Review: Jabra BT500 Bluetooth Headset

Jabra BT500

Jabra BT500

Jabra BT500

Jabra BT500
Weight	19g (0.67oz)
Body Size	61mm x 101mm x 15mm (2.4" x 3.9" x 0.6")
Talk Time(1)	6:55
Ear Loop	Over Ear
Left/Right Ear?	Both
LEDs	1, blue
Pairings	Unspecified
Headset Sound	Excellent
Mic Sound	Good, though lacks noise reduction
Talk Test	MP3
Wind Test	MP3
Noise Test	MP3
Included Accessories	AC Charger, USB Charger, bag of Jabra MiniGels
1) hh:mm. Music was piped continually through the headset in both directions, for a worse-case scenario

The Jabra BT500 Bluetooth headset, which is the upgraded model of the BT250, gives off the first impression of a sleek, yet uncomfortable looking headset. Thankfully, this opinion was quickly reversed once we started using the headset, and our experience overall has actually been quite pleasant.

The Jabra BT500 is quite a large unit, and although much of the body is hidden behind your ear, it is a very noticeable headset when being worn. Aside from its size, the BT500 is quite a sleek looking unit, combining a matte dark grey finish with a reflective gunmetal colored plate on the microphone, which is an attractive touch. At 15mm (0.6"), the BT500 is a very thin headset, though the other two dimensions are not so petite. Measuring 61mm x 101mm (2.4" x 3.9"), the BT500 is a fairly large but very sturdy headset. At 19g (0.67oz), the BT500 is quite light for its size. The headset is very well balanced, and so does not feel at all heavy while on the ear. The Jabra BT500 has one LED that is blue in color and located on the back of the unit.

The lithium polymer battery of the BT500 turned in a good performance, returning 6:55 (hh:mm) of talk time, though this is well under the manufacturer's claim of 8 hours. Standby time is claimed to be 240 hours, or ten days. Charging the lithium polymer battery is a simple task, as included in the Jabra BT500 package are two charging options - an AC charger and a 20cm (7.87") USB charging cable.

Also included with the Jabra BT500 is a bag of Jabra MiniGels. Jabra MiniGels are soft, gel-like ear buds that have been designed and patented by Jabra. They are washable, hygienic, and quite comfortable for in canal ear buds.

There are four buttons for use on the BT500. The first is a multifunction button that is located towards the end of the boom. This button is hidden away nicely, but remains very easy to find with a finger. Two volume buttons are easy to get to, but require a lot of pressure to press, especially when wearing the headset. The third button is a dedicated pairing button. This button, along with the default pairing code of 0000, make the task of pairing the BT500 with your phone or mobile device an extremely simple one.

The Jabra BT500 is a very easy headset to use. Holding the multifunction button down for about two seconds powers the headset up, plays a small ascending tone, and flashes the blue LED. To power down the unit, hold the button for six seconds, and you will hear a descending tone, and the LED again flashes. All the basic functions are supported by the BT500, including answering, ending, and rejecting calls, voice dialing, last number redialing, call waiting, putting a call on mute, and putting a call on hold. The multifunction button, using a combination of long and short presses, controls all of these functions. Pairing the BT500 is an amazingly simple task thanks to the dedicated pairing button; simply hold the button down for two seconds and you are greeted with a tone and continuous blue light.

 

Featured products from the MobileBurn store