BlueAnt introduced us to voice-controlled Bluetooth headsets with the BlueAnt V1 in 2008 and then again with its BlueAnt Q1 last year. This year, BlueAnt introduces the BlueAnt T1 that promises to be the company's best headset yet. Not only does it offer the voice controls of its predecessors, but it also features superior wind noise cancellation, the capability to announce caller names, A2DP streaming, and it enters the realm of the rugged headset with specially designed silicon covers that increase its durability to dust and moisture. The BlueAnt T1 is available for AU$99.99.
The BlueAnt T1 looks very different when compared with its predecessor, the Q1. The T1 is wider, thicker and bulkier overall. It's clear that BlueAnt wanted to make the T1 a much sturdier and durable headset. Still, the T1 maintains that sleek minimalist appeal we liked about the Q1, and has clean lines all around.
On the front of the headset is the multifunction call button at the top, followed by a skinny wind guard shield down the middle. Two large volume buttons sit on the right side while a power toggle sits on the back underneath the earpiece. We like this dedicated power toggle as it makes it that much easier to turn the headset on and off.
The earpiece is similar to previous BlueAnt headsets — it's clad in a tapered silicone ear bud with an attached loop that lets the headset fit securely in the ear without an ear hook. You can then twist the ear bud left or right to fit in either the left or right ear. We found the fit to be very snug and comfortable. It does take a bit of fiddling to ensure the microphone is pointing toward the mouth, but once you get it in, it feels great. If you would rather have a more traditional set-up, the T1 also comes with loop-less ear buds and two optional ear hooks. BlueAnt wisely included several different sizes of ear buds for a better fit in the ear.
As a bonus, with the T1, BluAnt includes two different silicone covers to fit over the headset like a glove. This turns the already sturdy T1 into a ruggedised headset. According to BlueAnt, this will prevent the headset from dust and moisture damage in addition to everyday nicks and bumps.
For this review, we paired the BlueAnt T1 with the Apple iPhone 3G. BlueAnt is very good at guiding you through the pairing and connecting the headset to your phone just by using voice prompts. When you first turn it on, it automatically goes into pairing mode and guides you through the process. Like the Q1, the T1 has multipoint, so we were able to connect to both these phones at the same time. That said, the T1 is not completely hands-free, as you have to press the button to utter a voice command.
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