When choosing Bluetooth Headphones, its easy to become overwhelmed by the vast range available. There are several styles available, do the same basic job, so whats the difference and what should you be looking for when choosing Bluetooth Headphones?
Design:
Bluetooth Headphones come in a range of shapes and sizes. They range from the traditional "over the head" design, to adapters that let you use your own headphones. Each style has its advantages and dis-advantages:
Over the Head Vs Headband
- ‘Over the Head’ is how headphones always used to be. They sit pretty securely on your head, and are normally very comfortable. Generally speaking, this style of headphone will cover your ears.
- The ‘Headband’ style is a more discrete way of wearing your headphones. The band goes around the back of your head, making it less obvious that you’re wearing headphones. ‘Headband’ headphones are available in both in-ear and over the ear styles.
Earphones Vs Headphones
- Earphones sit in your ear, where as Headphones sit on the outside of your ear.
- As Earphones tend to be quite small, and the comfort of them can vary significantly. If possible look for earphones with changeable earbuds.
- Headphones are normally the more comfortable wearing method and there is less risk of them falling out/off.
Fixed Vs Changeable
- On some Bluetooth Headphones you have the option of swapping out the standard headphones for your own
- If you damage the headphones on a fixed one you’ll need to buy a new pair of Bluetooth Headphones rather than just the earbuds/headphones
Combination
- Some Bluetooth Headsets can double up as Bluetooth Headphones. This normally involves plugging in either an additional earpiece, or standard wired headphones to listen to your music in stereo.
Weight:
The smaller the headphones, the lighter they should be. If you’re going to be wearing your headphones for long periods, a lighter set will be more comfortable, but with less weight and smaller size, you may have to compromise on battery life and functionality. The weight of Bluetooth Headphones range from around 12g to over 310g!
Battery Life:
Battery times on headphones are generally better than on standard Bluetooth Headsets as they can accommodate a larger battery. You will find that some headphones have upto a massive 32 hours talk time 19 hours music playback and upto 2 weeks standby time! If you’re going to be using your headset more for listening to music than calling, music playback time will be more important to you. If you are aren’t looking to use it that often for music, then opt for one with the longest stand by times so that it will still be charged even after short spells of not being used.
Music Control:
Bluetooth Headphones allow you to listen to your music in stereo, but only if supported by your phone. They work in the same way as a normal Bluetooth Headset, and will automatically pause your music when a call comes in. Bluetooth Headphones aren’t so great if you’re driving, but are ideal for using at the gym, or during sporting and leisure activities such as cycling. Most Bluetooth Headphones have music controls on them but not all. These controls allow you to control your music without having to touch your phone. In order to stream music to Bluetooth Headphones you will need to make sure your phone supports the A2DP profile, and if you want to be able to control your music playback, your phone will need to support the AVRCP profile too. Read our Bluetooth Glossary for more information.
Charging:
How your headset charges can be quite important. A lot of headsets charge using the same connector as mobile phones, so its normally a good idea to opt for a headset that’s made by the same manufacturer as your phone. By using the same charger as you use on your phone, you won’t have to purchase a second charger for in the car, and you will only have to carry one charger around with you when you travel. Some headsets also support USB charging, making it easy to charge using a USB cable connected to your laptop if you’re out and about.
Multipoint:
Multipoint is a relatively new technology in the world of bluetooth. Standard Bluetooth Headphones normally allow you to pair with 2 or more phones, but only one can be active at any one time. Multipoint Bluetooth Headphones allow you to connect and use two bluetooth devices at the same time. With Multipoint, you can connect the headphones to your Hi-Fi or Music Player and your Phone, and when a call comes in, the music will pause, and the call will come through automatically. You just answer the call as normal by pressing a button on the headset, in the same way as you would if the music was coming from the same device.
For more information on Multipoint and how it works, check out our guide to Multipoint
Voice Dial:
Most current handsets support voice dialling. Activating voice dialling with Bluetooth Headphones is a case of simply pressing a button and saying the persons name that you want to call. Depending on your phone and headphones, it is possible to answer, end and reject calls all through voice control. For the best compatibility for voice dialling we would recommend Bluetooth Headphones made by the same manufacturer as your handset.
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