Review: AAA Powered Motorola H300 Bluetooth Headset

Motorola H300

Motorola H300

Motorola H300

Motorola H300
Weight	24.5g (0.86oz)
Body Size	65mm x 21mmm (2.55" x 0.82")
Talk Time(1)	26:33
Ear Loop	Over Ear
Left/Right Ear?	Both
LEDs	1, Blue
Pairings	Unknown
Headset Sound	Good, though a little soft
Mic Sound	No noise reduction, but good in quiet environments
Talk Test	MP3
Wind Test	MP3
Noise Test	MP3
Included Accessories	None
1) hh:mm. Music was piped continually through the headset in both directions, for a worse-case scenario

The Motorola H300, like the previously reviewed Motorola HS805, is a Bluetooth headset powered by a single AAA battery. Unlike the HS805 however, this time Motorola have the little things right.

The stylish and elegant Motorola H300 comes in three colors - pearl and dark grey, pure white, and pink. The test model we had was the stylish (though slightly feminine) pink, but from pictures published, the other two colors also look to hold their own aesthetically. As well as being easy on the eyes, the body of the H300 is quite sturdy, though not overly scratch resistant. At 65mm x 21mm (2.55" x 0.82"), the H300 is a similar size to its fellow battery powered relative, the HS805. With a weight of 24.5g (0.86oz) with an AAA battery loaded, the H300 is neither overly heavy, nor strikingly light, but is well balanced when on the ear.

Battery life is another similarity between the H300 and the HS805, with the H300 pulling a previously unheard of 26:33 (hh:mm) of talk time from a single AAA battery. The problems I had changing the battery with the HS805 must have been a one off, because this time Motorola got it right. Opening the battery compartment is extremely simple, and once it is open, thanks to its flexibility, putting a battery in or taking one out is a quick and simple task. Although with over one day of talk time, and a manufacturer claim of 30hrs of standby time, changing the battery will be a rare occurrence.

As is becoming the standard with Motorola headsets, the H300 has just three buttons. The main (multifunction) button is used to control virtually all call functions, and two volume buttons located towards the rear of the boom control the volume.

The problem I mentioned with the sensitivity of the HS805's multifunction button has been rectified, and as such, the pressure required for activation of the button on the H300 is excellent. After unsuccessfully attempting to activate the multifunction button whilst carrying the headset in my pocket, I assumed that it would be much harder to press. This was far from the case. The button is less protruding than the corresponding button of the HS805, therefore is less likely to be pressed inadvertently. The H300's button does, however, remain easy to push when on the ear, and it causes no discomfort in doing so.

Turning the H300 on and off was as simple as holding the multifunction button for a few seconds until the bright blue LED light flashed, or when wearing the headset, an ascending or descending tone was heard. The blue LED can be turned off during phone calls by holding both volume buttons for 3-4 seconds.

Pairing the H300 with both a Nokia 6230 and a Sony Ericsson W800i was a piece of cake, and with the headset supporting Bluetooth 1.1 and 1.2, as well as both headset and handsfree profiles, the H300 will be compatible with almost any Bluetooth enabled device. Like many new Bluetooth audio devices, when the H300 is powered up, it searches for and (if found) tries to connect to the last device it was successfully connected to. This feature can save a lot of time and hassle, especially for users who only use the headset with one device. Motorola have not listed a limit on the number of devices that can be paired with the H300, but with three paired in tests, there were no problems.

 

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