What's the best Bluetooth headset? 13 options, ranked from premium to budget

Dialpad

Having the right Bluetooth headset is essential for anyone who has to talk (a lot) on their phone for work.

The thing is, it isn’t always easy to identify the best Bluetooth headset for work. There are just so many options out there (including many cheap knockoffs and imitations).

If you’re looking for your perfect Bluetooth headset, there's much more to consider than just audio quality. There are noise cancellation functionalities, recording quality, wireless range, and many other things to look at.

In this post we’ll take a look at some of the best headsets for use whether you're at home, at the office, or taking customer calls on the move.

We’ve also broken them down into price categories: Premium, Middle-tier, and Budget to compare the headsets more fairly on budget so you can see exactly what you’re getting for your money.

👉Dialpad tip:

If you're using a communications platform, it'll likely have certain Bluetooth headsets that work best with it. Dialpad, for example, generally recommends high-quality noise-cancelling wireless or wired HD headsets. Here are a few of them.

How does a Bluetooth headset work?

A Bluetooth headset works by using radio waves, rather than wires or cables, to connect to your desktop, smartphone, or other mobile device.

Bluetooth is a wireless, short-range communications technology which has a tiny computer chip that contains the Bluetooth radio, as well as software that enables connectivity between devices.

When Bluetooth-enabled products—cell phones and headphones, for example—are in close proximity to one another, they can connect or "pair." Some Bluetooth headsets can connect to multiple devices simultaneously, which is really convenient because it allows you to talk on the phone wirelessly and then switch to your computer, without the hassle of cords.

This makes Bluetooth headsets especially ideal for contact center or customer service agents, because they're on customer calls all day and it lets them work more efficiently while drowning out ambient noise.

Top features to look for in the best Bluetooth headsets for agents

It’s essential that contact center agents have a robust headset with strong connectivity. Old-fashioned, malfunctioning headsets won’t cut it if you want agents to close more deals or handle your customers’ queries or problems effectively.

You don't want your customers getting frustrated because they can't hear your agents clearly or the call keeps breaking up.

Your phone system or cloud contact center platform should have an option for troubleshooting or reporting bad quality so they can fix things quickly. Here's an example of how that looks in Dialpad, a unified communications platform with a built-in phone system and video conferencing solution. This window automatically pops up if you rated a call quality poorly:

Background noise, low volume, crackling, and conversational time lags are all factors you want to avoid at all costs. The headset you choose could make or break the quality of service you provide (and yes, by extension, your customer experience).

👉 Dialpad tip:

If choppiness is an issue, try plugging your USB directly into your computer rather than into a docking station.

Now, let's look at a few key features to look out for in a Bluetooth headset for work:

Long battery life

This one's a given. If you want your employees to be able to work from anywhere, a wireless headset is usually the preferred choice.

But, since they are wireless they need a battery to run. So a long battery life is important—because hey, most people don't want to have to charge their headset every hour. Of course, if you have a wired headset, this won't be an issue (but the tradeoff is you'll be stuck at your desk).

Good sound quality

While wireless technology has improved greatly over the years, the quality of sound still varies pretty widely depending on the brand.

It’s not necessarily true that taking calls on Bluetooth headsets will automatically equal bad sound quality, and it's important to remember that the quality and design of the headset also plays a large role. There have also been many updates to Bluetooth's technology (an older Bluetooth headset will definitely not sound the same as newer Bluetooth headphones), so make sure to try different wireless headsets or speakers to hear the difference in sound quality.

Noise cancellation

Noise-cancelling headphones are ideal for use when working in a noisy workday environment. They create a much-needed silence for concentration—especially helpful for employees when they’re working in a busy contact center, using headsets in public spaces, or just needing to escape the distractions of the home environment.

Active noise cancelling headsets (ANC) are at their best when paired with wireless technology, especially when they have a long battery life.

Some headsets allow users to switch ANC off and on, while other models give you the ability to adjust the strength of the noise cancelling feature depending on where you’re using them.

