REVIEW: The Amazing Bluespoon AX2
Danish company NextLink sent us in their latest product, the Bluetooth-based headset, Bluespoon AX2. What hits you immediately when taking a first glimpse of the AX2 is its tiny size. Read more for our experience with the gadget!
The Bluespoon AX2 is possibly the second smallest Bluetooth headset on the market today. The smallest one, the 5G, was also created by the same company, NextLink.
The AX2 measures at 42x25x27 mm and weighs just 10 grams. Instead of using a plastic hanger that goes over the ear to stabilize in the user's ear, it is using a small, soft spring that stabilizes in the user's ear canal. This is a very interesting approach on the way you wear the handset and I admit I was never felt that it was possible. But it is, and the headset sticks in your ear and doesn't fall off. In the beginning it would require a bit of rehearsal to fit the soft spring on your ear canal, but after a few hit and misses, you "get it". My ear is a bit small, so I had to cut about 1cm of the soft spring in order to fit in my ear's canal.
The AX2 supports both the Headset and Handsfree Bluetooth profiles. Not all phones support both profiles. Both the phones I tried with the AX2 (E680i and K700i) only supported the older Headset profile, but they worked perfectly with the AX2. There is a simple 3-button interface in the AX2: press and hold to activate. Continue to hold to go into "pairing" mode, and press and hold again to turn it off.
The box the AX2 came with also included a USB cable that it's used to charge the device (so if you are on the go, you would need a laptop with you in order to charge your Bluetooth headset, or a USB-out battery pack). Included there is also a neck strap, and a second soft spring, of a different size. The included manual is written in 4 languages.
Performance of the headset was very good. When the volume was set 2-3 notches below maximum, echo cancelation and sound quality was at its best. We were able to use the headset up to 8 meters away and between walls. Battery life is exceptionally good, it yield about 8 hours of talk time which is amazing for a Bluetooth headset, let alone for such a small device. The battery used in the AX2 is user replaceable, there is a compartment that you can pull out and replace it.
Overall, this is the most impressive Bluetooth handset on the market today. Not only because of its great battery life and performance, but also it's unintrusive size and comfortable wear. It sells online between $80 and $100.
Overall: 9/10