Jabra BT500 Bluetooth headset

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CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
Detailed editors' rating

Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 49 reviews
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Product summary

The good: The Jabra BT500 is compact and has a comfortable fit.

The bad The bad: The downside of the Jabra BT500 is its unattractive form factor and stiff volume buttons.

The bottom line: The slim Jabra BT500 fits comfortably, but its performance and styling aren't up to the company's usual standards.

Specifications: Type: Microphone Boom; Product type: Headset; Design: Over-the-ear; See full specs

Price range: $35.99

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Kent German
Edited by: Bonnie Cha
Reviewed on: 11/11/2005

There's no doubt that the Motorola Razr V3 took the cell phone world by storm when it burst on to the scene a year ago. Suddenly, thin was in, and competitors worked furiously to make mobile devices as small as possible. Now, even Jabra has joined the game with the Jabra BT500 Bluetooth headset. Styled closely to the Jabra BT250, the BT500 takes a cue from the Razr by being 30 percent slimmer than its predecessor. Although it's hardly the tiniest headset we've reviewed--that honor would go to the Nextlink Bluespoon AX Bluetooth headset--the BT500 measures a compact 4 by 2.4 by 0.6 inches and weighs 0.7 ounce. That said, the headset is somewhat pricey at $119.

Like the BT250, the Jabra BT500 has a crescent shape that fits behind either ear. Yet despite its trim profile, we didn't love the BT500's overall look. The Razr is sexy, but the BT500 is far from it. The gray coloring is too utilitarian, and the sharp angles and flat sides rob the headset of the aerodynamic curves we liked on the BT250. In all, the headset just looks too industrial and boring.

On the upside, the Jabra BT500's fit is relatively comfortable. The speaker rests just inside the ear, and you get a selection of four rubber ear gels in different sizes. The short boom mic also extends down just an inch, so the headset assumes a low profile when you're wearing it. Also, since there's no ear hook, users with long hair and earrings may find it easier to slip the BT500 on and off quickly without any entanglements.

See more CNET content tagged:: Jabra,; headset,; Motorola Razr,; Bluetooth headset

User reviews

Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 49 reviews
My rating: 0 stars Write review

Showing 3 of 49 user reviewsSee all 49 user reviews
1.0 stars

15 out of 25 people found this review helpful

"JABRA MAKES GIGANTIC MISTAKE IN THIS PRODUCT!"

by Jim McMahon on December 19, 2005

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3.5 stars

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

"Slicker design, no real improvements"

by BollocksUSA on January 9, 2006

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4.5 stars

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

"I Can Hear You Now !"

by jahhim on March 12, 2006

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See all 49 user reviews Write review

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Jabra BT500 Bluetooth headset

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Where to buy

Jabra BT500 Bluetooth headset: $35.99

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Amazon.com Marketplace	$35.99	Yes

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Reviews from
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mobileburn.com

Editors' rating: 60

Read full review
pocket-lint.co.uk

Editors' rating: 90

Summary: Although not as sleek as the company's Jabra JX10 Bluetooth headset the BT 500v is top notch for those who just want something that works

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goodgearguide.com.au

Editors' rating: 50

Summary: The Jabra BT500 offers extended phone functionality for mobile users but the fiddly controls and odd looking design may turn some people off

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pcmag.com

Editors' rating: 60

Summary: If comfort is a priority or you plan on wearing your Bluetooth headset for long periods of time or while moving around a lot, the Jabra BT500 is a solid choice.

Read full review