The Motorola HS810 Bluetooth headset makes use of a folding microphone boom design that Motorola jointly developed with GN Netcom a few years ago. While the HS810 might not be the most attractive headset on the market, the folding boom certainly makes it one of the more practical. When the boom is folded, the device is off. When the boom is extended, the headset powers up and immediately connects to the phone - answering any inbound calls in the process. This design makes standby battery life almost a non-issue since you can easily keep the HS810 powered off when you are not actively using it, turning it on only for an actual call. Its battery life is quite good, with my tests coming in at 5.25 hours of talk time. That's quite a good deal if you don't have to worry about the battery draining while it sits on your desk between calls. A light user like me can easily go a week or two between recharges.
The HS810 folds neatly and fits easily in your pocket. |
The folding design has another benefit, too. The HS810 is very pocketable when it is folded closed. Nothing sticks out that could easily get damaged or broken while it is in your pocket. When folded up, the HS810 is just barely over 2 inches in length and a bit less than 1.25 inches in width. Considering that it weighs .70oz (19.9g), you will barely notice it at all.
Of course you need more than a power switch to operate a headset, to which the HS810 offers a call control/multi-purpose button and a pair of volume keys. The multi-purpose button let's you answer and end calls, as well as initiate voice dialing, reject inbound calls, and redial the last number when used with a phone that supports the Hands Free Bluetooth profile. Most every Bluetooth phone on the market today supports this profile.
The Motorola HS810 can be linked up (or "paired") with up to 8 devices at the same time. This means that you can use it with your phone as well as perhaps your desktop PC and a laptop, assuming the computers have compatible Bluetooth adapters that support headset use. This means that you could potentially use your headset with VOIP applications like Skype as well as with games and other functions.
Two softly pulsating blue LEDs signal when the headset is in use. |
People will also be able to tell that you are actively using the headset because of the softly pulsating twin Blue LEDs. Unlike many other headsets on the market, the LEDs fade in and out instead of blinking or flashing annoyingly. The same LEDs will let you know when the device has properly been put into pairing mode when you are linking it up with a phone or computer (the default PIN code is "0000").
In terms of audio quality, the Motorola HS810 runs in the middle of the road. The quality is very clear and easy to understand, both inbound and outbound, but it does suffer from a lack of bass sound. The audio is just a bit on the thin side when compared to the best performing headsets on the market. To perhaps make up for that, though, the HS810 offers something much more practical: an amazing ability to resist wind noise. The HS810 is the ideal headset for people that want to have the windows down while driving or who spend a lot of time outdoors. The HS810's maximum volume level should be fine for most situations.
In short, I highly recommend the Motorola HS810.
--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com
Pros:
Small, light
Comfortable
5 hours of talk time
No wind noise
Can be worn on both ears
