Review: Blueant v12 Bluetooth Headset

Bluetooth headsets range from the plain to the feature riddled. The BlueAnt V12 LCD Bluetooth Headset ($59.95) falls into the latter category. Decked with features such as vibrating alert, caller id, ten number redial storage, and capability of pairing with up to five devices this is not your average Bluetooth headset. Oh, and did I mention it had an LCD display?

Read on for the full review!

BlueAnt V12 LCD Bluetooth Headset

Initial Impressions

Out of the box, the headset is a little on the beefy side. The unit is moderately sized, weighing in at 16 grams, the V12 measures 2.3 inches long. The V12 comes packaged with a charger, two ear hooks (large and small sized), lanyard and manual.

The large earpiece of the V12 is covered in a thin wire mesh with a rubber rim. I’m a little surprised that the ear piece isn’t protected better with a rubber cover. I’m concerned that the wire mesh could get dirty and impact performance. The design, however, isn’t much different than the ear buds on my son’s Ipod and if his aren’t gunked up by now, the V12 may be safe.

The V12 can be used without an ear hook but because of its size, to better secure the device in place, the ear hook is recommended. The lanyard can be attached to the charge port to allow users to carry the V12 around their neck

LCD Panel

The V12 is equipped with a LCD Panel that will display status on battery levels, charging, volume levels, connection, vibration, and caller id/number redial. The LCD is backlit and easily readable.

The one aspect of the LCD that I liked is that the battery level is displayed as a percentage in addition to the shaded battery symbol. This gives the user a better handle on how soon they need to hunt for the charging cable.

While you can’t check the caller id when you are wearing the V12 at your ear, it does come in handy when wearing the V12 on the lanyard. The LCD will also display the last ten calls received that are stored in the units call history. The V12 will let you redial from this list as well.

Multi-Function Button (MFB)

The core control of the V12 is a multi-function button (MFB) that controls the units basic functions such as power on/off, answering/ending calls, initiating voice dialing, initiating redialing, and rejecting a call. Each feature is accessible by pressing and holding the MFB for various durations. A series of beeps are also present to confirm the action.

To access the V12’s call history, the volume buttons are pressed simultaneously and held for three seconds. From there you can scroll through the history and to dial that number, simply press and hold the MFB. Should you need to erase a number; once the number is displayed the MFB is pressed and held for three seconds.

Operation/Function

Pairing the V12 with my BlackJack II was simple. The first time you power up the V12, it goes into pairing mode. The V12 is capable of pairing with five devices and to enter into pairing mode after the initial power-up, simply push and hold the multi-function button until “pairing” is displayed in the LCD.

The V12 fits comfortably to the ear and as mentioned, the most secure way to wear the V12 is with the ear hook. I’m not one to wear an earpiece throughout the day so the lanyard carry was a welcomed alternative. It was more convenient to carry the V12 on the lanyard while driving and with the LCD displaying caller id, I could be more selective in which call I answered.

Incoming calls are announced with not only a ringing in the earpiece but the V12 also vibrates. This helps when wearing the unit on the lanyard should you not hear the ring tones.

The connection with the BlackJack II was good with no static or interference experienced. The V12 reportedly has an operating range of just over 32 feet and while I’m not sure of conditions that would warrant such a generous operating range, I was able to leave the phone on my desk and walk across the office without jeopardizing the connection. Naturally, you do begin to hear interference/static as you reach the edge of this range.

Call volume is good but it does sound muffled as if you are listening through a cloth or tissue. It’s not to the point where you have trouble understanding the caller but noticeable.

Microphone reception is good and speaking in a normal tone or volume comes across clear. The V12 is not unlike any other headset or phone microphone when used outdoors. It picks up on cars passing by, the wind and any other background noise. Not to the point of drowning out your voice but it is noticeable.

The last number redial function requires the MFB to be press and held down for a few seconds. This helps prevent accidentally redialing the last number should you tap the MFB while adjusting the earpiece.

The V12 has a rechargeable battery that has a proprietary charger. Battery life is reported by BlueAnt to be up to 12 hours of talk time and up to 300 hours of stand by time. Using the V12 for two days, the battery meter only dipped down to 90% with moderate use. I would imagine that the company’s estimates are close to true. For those who don’t want to risk it, BlueAnt does offer a car travel charger for the V12.

Conclusion

Just out of the box, I was a little apprehensive of the V12. It almost felt as if it had too many features and I had concerns that the LCD was overkill. Having used the V12 for a few days, the device began to grow on me. I really liked the option to carry the V12 on the lanyard and be able to screen my calls using the LCD.

While the V12 is full of features, navigating through them did take a little getting used to but not too long. It helped to use the LCD as a learning aid while getting used to the various functions. Each function, as it is initiated, is displayed on the LCD.

Who’s this for? I can easily see this as a desirable headset for the person looking for a hands-free solution for the car as well as the business man who is constantly on the phone and needs to keep track of calls. Because of the lanyard option, I can see it being very desirable for those who may not care for wearing a headset all the time.

The bottom line is that the BlueAnt V12 LCD Bluetooth Headset ($59.95) is a featured riddled Bluetooth headset that has appeal for the most basic user as well as the more advanced. Well worthy of consideration.