Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Wireless Headset

September 22nd, 2005

5 out of 5 stars

I recently switch my wireless service provider and as a result bought two new phones (one for me and the other for my wife). The one I use is a LG VX8100 (Bluetooth capable) and my wife’s phone is a Samsung A670 (no Bluetooth). So after using those headsets with long wires for over two years, I decided to donate that to my wife and give a wireless headset a try (this Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Wireless headset). I do not have any other experience with a wireless headset so I will do the best I can to provide all the information I can.

At first I wanted to get the new Motorola H500 headset with a price tag of $69.99 plus tax, but no retailer has it in stock yet. I can order it from Motorola’s website but I did not want to wait 5 to 9 days for it to get to me. I went to BestBuy and my wife gave me an early Christmas present worth a hundred bucks. I am very happy with this model even though I was initially interested in the new H500.


WHAT’S NEW?
The difference between the HS850 and the older HS810 is the slight change in design (color), better volume, and longer battery life. The HS810 was silver whereas the new HS850 is grey. I have read that the HS810 was not loud enough for in some instances but Motorola improved that a little bit but not too much.

The only major noticeable difference is the battery life which is 8 hours of talk and 200 hours of standby time whereas the HS810 had 5 hours of talk and 100 hours of standby time. Another update that is not noticeable is the newer Bluetooth version (from 1.1 to 1.2). The new version 1.2 is supposed improve the quality of the calls, speed up the connections with the phones, and reduce interference.


BLUETOOTH VERSIONS :
Even though Bluetooth technology has been around for a number of years, it has just recently gained popularity when wireless phones and laptops required wireless connectivity. Throughout these years many different versions of Bluetooth have been developed as newer technology evolved. So far the most popular versions are 1.1 and 1.2; the HS810 is version 1.1 whereas the HS850 is compatible with 1.1 and 1.2. If you want more information on the latest Bluetooth technology please visit bluetooth.com to get detailed information. Version 1.2 is now the most popular version is the newest Bluetooth compatible devices and soon as technology progresses and this version number will increase resulting in a better faster wireless connectivity technology.


BATTERY LIFE :
The HS850 has better battery life and this could be a result of the newer version or just improved rechargeable battery technology. Depending on the amount of usage this unit will give you six to eight hours of talk time; this is a longest any Bluetooth (rechargeable) headset with give you. Your cell phones battery will probably run out before this headset is out of juice. By the way, it takes about two hours to fully charge this baby; the blue light will turn off when it is charged.

To increase the battery life a little bit, I suggest that you close the boom (the microphone section of the headset that folds in) to turn off the headset when it is not in use. But if you usually talk a lot on your phone, this would not help at all.


THE SOUND QUALITY :
I have not personally used the HS810 but I can proudly say that the sound is crisp and clear as with the wired headsets (maybe even better). I have not experience static or any other kind of disrupting noise while using this headset. The volume control helps adjust the volume to my needs and without the need to touch my phone. My wife sometimes complains that she can hear her own voice when I am on this headset, but decreasing the volume reduces that problem.


PERSONAL EXPERIENCE :
Well, I have used this HS850 Bluetooth headset for about a month now and I have been totally satisfied (sometimes amazed) with all of its features. It usually comes in handy when I am driving; it brings out the true meaning to hands-free system. Since my phone has the Voice Dialing feature, I do not have to use the phone to call someone or answer it; I love this feature the most. This headset fits nicely on my ear (left or right), and is very light and comfortable; it does not hurt my ear like some wired headsets I have used in the past.

The specifications said that it take about two hours to charge this unit, but mine always takes around one hour and a half to fully charge. It is also small enough to fit in my shirt pocket when I am not using it. I think I am falling in love with this unit and of course my new phone.

Just today I was able to use this headset with my computer to listen to music and dictate a review to my voice recognition software. It works well, but I have to talk louder for the voice recognition software to hear me properly. One I closed the boom the connection was closed as well, and when I reopened it, the computer does not automatically start using it (I have to do this manually). Other than that, I was very excited to try this with my desktop computer as I bought a USB Bluetooth adapter.


FINAL THOUGHTS :
The overall performance and quality of the Motorola HS850 is excellent and without defects, but if you ever do encounter any defects, Motorola does provide a one year limited warranty. Now this limited warranty does not cover everything, so I suggest buying for a retailer that provides their own warranty for free. This headset is very simple to use and is designed to attach itself to your ears perfectly without any discomfort. I would highly recommend this wireless headset to all who have a Bluetooth compatible phone and who want to get rid of as many wires as possible from their lives.

Manufacturer:

Motorola

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