Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset

The Motorola HS850 Bluetooth headset provides a decent, easy to use headset that has the features most users need and won't break the bank. Perhaps the most popular feature of this headset is its quick response time when you turn it on. You can actually leave the headset off until your phone rings, giving you effectively infinite standby time. When the mobile phone rings, flick the headset on, and within the space of a ring, the headset will be connected to the phone and you'll be talking to the caller.

Here are some of the other pros and cons of the Motorola HS850 Bluetooth headset.

Audio

Audio quality is good but not great in the HS850 Bluetooth headset. It may not be up to giving you the volume you need in noisier environments. And you may sound a little tinny to the person on the other end. Since the earpiece is not adjustable, the speaker may not be ideally placed for all users. And the rubber, noise-reducing seal can fall off after two or three months of use, compounding the problem.

Ease of Use

The HS850 features voice dialing, a definite plus. Just tap the large, easy to find button to get a connection with your mobile phone and speak the name of the contact you wish to call. Tap the button again when the call is over to end the connection. Tapping the same button will answer the call if the phone is ringing. Some users do complain that the voice dialing does not go as smoothly as one might wish.

Size

The Motorola HS850 is 2.15 x 2.5 x 0.75 inches with the boom extended. The boom can be flipped shut for safe and compact transportation. The headset weighs only 0.2 ounces, so it won't hang heavy on the ear.

Design

Like other Motorola headsets, this one has an oval shape which means there are no angles or corners to catch on anything, minimizing the risk that the headset will be knocked out of place. It features a boom microphone that can be folded in order to store the headset more compactly and to minimize the risk of the boom snapping off. Folding the boom also terminates a call.

Fit

Like the Motorola HS8910, the HS850 may feel somewhat loose in fit. Unfortunately the fit is not adjustable. It doesn't sit inside your ear like many headset. Rather it sits against your ear with rubber cushioning to keep you comfortable. The clip flips forward to accommodate users who wear glasses. It can be used in either ear.

Battery Life

The Motorola HS850 headset offers 8 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby. As mentioned above, the long standby is due to the fact that you can turn the headset completely off and it will still power up and connect fast enough to take an incoming call.

Price

The HS850 can be found for anywhere from $70 to $100 in the United States. The lower price is competitive for a headset with these features.