Filed under: Apple, Deals, iPhone
Apple's Bluetooth headset gets price reduction
If you've been looking to get the Apple Bluetooth headset for your iPhone (really, it works on any Bluetooth enabled phone/device/computer) then now is the perfect time to buy. That's because Apple has lowered the price by $30 (US). So you can now pick up a Bluetooth headset for $99 instead of the previous $129. However, Apple did make some sacrifices to get the price down: they no longer include the Dual Dock that allows you to dock both your iPhone and Bluetooth headset for charging/pairing. This is a huge bummer seeing as the Dual Dock now sells for $49.
Apple does still include the docking travel cable, which allows you to charge your iPhone/headset, however, it is definitely not as nice to look at as the Dual Dock.
Thanks, Dylan!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Janak Parekh said 10:13AM on 7-13-2008
It's worse than that. The Dual Dock is not compatible with the iPhone 3G; I think that's why they removed it and dropped the price. It seems they haven't redesigned it yet...
In the meantime, I'm going to get a regular dock, stick the travel cable in it, and hang the BT headset off the back. Better than nothing, I guess.
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James Strathman said 11:20AM on 7-13-2008
Can't charge the headset off the dual travel cable when plugged in to the back of the dock. Unless they redesigned it, it passes the power straight through to the dock and bypasses the headset charger altogether.
Doug said 1:33AM on 7-14-2008
Just like the iphone 3G, which is touted as half the price of the original, but somehow ends up being more over the long run, the headset now has a lower price, but wait, it is actually more than before when you bring all the parts together! The Apple spin machine is in full gear....
jbrown510 said 10:51AM on 7-13-2008
NOoooo.... don't buy it!
The Apple Bluetooth headset is a grossly overpriced piece of junk.
I know because I had one for a week before I returned it for a Aliph Jawbone (Original), which unlike the Apple Bluetooth headset is worth every penny. Even on apple own store half the reviews of the headset are bad.
Note, that since apple "changed" the product, none of the old reviews for the headset with dock are listed under the new headset without dock... but trust me this is one of the few apple products to avoid like the plague.
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welchb said 11:25AM on 7-13-2008
Like the plague, indeed.
The apple bluetooth headset is the biggest piece of junk I've ever purchased from apple.
Pros: The battery isn't bad, you have to like the on-screen battery indicator for power and charging.
Cons: The range is *awful*. The worst bluetooth headset I've ever owned, and I've worn out several. It's so bad I can't have my phone in my right front pocket and have the headset in my left ear. It is functional if the phone is in your hand or on your desk. Which half negates the whole point of a BT headset.
Love both my first gen iphone, love my 3g, love my MBP. But the bluetooth is trash.
dylan said 10:53AM on 7-13-2008
Damn, thanks for the credit for emailing you on this one.
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Big John said 4:49PM on 7-13-2008
Now we all know that some dude named 'dylan' sent an e-mail to TUAW.
I was gravely concerned.
Also, you probably weren't the only one.
Karl-Franz said 10:59AM on 7-13-2008
Not only do they no longer include the dock (which doesn't work with the new 3G anyway), but they also got rid of the USB charger which was included as well.
They still don't have a duo dock that is compatible with the new 3G.
BTW: The bluetooth headset looks pretty cool and has some innovative features such as simplified pairing. Unfortunately the sound quality is lackluster. It sounds static-y and makes loud crackling and popping sounds. It also doesn't stay in your ear very well. As you talk, the headset starts to point down and needs to be readjusted.
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Henry BREEN said 11:18AM on 7-13-2008
Three things about this headset that will make you think twice about purchasing:
1. It's not for everyone's ear. The only sizing option really is to add a little foam cover --which, for me, gives it a bit more stability and lessens its natural desire to point its mic towards the floor or jettison from my ear like an escape pod.
2. If the headset is not, literally, within line of site of the iPhone you will experience some level of distortion.
3. It consistently un-pairs itself. It seems that every time I need to use it I have to go through the paring process. Pretty, pretty, pretty annoying.
The only strangely satisfying bit about it is dropping it into its dual-dock magnetic slot to recharge. Would that actually using it was as simple and convenient.
