In our fast-paced times, we can’t wait until we stop our car to take or make or take phone calls. That’s one of the situations where the Best Bluetooth Headset for calls.
Fortunately, these days most new cars come equipped with Bluetooth which makes your driving a lot safer. There are also alternatives for you that have a less recent car or prefer a separate headset.
In this article, we’re going over the best Bluetooth headset for phone calls. Many times you’ll be using them at the office or at home. They can also be the best Bluetooth headset for car use. They will work well in all those situations.
If you’re reading this you are probably guessing that a Bluetooth headset can be very useful, and you’d be right.
It allows you to take a call while still focusing on traffic while driving. And if you’re at the office or at home, it allows you to talk and still have both hands free to work.
While walking or using public transport you can use it to listen to a podcast comfortably without the inconvenience of cords. Yes, a Bluetooth headset won’t be useful just for making calls.
In a hurry? Here’s our best tip:
In that case, my favorite option is the Plantronics Explorer 55. It has an awesome price, a very long talk time and its light weight is a plus for comfort.
It’s surely one of the best Bluetooth headsets for calls on this article.
For other alternatives, please read until the end, including our final suggestions.
Table of Contents
- What to look for in a Bluetooth headset?
- Best Bluetooth Headset for vehicle use
- Wrap up on buying the Best Bluetooth Headset
What to look for in a Bluetooth headset?
Talk time is one of the main priorities you should look for in most circumstances. Aim for at least about 6 hours. That will cover a day’s use for most people.
But if you plan on more intensive usage or want to charge less frequently, consider more talk time. About 8-10 hours will be very good.
Also very important is the weight. It might seem irrelevant when you hold them in your hand, they all seem pretty light. But you’ll change your mind after a few hours of use.
Try to choose a headset that doesn’t weigh over 0,5oz (14g). If you want to get the lightest headsets then look for 0,35oz (10g) or a bit less. Those will be very light and make it easier to go on using them for long hours. Avoid devices that weigh over 0,7oz (20g) unless you use them sparsely.
Best Bluetooth Headset for vehicle use
If you need more information about these features, check out our article on How to choose a Bluetooth Headset. They are very relevant when choosing the best Bluetooth headset.
Product comparison table
This table helps to compare the various products in this review:
| Product | Talk time & charge time | Estimated Range | Bluetooth version & profiles | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser Presence UC ML | Up to 10h; 90m | 80 feet (25m) | 4.0; HSP 1.2 + HFP 1.6 + A2DP 1.2 | 0,46oz; 13g |
| Jabra Wave | Up to 6h; 180m | 30 feet (10m) | 2.1; HSP (v1.2), HFP (v1.6), A2DP | 0,46oz; 13g |
| Plantronics M100 | Up to 6h; 90m | 30 feet (10m) | 2.1; HSP (v1.1), HFP (v1.5) | 0,32oz; 9g |
| Plantronics Voyager 5200 | Up to 7h; 90m | 100 feet (30m) | 4.1; HSP, HFP, AVRCP, PBAP | 0,71oz; 20g |
| Jabra Stealth | Up to 6h; 120m | 100 feet (30m) | 4.0; HSP (v1.2), HFP (v1.6), A2DP (v1.2), PBAP (v1.0) | 0,28oz; 8g |
| Plantronics Voyager Legend | Up to 7h; 90m | 30 feet (10m) | 3.0; HSP 1.2 + HFP 1.6 + A2DP + AVRCP | 0,63oz; 18g |
| Plantronics Explorer 55 | Up to 11h; 120m | 30 feet (10m) | 3.0; HSP (v1.1), HFP (v1.6), A2DP | 0,35oz; 10g |
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1. Sennheiser Presence UC ML
The Sennheiser Presence UC ML promises to deliver about 10 hours of talk time which is great. In fact, it ranked among the best in this regard.
Besides the usual Bluetooth profiles it has A2DP, which guarantees better stereo sound quality.
Pros:
- Huge talk time
- Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP
- Great sound quality
Cons:
- Bluetooth 2.1
- Pricey
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2. Jabra Wave
The Jabra Wave looks good and promises a talk time of 6 hours, which should be enough for most days’ use.
It does show its age using the older Bluetooth 2.1 and doesn’t feel competitive at its price. Charging it takes a long time at 180m (3 hours).