User-friendly controls

Bluetooth doesn’t require a complex set-up or a ton of different buttons. When two devices enter a specified range, they can pretty much automatically sync with each other.

Wireless headsets that are designed especially for customer service agents will usually have features like an integrated mic, will allow them to answer calls without needing a separate handset. This is much more convenient for agents, who can keep their hands free to take down notes or do other work, even if they’re not at their desk.

Quick note: Touch controls aren’t always the best! Some people find them too sensitive and prefer physical buttons—it’s worth trying some out before buying to see what suits you or your agents best.

Fit and comfort level

Smaller headsets offer the advantage of staff being able to move around the office and desk space easily (even when there’s not much room available). It’s also important to consider the weight of the headset, lightweight being the best option so agents don’t experience fatigue if they’re wearing them during long calls.

Comfortable earbuds are another feature to look for—never skimp on buying a headset without the best earbuds.

For staff on the go, a robust carrying case is another useful and often overlooked feature.

The benefits of having a good Bluetooth headset

From in-ear buds to gigantic studio cans and wraparounds, and Apple AirPods to over-ears and anything in between, there is a huge variety of headphones on the market.

Here are a few benefits of having a set of good Bluetooth headphones for work.

Reliable connectivity

Since Bluetooth is a standardized wireless spec, it guarantees a high degree of compatibility between devices. It used to be that wireless headphones weren't very popular for work because the connectivity was so bad. But that's no longer the case.

With modern Bluetooth headsets, this risk of connections dropping out is greatly reduced. These days, pairing can be as simple as tapping an NFC tag, and now that there’s Bluetooth 5.0 coverage, the wireless range and call quality are even better.

It consumes less energy

Today's Bluetooth technology is a high-speed, low-powered wireless link technology that isn't just more environmentally friendly than its predecessors, it's also less expensive. And since it’s lower in cost, it’s generally easier for companies to fit into their budget and implement.

Bluetooth is more universal than wired

As technology advances more and more, smartphones (both Android and iOS) and even computers like MacBooks are ditching the traditional 3.5 mm jack. Bluetooth is now quickly becoming the standard in terms of audio transmission.

And they’re wireless, of course

Wireless headphones offer users a wide range of movement. Whether you're working in an office or chatting with customers as you travel around, you're free to move without the risk of yanking out a cord and cutting customers off abruptly. Some headphones can work at pretty large distances from the source, too, which is great for agents who like to walk and talk.

13 of the best Bluetooth headsets for contact centers, ranked from premium to budget

The right headphones are essential to ensure your team operates at peak performance. At Dialpad, we want our customers to get the most out of their conversations, which is why we take an interest in headsets and desk phones.

Here are some of our top picks for headsets that deliver the best experiences for your agents (and they’re compatible with Dialpad).

Premium

1. Poly Voyager Focus UC headset (used to be known as the Plantronics Voyager)

Because Plantronics has rebranded to Poly, this is the Poly version of the popular Plantronics Voyager Focus UC ear headphones. It's equipped with high-quality noise reduction and exceptional stereo sound so you can have critical conversations, even in loud environments. The pricetag is hefty, but Poly is known for its audio technology, and this headset is as good as it gets, if you can splash out.

Price:

$329.95

Specifications:

Three levels of hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC)
Pro-grade microphones using Poly Acoustic Fence technology
All-day wear comfort earphones with super cushioned sling neckband and ear cushions
Up to 19 hours of talk time
Voyager Focus can also be plugged in and used as a corded headset
Connects to computers and mobile phones, including iPhones, via Bluetooth v 5.1
Poly Lens software gives teams insights and control over voice, video, and headset
Poly Lens app provides a place to manage settings and use personal health reminders
Compatible with most popular voice platforms as well as with Dialpad
Winner of UC Best Work From Home Products 2021

Cons:

Some folks have reported that the desktop integration is not as good as it could be