Customer Reviews

Nokia HDW-3 Bluetooth Wireless Headset

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this headset specifically because of the independant on/off button. Most headsets, when on, prevent the handset from ringing. When off, they take upwards of three to five seconds to turn on. Since I do not wear my headset all of the time this is a problem for me as I want to hear my handset ring and be able to turn on the headset to answer the call.

Interestingly, the HDW-3 circumvents this problem entirely by allowing the handset and the headset to ring at the same time. If I am wearing my headset not only do I hear the ring tone in my ear, but also from the phone. If the headset is off it is only a matter of pressing the on/off button for a second to activate the headset and take the call wirelessly. Very convenient.

The sound quality is very good, and the headset supports phone audio, standard audio, and voice dialing.

Bluetooth connectivity is a snap. Whenever the headset is turned on it is discoverable for ten minutes. No fiddling with headset buttons to make the connection is necessary. The headset can connect to a maximum of eight devices, one at a time. The first device it pairs with is the default device, and it will always try to connect to this device first when turned on. If it cannot connect to the default device it will attempt to connect to the last connected device other than the default.

One thing that really threw me was the absence of an AC adapter with the headset. Since the headset is by Nokia they apparently expect the customer to already own a Nokia phone. The headset works with several different Nokia AC adapters, which is nice, but if you don't already have one of these then you're faced with purchasing a seperate item just to use this device. Very poor decision on Nokia's part, especially with a $100 original retail price.

The ear loops are just rubber bits that sort of snap onto the headset. They're somewhat stiff and very uncomfortable if worn incorrectly. Getting the right fit can be difficult. There are two different sized loops included, but this doesn't really account for much variation in people's ear shapes and sizes. I've found that wearing the larger loop upside down provides the most comfortable fit. It's comfortable enough for short term wear which is what I wanted it for anyway.

The very odd little membranous buttons on top of the unit are for the volume. They're a bit hard to press since they're so tiny, and it's hard to tell if you're actually pressing them when wearing the device.

Overall, I like this unit. It sounds good, works with the h6315 the way I want it to, and is lightweight. Nokia dropped the ball on wearability and failed to include an AC adapter. If you're looking for a headset to wear as necessary, and you've already got a Nokia adapter laying around then this is a great sounding, easy to use device.

Pros:
Easy connectivity
Lightweight and sharp looking
Sounds great
Phone and headset ring at the same time.
Independant on/off switch

Cons:
No AC adapter included
Uncomfortable ear piece
Bizarre volume buttons

I've owned this for about 3wks now and this is what I like about it:

-VERY small and light weight!
-mic is very sensitive and clear
-earpiece sound quality is almost the same as hearing it from the headset
-battery life is very close to what's advertised
-it looks really cool!

What I don't like about it:
-volume buttons are too small and hard to get at

I used to own the Jabra BT headset and I'm glad I switched. The Nokia has a dedicated on/off switch versus the Jabra's "press and hold this button for 5sec to turn on or off" switch. Belive me, it saves a wealth of convenience.

Mic. is too sens. in windy street conditions, inside it is perfect. If you talk a lot something like 40-70 min/day, battery will last about 1-1.5 days.

Cons: cant leave it on a charger for all night, it will kill battery within 1-2 months.

The battery life is excellent, it uses the same recharger cord as my Nokia phone, so it is convenient during travel. It's an excellent improvement from the corded headset and an all around terrific device.

My next purchas will definitely be a Nokia device, but I have come back to provide a review 2 months after my initial purchas. These are the things I would consider prior to your purchase.

1) Volume could be louder--I sometimes have a difficult time hearing others. This is usually not the case for me.

2) This device picks up wind when I walk. People have asked me why I am breathing heavy! That's so funny because I'm in pretty good shape, but the device is quite sensitive and others claim they hear me well.

Despite these minor shortcomings, I will go back to Nokia with my next phone and headset purchases.

I bought an HDW-2 three years ago but returned it almost immediately because of various problems.

I bought an HDW-3 over a year ago and like it except for two primary issues.

First, it is impossible to use outside because the wind drowns out the communication.

Second, the the large earpiece broke--not the electronics, just the plastic attachment--and Nokia customer service tells me "the earloop for your Nokia HDW-3 Wireless Headset is not a user-replaceable part and is not available for sale or to send out." Egads--I have to buy a whole new unit!

It works but anytime you are away from the phone you have to reset the connection

This thing is crap. The "large" ear piece was rather small and broke within a week. Nokia *promised* me twice they would send me a replacement ear clip but never did. Eventually it became an expensive (but light) paperweight. I'm sure there are tons better on the market. Don't waste your money.

Sounds Quality is very Good, Good Price. I have tried it with my Nokia 6230 Phone. You can use the same battery charger that the phone use.