• Bluetooth wireless technology means that the sheer convenience of hands-free communication is enhanced with total freedom of movement.
• Unfold the boom microphone, place the headset over the ear and a link will be established automatically.
• This universal accessory encourages users to update, change and evolve because it is compatible with all other 1.1 compliant Bluetooth wireless technology phones by Motorola and other manufacturers.
• Smaller Size, Bigger Power. This tiny powerhouse is less than 5 cm in diameter when folded and weighs just 20 grams.
• Increased talk time of up to 8 hours and standby time of up to 200 hours.

Motorola Wireless Headset HS850 is a superior Bluetooth 1.2 headset offering premium wireless experience with faster connections & better audio quality.

The Motorola HS850 is the company's update to their HS810 headset, one of my personal favorites. The changes made to produce the new HS850 are few, but the effect is relatively substantial. But first, let's start with what is the same.

Like the HS810, the HS850 makes use of a body design that employs a folding microphone boom. The folding microphone boom acts as the on and off switch, as well as just providing a convenient way to make the headset smaller and more pocketable when not in use. When a call comes into your phone, you can turn on and answer the phone at the same time just by unfolding the microphone boom. You can end the call and turn it off by removing the headset and re-folding it. Using the headset in this way conserves battery power, since no battery juice is wasted on standby time - time where the headset sits around waiting to be contacted by a mobile phone or other compatible device. The physical design of the HS850 and the battery savings it imparts is my favorite aspect of the Motorola HS850.

The HS850 folds neatly and fits easily in your pocket.

Of course you don't have to remove and turn off the headset between calls. If the headset is already on when an inbound call comes, you will hear the ringing come through on the headset and can answer it by pressing on the main multi-function call control button. You can end the call with this same button, and adjust volume levels with the two volume buttons. If you are using a phone that supports the Hands Free Bluetooth profile, then you can also use the call control button to reject an inbound call or redial the last number.

The HS850's audio properties are also like those of the HS810 before it. The audio quality in both directions is very clear and understandable, but sounds a bit thin. You and the party on the other end of the call will both be able to understand each other easily, it just doesn't sound as full and natural as it might with some other headsets. The HS850 makes up for this small lacking by having great resistance to wind noise, though. That makes the headset perfect for people that enjoy driving with their windows down, or those that work outside. Most headsets are very susceptible to wind noise, the HS850 bucks that trend.

Two softly pulsating blue LEDs signal when the headset is in use.

And now for the new stuff. First up, a more powerful battery. The HS850 I tested managed an amazing 7 hours and 50 minutes of talk time. That is a full two thirds improvement over the older model. The truly amazing part is that this new battery life didn't come at the expense of added weight. Like the HS810 before it, the HS850 weighs only .7oz (19.9g).

The next major change perhaps sounds more important than it worked out to be in reality. The HS850 supports the newer Bluetooth v1.2 spec, whereas most headsets support v1.1 only. Motorola claims that when used with a v1.2 compatible phone (there are still relatively few available at the time I write this), the HS850 will be able to connect faster, use less battery power, and offer improved audio quality. While I can see what appears to be a slight improvement in connection speed, I haven't really noticed much of a change in battery life or audio quality.

The last major change is purely cosmetic. The new headset is sold in this very nice black color and is also available in blue-gray, like a darker version of the HS810's color. I find both colors more attractive than the light silver found on the HS810.

But regardless of the color, you can't go wrong with Motorola's HS850, which I consider to be perhaps the best value on the market.

Pros:

• Small, light
• Comfortable
• Nearly 8 hours of talk time
• No wind noise
• Can be worn on both ears

Cons:

• A bit unusual looking
• Audio lacks bass

What's in the box:
Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset, User Manual, and Quick Start Guide.

--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

Don't buy this lackluster product. Motorola was headed in the right direction until they got here. Object is too large, earpiece hurts and the sound in and out is muddy water at best. Battery life is decent, which is better the the 300/500 series but lacking the power of the 700 series.
If you have a choice, don't guy this one. If you don't have a choice and this is all you have...wait until you get to the next store!

I purchased this product and after a week of use it stopped working. I don't know if it has something to do with the dusty environment here or maybe I just recieved a bad one but it didn't last over a week. I'm not pleased with this purchase.

The only thing that I can add to the the reviews already posted here is my own experiences - we ordered 2 of the 'bulk packaged' bundles which include the headset and the charger.

Positives:

- No earbud going into the ear - this is a BIG positive because I can't stand those and, apparently they are not good for you.
- Quick charging.
- Easy to pair - in my case with a Razr and a Blackberry.
- Easy to turn on/off, by simply folding/unfolding the microphone boom.
- Pretty good instructions.

Negatives:

- My wife complains that the sound quality is not always perfect.
- Being as small as it is, perhaps some carrying pouch should have been included.
- The charging interface is not a mini-USB but some weird, proprietary plug.
- If there is a way to attach this to the left ear, I am not aware of it.

At this time, my wife decided to keep hers but she will give the second one to her girlfriend as a birthday present :)

When i recieve this bluetooth. It was so easy to pair with my sidekick 2008. Its lightweight and good clarity.

I pair this headset with a MOTO Q. No issues when pairing the headset and works fine however I wouldn't recommend this headset if you drive a lot and there's a lot of background noise while driving, it's hard to hear; if I can't hear the other person, they can't hear me unless I speak up. In a quiet room, works fine but I mainly purchased this headset for when I'm driving.