Jawbone Prime Bluetooth Headset Review
Bluetooth headsets aren’t just for the jerk behind you at the ATM anymore. As more and more cities pass laws requiring hands-free cell phone use, these kinds of units aren’t just the best solution, they’re a necessity. Jawbone by Aliph quickly became a top-rated player when it introduced the original Jawbone 2 in May 2008. One year later, it’s hoping to have another hit. The Jawbone Prime has taken the best of the Jawbone 2 and improved it in every way possible.
While the packaging and device itself are highly stylized, the Prime also packs performance and comfort. A set of six rubberized ear buds and an optional ear loop should accommodate every type of ear imaginable, and once in the ear it definitely surpasses other Bluetooth headsets I’ve tested in the comfort category.
Pairing Bluetooth headsets has become easier over the past year, as software and hardware have become smarter. The Prime was just as easy to pair with my iPhone as any other headset. Just turn it on, enter pairing mode, type in the standard passcode and you’re all set.
The Prime utilizes three specific tech features that are supposed to aid conversations. First, there’s the noise-cancelling aspect, called NoiseAssassin 2.0. As if the name itself wouldn’t scare off background noises, it’s considered the best-in-class military-grade noise-cancelling technology on the market. Second, there’s the new Voice Activity Sensor, which is a small rubber tip on the underside of the headset that senses vibration of the face to determine when a noise is actually your voice. The VAS allows the headset to cancel out wind noise up to 10 miles per hour, a bonus for convertible drivers. Finally, the Acoustic Voice Activity Detector provides a fail-safe mechanism for times when the VAS isn’t touching your face. I used the Prime while walking in some of the noisiest conditions around, and it was far more bearable than with any other headset I have ever used. Even walking the dog along the windy Chicago lakefront seemed to pose no challenge.
The Jawbone Prime also has an excellent battery life, with up to four and a half hours of talk time and more than eight days of standby time. Included with the headset is a custom USB charging cable and USB A/C adapter. An optional car charger is available for $29.99 for those who can’t find time to charge it at home. In my experience, it took just under an hour to get a full charge.
The Jawbox Prime, of course, isn’t just about performance. The high sales price gets you a very stylish product. It has 3D dimpling on the outside and is covered in a metal finish in a number of colors. Besides the basic black, brown and silver, there are new colors including Drop Me a Lime Green, Frankly Scarlet Red, ‘Yello! Yellow and Lilac You Mean It Purple.
While you may have to dig deep into your pockets to get a Prime, the cost is well worth it for people who are attached to their cell phones but don’t have built-in Bluetooth in their cars.
What is it: Jawbone Prime
Price: $129.99
Ease of use while driving: 29 (out of 30)
Ease of use outside the car: 9 (out of 10)
Compatibility with most cars: 10 (out of 10)
Setup: 10 (out of 10)
Features: 19 (out of 20)
Value: 16 (out of 20)
Final score: 93 out of 100