Other than that, there’s nothing really wrong with it but you can get better options for the money.
Pros:
- Good talk time
- Comfortable
- Features A2DP
Cons:
- Bluetooth 2.1
- Charging takes too long
- Pricey for a device that feels less than competitive
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3. Plantronics M100
The Plantronics M100 resembles the Jabra Wave since it has the same talk time of 6 hours and also still uses Bluetooth 2.1.
That said the M100 will cost you a lot less.
It’s also quite lightweight at only 0,32oz (9g). That’s important if you wear it for long hours in a row.
Pros:
- Good talk time
- Comfortable
- Very lightweight
Cons:
- Bluetooth 2.1
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4. Plantronics Voyager 5200
The Plantronics Voyager 5200 offers 7 hours of talk time. It uses Bluetooth 4.1.
It features AVRCP which allows you to change volume, choose play, pause or skip tracks. That’s great if you listen to audiobooks or podcasts on the go. It also has PBAP, in which instead of saying the number when someone is calling you will actually say their name (if that number is in your contact’s list).
A rather uncommon feature of the Voyager 5200 is that it is IPX4 water-resistant. You should still avoid any contact with water just to be on the safe side since it is splash resistant, but not waterproof.
Now for the downside, it weighs 0,71oz (20g). If you don’t wear it for long hours at a time it’s still a great option.
Pros:
- Good talk time
- Bluetooth 4.1
- Features AVRCP and PBAP
- IPX4 splash resistant
Cons:
- Weight can be unpleasant when used for long hours
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5. Jabra Stealth
The Jabra Stealth will get you 6 hours of talk time while featuring Bluetooth 4.0.
It has PBAP and it’s very lightweight which makes it ideal when wearing it for long hours. It only weighs 0,28oz (8g).
Charging takes about 2 hours which is more than average.
All in all, a great option.
Pros:
- Good talk time
- Features PBAP and A2DP
- Very lightweight
Cons:
- Charge time
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6. Plantronics Voyager Legend
You can go on calls for around 7 hours with the Plantronics Voyager Legend. It has Bluetooth 3.0 with AVRCP and A2DP.
A downside is its weight of 0,63oz (18g). It can be a great option if you don’t wear it for long hours in a row.
All the other headsets in this review use micro USB for charging. Unfortunately, the Voyager Legend does not. It has its own magnetic connector.
For many years Android phones used micro USB for charging and many new ones still do. It’s the closest as standard as it gets. For that reason, it’s easier to have a micro USB cable in your usual locations or borrow from somebody else than to depend on a specific and rare cable.
If you forget it on a journey, for example, it’s a matter of time for your headset to be out of juice.
Pros:
- Good talk time
- Has AVRCP
Cons:
- Weight can be unpleasant when used for long hours
- Depends on a specific charging cable
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7. Plantronics Explorer 55
The Explorer 55 is the cheapest of the devices on these articles. So you can’t expect much, or can you? Well, you might be in for a surprise.
Talk time is a big upside, 11 hours. Yes, you got that right, eleven. It has Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP.
Weight gets another thumbs up at only 0,35oz (10g).
Being a great budget Bluetooth headset, it can’t be great in every aspect.
One obvious downside is the charging time. 120 minutes is a long time. That downside is minimized by the 11 hours of talk time which helps to reduce the need to charge. A good option is to take the opportunity to charge it for some minutes when it’s convenient, which will help to keep it going.
The sound quality and noise cancelation aren’t the best, reflecting the price.
All in all, it’s an economical product that offers a lot of bang for the buck.
If after reading this review you’re unsure of what you need or you just want a simple and effective Bluetooth headset for calling, we’d say you can’t get it wrong choosing the Explorer 55.
Pros:
- Huge talk time
- Very lightweight
- Features A2DP
Cons:
- Price
- Long charge time
Wrap up on buying the Best Bluetooth Headset
In conclusion, if you’re looking for the best Bluetooth headset, you got great options here.
After reviewing these seven capable products, we can sum it up like this:
Longest talk-time: Plantronics Explorer 55 & Sennheiser Presence UC ML
Best features: Plantronics Voyager 5200
Lightweight champion: Jabra Stealth
Best budget option: Plantronics Explorer 55
I hope this article helps you to get the best Bluetooth headset for phone calls.
For more information check out our article on How to choose a Bluetooth Headset.
