Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset [Bulk Packaged]

Amazon.com Hands-On Review

The Motorola HS850 is the company's update to their HS810 headset, one of my personal favorites. The changes made to produce the new HS850 are few, but the effect is relatively substantial. But first, let's start with what is the same.

Like the HS810, the HS850 makes use of a body design that employs a folding microphone boom. The folding microphone boom acts as the on and off switch, as well as just providing a convenient way to make the headset smaller and more pocketable when not in use. When a call comes into your phone, you can turn on and answer the phone at the same time just by unfolding the microphone boom. You can end the call and turn it off by removing the headset and re-folding it. Using the headset in this way conserves battery power, since no battery juice is wasted on standby time - time where the headset sits around waiting to be contacted by a mobile phone or other compatible device. The physical design of the HS850 and the battery savings it imparts is my favorite aspect of the Motorola HS850.

Of course you don't have to remove and turn off the headset between calls. If the headset is already on when an inbound call comes, you will hear the ringing come through on the headset and can answer it by pressing on the main multi-function call control button. You can end the call with this same button, and adjust volume levels with the two volume buttons. If you are using a phone that supports the Hands Free Bluetooth profile, then you can also use the call control button to reject an inbound call or redial the last number.

The HS850's audio properties are also like those of the HS810 before it. The audio quality in both directions is very clear and understandable, but sounds a bit thin. You and the party on the other end of the call will both be able to understand each other easily, it just doesn't sound as full and natural as it might with some other headsets. The HS850 makes up for this small lacking by having great resistance to wind noise, though. That makes the headset perfect for people that enjoy driving with their windows down, or those that work outside. Most headsets are very susceptible to wind noise, the HS850 bucks that trend.

And now for the new stuff. First up, a more powerful battery. The HS850 I tested managed an amazing 7 hours and 50 minutes of talk time. That is a full two thirds improvement over the older model. The truly amazing part is that this new battery life didn't come at the expense of added weight. Like the HS810 before it, the HS850 weighs only .7oz (19.9g).

The next major change perhaps sounds more important than it worked out to be in reality. The HS850 supports the newer Bluetooth v1.2 spec, whereas most headsets support v1.1 only. Motorola claims that when used with a v1.2 compatible phone (there are still relatively few available at the time I write this), the HS850 will be able to connect faster, use less battery power, and offer improved audio quality. While I can see what appears to be a slight improvement in connection speed, I haven't really noticed much of a change in battery life or audio quality.

The last major change is purely cosmetic. The new HS850 headset is blue-gray in color, like a darker version of the HS810's color. I find it more attractive than the light silver found on the HS810.

But regardless of the color, you can't go wrong with Motorola's HS850, which I consider to be perhaps the best value on the market.

--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

Pros:

Small, light
Comfortable
Nearly 8 hours of talk time
No wind noise
Can be worn on both ears

Cons:

A bit unusual looking
Audio lacks bass

What's in the box: Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset, User Manual, and Quick Start Guide.

Customer Reviews:

Superb quality for the price.......2007-12-30

Considering the low price, this is probably the best value headset currently available. I've lost three of these over the years, and keep ordering it again despite having four other headsets that I also use regularly. The flip-out boom mic is an excellent design that picks up your voice clearly even in noisy rooms and saves battery life without the annoying problem of having to hold down a button or check to see if the headset is on or off. The buttons are easy to access, even with driving gloves, requiring just the right amount of pressure. It's relatively comfortable, with a soft rubber flange around the speaker that keeps the ear from getting sore (though few headsets can match the Sony HBH-GV435 for comfort). I do find that it sometimes feels loose, making you wonder if it will fall off. It never does, but the design of the hinge is just a wee bit looser than it could be, causing that annoying feeling. When not being used, you just flip closed the boom mic and it fits nicely into a pocket, though the HS700 is smaller and more convenient for storing. Battery life is reasonable, but other headsets do offer better power efficiency. But for the price, you just can't go wrong with this unit.

!.......2007-12-28

my major problem was that the phone couldn't adjust to my ears since they are small. Also, it took too many steps to connect the device to my phone.

motorola.......2007-12-25

I like to tnx to amazon for help alots of people to save lots of money my hs 850 bluetooth is perfect,it was for my wife

I'm very satisfied.......2007-12-23

I've had 4 of these (or their predecessor) over a several year period. I liked my first one so much, i got a second one as a back up in case the battery died (i can't use it while it's charging because the coiled cord pulls it down toward the cigarette lighter/charger thing and it won't stay in my ear because of the pull of the coiled cord). Also, in case i might lose mine, i liked knowing i had a back up because i hate driving while holding the cell phone in my hand. I like the sound quality. I'm able to hear other people and they can hear me.

One of my first two of these died and Motorola sent me a new one, i guess it must've still been in warranty. It just stopped working, dead, wouldn't take a charge. The next two never died, but the little rubber ear seal thing fell off on one of them, after a really long time, a couple of years at least, and then it was harder to hear with it, and i was glad i had two. I still have the other old one that's been working for a long time with no problems but recently, the ear seal thing has partly come loose. It still works fine, but i saw this good price on this one on amazon so i got it to have an back up.

The only things i don't like about these--one, they use that two pronged charger while my phone uses mini USB, and i wish the handsfree charger uses mini USB too, so i'd only have one charger instead of needing two different ones, and the other thing is, i find the pairing maneuver harder than i would like, the way you have to hold it closed while pushing the button, and then quickly open it when it starts flashing while still holding the button down, it's awkward and too hard for me to remember easily so i sometimes have to use the user manual or call support because it stays connected with my phone so well, i dont have to use this maneuver very often and i forget how to do it.

but overall, for me, this handsfree has good quality sound and stays connected. Very reliable. Pretty comfortable. It's worked well with three or four phone models i've had. I've tried numerous wired hands frees in order to have something as a back up when the wireless one's battery dies during use, and the sound is always much poorer on those, not so much hearing my caller, but them hearing me, i get complaints on the wired ones i try. I never get complaints with the HS 850.

Motorola HS850 Headset.......2007-12-21

Love the headset. Then only thing is that is not that comfortable when using it.. It has excellent reception and the clarity is outstanding. Must buy..

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