BlueAnt V12 LCD Bluetooth headset

The V12 is a very intriguing and different headset. Not only does it do everything that all other BlueAnt headsets do - it contains an LCD screen which gives all kinds of information to the user. It also has a vibration feature which is a little unsettling at first, but turns out to be a very cool feature. Here is the official line on the V12 from the BlueAnt site:

V12 - LCD Bluetooth headset

The BlueAnt V12 Bluetooth headset with LCD display, caller ID and
vibrating call alert is packed with some truly advanced features.

The automatic backlit LCD screen offers advanced features such as
12 number caller ID, battery and volume level indicators, and the last 10 number caller
history. With voice dial, vibrating caller alert and a micro usb neckstrap, the lightweight (1/2 ounce/
16 grams), V12 Bluetooth headset is the full featured Bluetooth headset at an affordable price.

With an extended battery life of up to 12 hours talk time and 15 days standby time, the V12 is built to keep you on the move.

• Backlit LCD with 12 digit Caller ID
• Vibrate alert for incoming calls
• Intelligent status indicators
• Ambient Noise Reduction
• Full duplex
• Micro USB lanyard to easily view headset status
• Small & large ear hook included
• Displays & stores the last 10 numbers received for re dialing
• Pairs with up to 5 devices
• Brushed aluminum finish
• Rechargeable lithium polymer battery
• Up to 12 hrs talk-time or up to 360 hrs standby
• 2 year replacement warranty

Design:

The V12 is a little larger than the other BlueAnt Wireless headsets I have tested. The reason for the larger size is the inclusion of the LCD screen. The button layout is still simple and uncomplicated - which seems to be one of the hallmarks of the BlueAnt design. One multi-function button and a volume up and down are all the buttons you need to worry about. Unlike some other headsets I have tested, this is an incredibly sturdy headset with excellent build quality.

If this headset were to drop or fall I would not worry in the least about breakage or damage. Fortunately, BlueAnt has one of the best in the business 2 year warranty policy on all their headsets.

What makes this headset unique is the LCD screen. The LCD shows you which phone is currently connected (you can have this paired with 5 devices.) It also shows you the remaining battery life and whether the vibration feature is activated or not.

When a call comes in the headset with vibrate (if set to do so) and the caller ID shows up in the screen of the headset. Now, the first question I asked was "if I am wearing this in my ear, why do I need to see the caller ID on the screen?" Well, the real nice thing about this headset is that you can put it on a lanyard (included) and keep your phone tucked away. You can immediately decide whether to take the call or reject it and see who is calling you without taking out your phone.

Another nice feature is that the last five numbers called are stored in memory and can easily be recalled for re-dialing.

Two ear loops were included - one was way too big for me - the other was fine. Because this headset is a little bigger than others, it was a little more tricky to get a comfortable fit.

Ease of Use:

While the V12 looks very sophisticated and complicated with its LCD screen, it is just as easy to use as all other BlueAnt headsets. When you turn it on the first time, it is automatically in "pairing" mode. Just have your phone find it, put in the "0000" passcode and that's it. Calls were automatically answered by most phone I tested and some required a manual push of the MFB to answer calls. Hold in the MFB and the Voice dial is enabled (assuming your phone supports that) and it worked beautifully.

When not on a call it was very easy to scroll through my call history and even redial a previous call right from the headset.

Sound Quality:

The BlueAnt V12 offered superior sound quality. While there is no Digital Signal Processing going on here, the calls were very clear and there was no background noise whatsoever. Callers sounded great when wearing the headset and folks on the other end said that the call quality was very good. The microphone sits a little closer to the mouth than the T8 because of the more elongated design.

Overall Conclusions:

This is a great headset and a real bargain at the $79.99 price point. Calls were clear and loud. The LCD screen is a great feature. I appreciated seeing who was calling (assuming I wasn't wearing the headset at the time) and the vibration feature, although startling at first, was actually a great way to notify me that a call was coming in. The headset was a little larger and heavier than I would ideally like and I did have some issues with it staying comfortable on my ear - but these were minor inconveniences given the overall functionality of this headset. The bonus was just incredible battery life and stand by time and knowing exactly how much battery remained via the LCD screen.

Pros:

• Great features
• nice LCD screen
• vibration feature
• re dialing past calls was a snap
• good sound quality

Cons:

• A little large
• not the most comfortable of headsets.

The BlueAnt V12 is available for US$79.99 at www.muyblueant.com and on line at many retailers.

Final Note: I can feel very good about recommending both these headsets to our readers. BlueAnt does one thing - it makes quality Bluetooth headsets. They really seem to care about customer support and feedback and they are great to deal with. They offer more "bang for the buck" than just about anyone in the Bluetooth industry.