Samsung HM1000 Bluetooth Headset Review

Bluetooth headsets have come a long way from the clunky, hard to hear devices of the past. For those who are accustomed to full-size headsets and wired connections, you may look at this little device and think that there is no way it will perform to your satisfaction!

Having tried Bluetooth headsets in the past I was more than skeptical, but the price of this device on sale made it impossible to refuse. The headset arrived neatly packaged with a wall charger, 2 ear hooks and 3 ear gels to enable users to choose the sizes most comfortable for them. Even with my small ears I was able to find a combination of gel and ear hook that worked!

The device does not arrive with a charge, so I plugged it in and waited for two hours until the indicator light changed from red to blue. When it was fully charged I brought it close to my cell phone and turned on the power switch. Immediately my phone registered it. I input the headset security code and they were paired.

The first calls were all surprisingly clear compared to other Bluetooth headsets I have tried in the past, and the volume so powerful that I had to reduce it to half volume for comfort. This was a pleasant surprise, for after years of listening to loud music I typically have to keep the volume of phones and other devices set at a very high level.

Those I called said that they could hear me very well, but that they could also hear everything going on around me clearly as well. Every move I made, whether to open a door, type on a keyboard, or open a bag was noticed by my test subjects, with the sound being so clear they could accurately guess what I was doing by the sound!

I have talked on this device for several hours without a decrease in call quality; the packaging states that this headset provides up to 7 hours of talk time or up to 16 days of standby time, and has an indicator LED to show the state of charge. Blue indicates that the battery is 80% or more charged, violet for 80%-20% and red for under 20% charge. Currently my headset is flashing blue even with all of the talking I have done on it since yesterday. This headset has a mini-USB power connection, so if you find yourself away from your wall adapter, you can charge the device with a USB cable instead.

If you leave the device in your ear over a period of several hours the earbud part will become uncomfortable; this device is definitely not designed to be worn all day. Also note that the indicator light flashes; this can be disturbing if you sleep with the headset nearby.

Overall, this headset is light and comfortable for occasional use, but would become uncomfortable with extended wear. It has a sensitive mic, and would not be a good choice in environments with excessive background noise.

The device pairs easily, and comes with the ability to pair with two phones at once; the reviewer has yet to test this functionality.

The special sale price could not be beat, but the $29.99 regular price is fair considering the overall call quality, battery life, multipoint technology and pairing ease. I have purchased much more expensive headsets that did not sound near as good as this one does.

If you are looking for a basic Bluetooth headset to use with your phone, consider the Samsung HM1000. It has made a believer out of this skeptic.