Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset (Silver) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

Other products by Motorola

Product Features

• Ships in Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging
• 1-touch call button with pulsing light during conversations
• Frequency hopping and improved interference rejection
• Up to 8 hours talk time and 200 hours standby
• Includes charger

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0029Z9TA6
• Item model number: HS850
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,937 in Cell Phones & Service (See Bestsellers in Cell Phones & Service)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Motorola HS850 is the company's update to their HS810 headset, one of my personal favorites. The changes made to produce the new HS850 are few, but the effect is relatively substantial. But first, let's start with what is the same.

Like the HS810, the HS850 makes use of a body design that employs a folding microphone boom. The folding microphone boom acts as the on and off switch, as well as just providing a convenient way to make the headset smaller and more pocketable when not in use. When a call comes into your phone, you can turn on and answer the phone at the same time just by unfolding the microphone boom. You can end the call and turn it off by removing the headset and re-folding it. Using the headset in this way conserves battery power, since no battery juice is wasted on standby time - time where the headset sits around waiting to be contacted by a mobile phone or other compatible device. The physical design of the HS850 and the battery savings it imparts is my favorite aspect of the Motorola HS850.

The HS850 folds neatly and fits easily in your pocket.

Of course you don't have to remove and turn off the headset between calls. If the headset is already on when an inbound call comes, you will hear the ringing come through on the headset and can answer it by pressing on the main multi-function call control button. You can end the call with this same button, and adjust volume levels with the two volume buttons. If you are using a phone that supports the Hands Free Bluetooth profile, then you can also use the call control button to reject an inbound call or redial the last number.

The HS850's audio properties are also like those of the HS810 before it. The audio quality in both directions is very clear and understandable, but sounds a bit thin. You and the party on the other end of the call will both be able to understand each other easily, it just doesn't sound as full and natural as it might with some other headsets. The HS850 makes up for this small lacking by having great resistance to wind noise, though. That makes the headset perfect for people that enjoy driving with their windows down, or those that work outside. Most headsets are very susceptible to wind noise, the HS850 bucks that trend.

Two softly pulsating blue LEDs signal when the headset is in use.

And now for the new stuff. First up, a more powerful battery. The HS850 I tested managed an amazing 7 hours and 50 minutes of talk time. That is a full two thirds improvement over the older model. The truly amazing part is that this new battery life didn't come at the expense of added weight. Like the HS810 before it, the HS850 weighs only .7oz (19.9g).

The next major change perhaps sounds more important than it worked out to be in reality. The HS850 supports the newer Bluetooth v1.2 spec, whereas most headsets support v1.1 only. Motorola claims that when used with a v1.2 compatible phone (there are still relatively few available at the time I write this), the HS850 will be able to connect faster, use less battery power, and offer improved audio quality. While I can see what appears to be a slight improvement in connection speed, I haven't really noticed much of a change in battery life or audio quality.

The last major change is purely cosmetic. The new headset is sold in this very nice black color and is also available in blue-gray, like a darker version of the HS810's color. I find both colors more attractive than the light silver found on the HS810.

But regardless of the color, you can't go wrong with Motorola's HS850, which I consider to be perhaps the best value on the market.

Pros:

• Small, light
• Comfortable
• Nearly 8 hours of talk time
• No wind noise
• Can be worn on both ears

Cons:

• A bit unusual looking
• Audio lacks bass

What's in the box:
Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset, User Manual, and Quick Start Guide.

--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

Product Description

Jawbone 2 silver bulk packageNew, bulk items with b/w photocopy manuals.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It works... Period., September 23, 2009

By	Conrad Alan "con" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is for the Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset (Color Sent Based on Availability. Comes in Black, Blue and Grey, or Silver)[Bulk Packaged]. I like the frustration-free packaging, and I also like the gray/blue color.

I got this bluetooth headset when I lost my previous unit Plantronics Explorer 220 Bluetooth Headset (Black). I didn't miss it, since it was a P.O.S. anyway.

I know when this bluetooth is on/off... you open the microphone boom to turn it on, you fold it back to turn it off. No buttons to look for or mess with. The connection when turned on is relatively fast. The soft rubber ear hook is gentler to my sensitive ear, and I've never had a problem with poor signal or dropped connections.

-the transmission is strong: I always have a decent signal, I can hear the person I am calling, and the other person can hear me just as well
-I've never had a dropped bluetooth connection,
-there are NO unwanted noise whatsoever
-it never "accidentally" turns on when in my pocket; I know when it is on/off when the microphone boom is out/in
-The soft rubber ear hook is gentle on my sensitive ear
-the battery life is relatively long, compared to other bluetooth units I've used

What I would like to see with this in future models are:
- standardized charging interface (like what is happening with the cell phones... I've heard there is a push for a mini-USB connection so that one charger can be used with all cell phones)
- an inner-ear-device-type earpiece (like some earbuds) which can reduce background noise; this is how the newer bluetooth units are (ie. jabra); the HS850 has a mini speaker sitting on top of the ear (like the old-school earphones)
- a way to turn off the blue light when activated, connected, and in use
- mute button

Overall, I highly recommend it. I actually bought one more as a spare (in case I lose or break my other one). I only gave it 4 stars because of the proprietary, non-standard connection to the charger. Otherwise, a good buy at a great price.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars formal claim, August 23, 2009

By	Angel Virla "Jose Angel Virla" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Gentlemen Amazon.com, I would like to his knowledge, as you know, in the month of July I made a purchase in your web page. where I purchased a Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset, which came in the indicated time, but arrived damaged, I made the respective claim and perform each and every one of the steps to return them the article damaged and you send me another healthy or undertake me the return of money, you I confirmed that already received had the exactly article 15 August then I was told that they send me the refund in the course of approximately 5 to 10 days and up the day today not and received the refund, situation that really worries me. Please ask me give some response to be able to feel sure that Amazon.com staff will do the right thing.

Thank you and waiting for their timely response

Carefully: Jose Angel Virla