- Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 29 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"The knock-offs are killing this product"
Pros: Sleek design, tiny size, call clarity
Cons: Button placement, only average battery life
Summary: I truly believe that many - if not all - of the below average reviews the WEP500 receives are actually based on poorly built replicas from China, and not on the OEM Samsung unit. On a site like cNet, you'll be reading opinions of buyers who purchased from unknown outlets. These opinions, while honest, don't always represent the original product.
Like most folks, I was initially attracted to the headset because it's tiny, affordable, and carries the name of a major manufacturer. To put it briefly, I've been completely satisfied with the unit.
Nearly all of the negative reviews that I read before purchasing the headset cited poor reception, thoughtless button placement, and a lack of functionality in general. I will admit that the multi-function button (it's the portion in the photo that has the telephone headset etched into it) takes some getting used to. The reason is because every time you insert or adjust the unit in your ear, the natural placement of your index finger will be directly on top of the multi-function button. This will inevitably cause a calling error or two, or ten.
However, other than the multi-function button's placement, the unit performs very well. I find both incoming and outgoing voice signals to be good if not great. The only drawback to a conversation with the WEP500 is its tendency to over amplify sounds very near to your body (running faucet, etc). Voice dialing is accurate and reliable.
The battery life for talk time is average but the standby life is excellent.
Like all in-ear headsets, the WEP500 can become uncomfortable if worn for long periods without a properly fitting insert cover.
My only other complaint is with the charging system. The cradle is very small and isn't a problem to carry around since it conveniently doubles as a hard carrying case for the headset. My gripe is with the wall charger that mates with the cradle. Although the unit is a standard 5V - 500mA charger, Samsung neglected to provide the incredibly obvious convenience of a mini USB style charging port on the cradle. Instead, we're stuck with a proprietary plug similar to the first generation Nokia cellphones. With so many high end mobiles, smartphones, and even other headsets making use of this common charge/data port, it seems like a no-brainer to include it on the cradle (effectively eliminating the need to carry extra wall chargers around with me). No such luck.
In conclusion, the WEP500 isn't the best headset to ever grace the earth, but it might be the best looking. Furthermore, it certainly doesn't deserve the technical beating it's taking here on cNet. I honestly believe that half (if not all) of the negative reviews are aimed at cheap clones bought on eBay. This headset works fine! I?ve owned mine for over 6 months now.
Where to buy
Samsung WEP500 Bluetooth headset:
$34.95 - $59.00
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$39.99 | Yes |
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all4cellular
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$34.95 | No |
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MemorySuppliers
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$59.00 | No |
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