.
It has a volume button on one side and a power button on the other. The micro-USB port for charging the device is at the top. The outer side of the M155 has a button for calls and pairing.
The controls are kept simple on the headset. The call button is on the face of the headset and performs a range of functions, from activating voice-dial to ending calls.
The headset pairs quickly enough most of the time. Voice clarity was not a problem, but the headset did not perform well in noisy, outdoor environments. This device costing Rs 3,290 charges quickly and the battery life is a decent four and a half hours.
Jabra Drive
The Jabra Drive is an in-car speakerphone. For those who are not comfortable with a headset, this is an alternative hands-free solution.
The Jabra Drive is basic and well-built . It has a wide metal clip, which fits on the car visor. Volume controls lie above the speaker, which doubles as a multi-function button. The power button and the micro-USB charging port are on the side.
Jabra Drive supports multiple connections, allowing users to connect more than one phone at a time. Voices sound clear enough with good volume control.
Although the Drive supports music playback, the sound quality is average. When playing music, if you get an SMS, the Drive lowers the volume for a couple of seconds, to let you know you’ve got a text message.
Since this is a basic speakerphone, it does not have the audible caller ID feature. Apart from that, the Drive, at Rs 3,999, performs well.
Pranay
Parab SIE 120527
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