Jabra BT2010

A simple yet effective Bluetooth headset for hands-free calling, Jabra's BT2010 is a budget offering that won't break the bank. Its sound quality isn't outstanding but the stylish design and decent battery life mean it offers plenty of bang for your buck.

Bluetooth headsets have recently strayed from being large, bulky and ugly units to being stylish and compact designs; the BT2010 continues this trend. It's not the smallest headset on the market, but the gloss black front combined with chrome edging gives this unit a touch of class. More importantly, the BT2010 is comfortable to wear for long periods and it features a removable ear hook that allows it to be worn on either the left or right ear.

Like most Bluetooth headsets, using the BT2010 is as simple as possible. The unit consists of just three buttons — two volume buttons and a call handling key. Turning the unit on with the call handling button automatically puts the unit into pairing mode. Connecting to a compatible phone is as easy as finding the device, then entering the pass code (0000 by default). A status light lets you know if the unit is in pairing mode with a solid light, while a flashing light indicates that the unit is paired.

Sound quality is certainly passable, but not outstanding by any stretch. Strangely, the BT2010 seems to produce better outgoing sound rather than incoming sound — most headsets usually do the opposite. Our callers during our test calls gave the outgoing sound the thumbs up, saying it was clear and distortion-free. Where the BT2010 is let down is incoming sound. We regularly experienced fluctuating volume levels and found it difficult to hear if we were in a noisy environment.

The BT2010 also allows you to redial the last number you called, utilise call waiting, place a call on hold and use voice dialling — the latter only works if this is a feature of your phone. The unit is charged via a standard mini USB connection, with Jabra supplying an AC adapter in the sales package.