We try to keep our fingers on the pulse of the latest hands-free trends, and these days Bluetooth headsets are at the top of the list.

A Bluetooth headset is simply a hands-free earpiece (usually for just a single ear, such as the photo on the right) that is wireless and connects to your cellular phone using a unique wireless ID. Bluetooth is a technology that allows devices to exchange data at a short distance, usually about 20-30 feet.

There are probably almost a hundred different bluetooth headsets on the market, maybe even more, so sifting through all of them can be overwhelming. Most phones and equipment that are “bluetooth enabled” come with the same level of bluetooth technology and are therefore compatible with most headsets. There are a few noteworthy differences between bluetooth versions and profiles, that we will get into, but for the most part, when you are shopping for a bluetooth headset and you know your phone is “bluetooth enabled”, then you can safely shop based on price and personal preference on the actual headset. There are a wide range of choices for size, color, in-ear, over-ear, with and without a boom mic, range, battery life etc. We can’t hit on all of the available headsets but we will try to narrow down the “concepts” and differences to consider when buying one, so you can steer in the right direction.

The most frequent question we hear is, “Is this bluetooth headset compatible with my cell phone?”.

And the answer is almost always yes, if your phone is Bluetooth enabled. As we previously stated, almost all phones, at least within the last couple years, come with the same bluetooth profile to allow it to connect to any bluetooth headset. You will commonly hear Bluetooth 2.0, which refers to the latest version of the bluetooth technology on the market. To find out if your cell phone is bluetooth compatible, just check the documentation or visit the website of your phone’s manufacturer. Most manufactures will list the technical specifications of their phones.

Battery life is another major concern for buyers.

The majority of bluetooth headsets are rechargable. That is, they have internal lithium ion batteries and can be plugged in using the included charged, just like you charge your cell phone. Battery life for a bluetooth headset is usually stated in two parts: the talk time and the standby time. Talk time is just that, the battery life you can expect when actually using your headset in a phone call conversation. Talking on your headset consumes more power so the talk time will always be less. The average talk time for most bluetooth headsets ranges from 4 hours to 10 + hours. Standby time is the battery life of your bluetooth headset while turned on but not in a phone call; also referred to as idle time. You can make and receive calls in this mode, but less power is being used while the device “waits” for a call. It’s important to review the battery life for any bluetooth headset you are considering, especially if you are a business traveler and intend on being out of the office and away from your charger for extended periods of time.

A2DP - Advanced Audio Distribution Profile

This is defined as the technology that allows high quality audio (stereo or mono) to be streamed from one device to another over a Bluetooth connection. For example, music streamed from a mobile phone to a wireless headset. There is a lot of confusion over this technology and not all devices are created equal. The iPhone for example, DOES NOT, include the A2DP profile, much to the frustration of Apple enthusiasts everywhere. Why do you care about A2DP? Well let’s say for example that you have a stereo bluetooth headset (one that goes in both ears… the traditional headphones). If your cellphone or MP3 player includes the A2DP profile, then you can listen to your music or other audio in stereo using this headset. Another common use for profile is the installed stereo and GPS (global positioning systems) navigation systems that come in many new vehicles. Without the A2DP profile, you will not be able to stream music or video to your vehicle system using a wireless bluetooth connection. You would need a wired adapter to connect your iPod, iPhone or MP3 player. You can still, however, make and receive phone calls (in mono sound) using your iPhone (or other non-A2DP phone) in your car if you have an installed bluetooth car kit (which we discuss in our other guides for Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kits and Bluetooth Installed Car Kits).

Boom or No Boom

As we said before, bluetooth headsets come in many different styles. A major difference between headsets is whether it comes with or without a boom. A boom is simply referring to an extended microphone. A boom can help increase voice clarity and volume, especially if you are driving with significant background road noise. The tradeoff is that bluetooth headsets are less compact then those without a boom. Larger headsets with a boom extension also may have more battery capacity due to the overall increase in device size. Prices vary for the different types of bluetooth headsets and having or not having a boom does not necessarily mean a higher or lower price. It comes down to personal preference and reliability.

Interested in buying a new Bluetooth headset for your phone? Click Here To View All Our Available Bluetooth Headsets by Brand Name