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Henry BREEN said 11:24AM on 7-13-2008
Three things about this headset that will make you think twice about purchasing:
1. It's not for everyone's ear. The only sizing option really is to add a little foam cover --which, for me, gives it a bit more stability and lessens its natural desire to point its mic towards the floor or jettison from my ear like an escape pod.
2. If the headset is not, literally, within line of site of the iPhone you will experience some level of distortion.
3. It consistently un-pairs itself. It seems that every time I need to use it I have to go through the paring process. Pretty, pretty, pretty annoying.
The only strangely satisfying bit about it is dropping it into its dual-dock magnetic slot to recharge. Would that actually using it was as simple and convenient.
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alansky said 11:55AM on 7-13-2008
Personally, I have been hugely disappointed by every Bluetooth headset I have tried. Either the sound quality sucks (especially in a moving car) or the device doesn't fit your ears. My solution is to use a wired headset in the car. My tiny, convenient Samsung bluetooth headset is acceptable as long as I'm not on the road.
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Gene Cowan said 12:02PM on 7-13-2008
I guess this is good news for people like me, who have already lost that $&#*($! teeny tiny thing once. I may have lost the headset, but I still have the dock and cable.
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Tucker Sack said 12:03PM on 7-13-2008
Seems like a feature reduction rather than a price reduction. It's now $148 to get everything that used to come in the box.
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bhamm said 12:34PM on 7-13-2008
i tried TWO of these around christmas, and they both.. in a word.. sucked. Terrible range. I couldn't even keep the phone IN MY POCKET without a modest amount of static. Decent sound quality required my having the phone in hand while walking around the room. I love the size and the simplicity, but the sound quality was totallly unnacceptable.. esp. for $99. I'd stay away until they release v.2
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ZinkDifferent said 1:58PM on 7-13-2008
I guess we do know one thing, now - Steve Jobs does not use a Bluetooth headset. Ever.
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Brian said 3:07PM on 7-13-2008
when the price comes down to $50 and magically becomes a jawbone 2 call me.
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kleinias said 3:10PM on 7-13-2008
I'm still a relative newcomer to apple products (purchased my first macbook earlier this year), but I've had a chance to try out a few bluetooth headsets, almost none of which I was pleased with. There are two products I've used (tried them both with the 1st gen iPhone and the new 3G iPhone) that have worked relatively well for me.
1. Samsung WEP500 Wireless Bluetooth Earpiece (order this from a reputable seller because there are many fakes out there and it is difficult to tell the difference by only viewing the product). There are also probably newer models of this out now, so you may want to try them. This headset wasn't great, but it is sufficient, gets decent range, is quite loud, and I never had to repair it with the iPhone. It's also a very small device and the flashing blue light can be turned on/off.
2. I just purchased the blueant supertooth 3 speaker phone, and I am actually impressed with this product. It works really nicely with the iPhone. The sound out of the speakers is quite loud with the highest setting, it pairs well with the iPhone and it even downloads the iPhone's contact #'s so it can audibly tell you who is calling. You can simply say "answer" if you like (this setting can be turned on/off) and the speaker will answer the call. You leave the bt speaker on and when you get back into the car, it automatically repairs with the iPhone and tells you it's connected again. If you are looking for a bluetooth speaker to use with your iPhone, you should consider this one. Hope this helps someone out there.
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Brad said 3:48PM on 7-13-2008
Thanks everyone for warning off of this complete piece of garbage.
It's really disappointing, since the integration (dock and iPhone screen) sounds really nice.
But this is clearly another case of Apple fashion (and price!) over function.
If a headset doesn't sound good, it doesn't matter how nice it looks in your ear or in the dock....
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Brad said 3:50PM on 7-13-2008
One thing we know for sure, Steve Jobs knows how to make money. Make it fashionable and integrate well with your other products, and people will buy it even if it's subpar hardware underneath. And they'll pay top dollar, too!
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Mark said 4:51PM on 7-13-2008
Seems to me they jacked the price up by $10, not dropped it by $30. It's a piece of junk anyway - I've tried it, and my Jawbone headset makes this Apple offering look like a static-filled expensive toy.
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