Jabra BT500 Bluetooth headset review

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.