A Bluetooth headset will provide you with crystal-clear audio while without adding extra weight if you talk on the phone all day. Here are our top models in a variety of pricing ranges and styles.
Best Bluetooth Headset
BlueParrott M300-XT
A Bluetooth headset is the best option for hands-free calling while on the go. While it’s true that Bluetooth earbuds are more popular currently, our testing shows that Bluetooth headsets with more sophisticated microphones will help you sound clearer even in hectic settings, whether you’re in a packed coffee shop or on a noisy street. The BlueParrott M300-XT is the mono Bluetooth headset that the majority of people should purchase, according to our analysis of 11 models after more than 30 hours of testing. It boasts the longest battery life of the headsets we tested and the finest blend of superb speech clarity and background noise reduction. Additionally, it is comfy enough to wear all day.
Everything we look for in an excellent Bluetooth headset is met with the BlueParrott M300-XT. The headset received the highest overall ratings from our audio listening panelists for speaker voice quality and noise cancellation. Also excellent is the incoming audio, so the folks you’re speaking to will sound crystal clear and static-free. Unlike some of the competition, which uses earlier, less energy-efficient forms of Bluetooth, the M300-XT’s Bluetooth 5.1 technology enables you to converse for the duration of the day without worrying about needing to recharge it. Although the one-piece construction makes it heavier than other headsets that have a thinner, removable ear hook, it is also pleasant and adjustable enough to wear for hours at a time.
Poly Voyager 5200
The Poly Voyager 5200 is our top pick if you frequently use headphones that require strong noise cancellation, such as when you need to pretend to be in a car or on a call while children are playing nearby. The M300-XT performed an outstanding job of reducing background noise in our tests with almost deafening coffee shop conversation to whispers, but the Voyager 5200 made us sound like we were phoning from a sound booth. The Voyager 5200 gives up natural vocal warmth and smoothness, nevertheless, in return for this exceptional voice separation.
Compared to the majority of the other headsets we tested, we sound more robotic when using this one, and the incoming and outgoing audio was more choppy or stuttery. Although, we found the Voyager 5200 to be just as pleasant to wear as the M300-XT and offers a respectable 7-hour battery life.
Jabra Talk 35
The Jabra Talk 35 performs far better than other inexpensive Bluetooth headsets—and even some Bluetooth earbuds that cost more than $100—despite lacking the superior mic quality and noise cancellation of our other selections. It also costs roughly a third as much. Our tester, who frequently wears earbuds, discovered that the Talk 35 headset is more comfortable than our other recommendations that have a larger, one-piece, over-ear design because it fits more securely in the ear than the M300-XT and Voyager 5200 due to its contoured ear gel. Those who wear glasses or have long hair may find it easier to use the Talk 35’s design.
In contrast to the M300-XT and the Voyager 5200, this headset’s connecting range is limited to 33 feet by the outdated Bluetooth 3.0 technology, and its talk time is also limited to 6 hours. However, if you want an affordable Bluetooth headset for hands-free calling, such constraints might be acceptable.