QUICK SPECS

Weight: 0.4 oz Features: • Dual-mic AudioIQ noise canceling • Windsmart technology reduces wind noise • In-car adjustable charger • Pairs with two Bluetooth phones • Plantronics QuickPair MSRP: $119.99

The Skinny: Plantronics takes another stab at making the perfect mobile companion for people with no hands. Stab you! Stab you! Stab you!

The Good: From our extensive testing, which consisted of calls made to random people across America (sorry, Americans!), the headset performed well above other, more expensive models. The ear bud fits snuggly into the ear and the soft lining provided a comfortable experience. There weren't any issues connecting the unit to two different phones.

The Bad: Designers weren't really going for looks when they made this thing. The clear, plastic loop that hooks onto your ear is flimsy and doesn't really do much in the aesthetic department. We also tested while playing NHL 09 on the PS3 and ran into trouble trying to get it recognized by the console (it was already connected to a phone). Un-pairing from the phone and re-pairing the 835 with the PS3 worked, but we eventually had to redo the whole process to get it working with the phone again. The volume buttons could have been made a tad bit longer also.

Other Features With Fancy Names: Plantronics' patented AudioIQ noise canceling helped to eliminate much of the noise during conversations we had while walking down a busy New York street, even the sound of the latest stock market crash. Of course, there were the occassional police sirens that made the person I was talking to think I was riding shotgun on Cops.

Verdict: For the price, you're only getting basic headset functionality. If you can find it for cheaper—say $80 or so—it's a decent headset for someone who values function over fashion... like this guy:

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The CTIA trade show is going on in Las Vegas right now, which means lots of cell phone and accessory companies are dropping all kinds of new crap. Plantronics' new headset is most stylish than units they have shipped in the past and even comes in a cooler box. I've spent most of the day with this thing on and have a few impressions that you can find after the link. Don't worry, there are no pictures of my ears.

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