Nokia BH-112 Bluetooth Headset - Black

This Bluetooth headset is pretty standard in most respects - it's small, weighs very little and pairs quite happily with most smartphones.

The design is pretty subtle, and the headset is on the small side, so it's nicely unobtrusive. It comes with three different-sized earpieces, and two different-sized hooks to hang it over your ear; the hooks are transparent, which again helps with looking a bit less like the Borg when you are using it.

The problem I had was that it was very difficult, using any of the supplied accessories, to get a comfortable and secure fit. The earpieces all have a small rubber loop attached that is supposed to grip the inside of your ear, and the size of the loop varies with the size of the earpiece - I found that none of the earpieces really felt comfortable and secure, and I should add that I've had no problems with various other headsets in the past. The ear hooks are even worse - they are made of hard plastic, and I simply couldn't find a comfortable position with either of them; they just don't adjust enough.

All that said, it paired flawlessly with my iPhone 4, and worked fine for calls and voice control. Unusually, it uses a Nokia charging connector rather than a mini or micro USB, so you can't charge from your computer, but if you have a Nokia phone, the phone charger can be used to charge the headset; if not, a charger is supplied in the package, which is a useful touch.

Useful, but flawed, then - on the plus side it's reasonably cheap, unobtrusive and works well, but it's far from being the most comfortable option out there. Fine if you only make short calls!

This tiny device was connected to my Blackberry Bold 9780 in less time than it took to open the packaging in which it arrived! Simply switched my Blackberry to accept a bluetooth connection, told it to search for the headset, pressed (and held for 5 secs) a button to the reverse side of the headset and that was it, connection made. To be honest, it's just as well that it was that simple because guidance notes do not exist, just some (not so hot) pictures to `guide' you through the process (which is ok IF you've set up a bluetooth device before - if not, you may well be in for a bit of an internet search for help). So far, so good........

The clip which holds the device to your ear can easily become detached (and lost!!!) so be very careful how you store it when not in use - put it in your pocket/handbag and you could be searching to find the, now lost, clip (there's not a spare in the packaging!!)

Charging was simple with a micro jack plug attachment (I gave it 3 hours as there was no advisory note on how long for the first charge).

Now to use it........

Worked first time and every time. However, on one occasion I lost my bluetooth connection - my own fault, I accidentally disconnected the device and then tried to re-connect immediately (a little too soon as it turns out). With no help from the instruction sheet (see below) and NOT being used to bluetooth, I was a little at a loss to work out how to re-connect. I managed it by working from the phone rather than from the device, but that was by trial and error. So...........

..........I must say how disappointed I was with the lack of written instruction/help - 10 little graphics to 'guide' you is just poor! 'How long should I give for the first charge of the device?' - 'What do I do if the bluetooth connection doesn't work?'......these are 2 samples of simple enough questions that any user of the device may ask - yet there's no answers - Eventually on the reverse of the paper containing the graphics, in an 8cm by 8cm square and in what looks like a 6 point [very small] font, I found the following: "When you want to learn more about how to use your product, go to [...], and search for BH-112" - So that's what I did.

Absolutely nothing found - SO, I searched their products and eventually (via the 'Top Accesories' button) I found the BH-112. But all I got was a 'tour' of it's operations with less info than on the front of the box the device arrived in (just looks prettier) and NOT any help for any problems - Just Not Good Enough Nokia!!! So, regardless of how good the item is, unless you are experienced in the use of bluetooth devices, you may wish to note the points raised here and decide to look elsewhere. However, this inconsideration for customers is not limited to Nokia, so you may well find a similar problem whichever device you buy.

NOTE
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I Googled 'Nokia BH-112 help' and found you can get to a pdf help file (in English) via Nokia's Singapore web site by following the link[...]- The only problem is that the pdf is a help file for a different model (stereo) headset BH-111 so is about as useful as having a bad case of wind in a spacesuit!! - (subsequent to that, I also found a link to the pdf "user documentation" from the UK site - surprise, surprise, it linked me to the same file for the BH-111 headset!!!)

The device probably warrants a 4 or possibly a 5 star rating. But I feel the lack of information and help for users severely limits its usefulness for for customers unused to bluetooth devices. I was therefore going to give it an overall 3 stars. However, on reflection I decided that the review should be on the item itself, but potential buyers be warned about the inability to solve problems if things do go wrong!!!!

So, my concerns are: 1) you're in trouble if you loose the ear clip; 2) total lack of help to solve any problems.

UPDATE
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Christmas Day 2011, and one of my above fears came true, I lost the ear clip. Whilst in the packaging there are two supplied, they are of different sizes so the one I am now using doesn't allow the device to sit in my ear comfortably. Looks like I'll be searching the net to find spare clips - (A job for Amazon???)

2nd UPDATE
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Nokia aren't interested. They said "Kindly be informed that Nokia does not sell spare parts separately. We suggest that you try to purchase the said part from third party stores if they have this." As I can't buy the spare clips anywhere, I've lowered my overall rating from 4 to 2 stars as, without a clip, the earpiece just falls out!!
I strongly suggest that, when buying an earpiece such as this, the prospective buyer ensures that the ear clip is integral with the device - in other words, I wouldn't now recommend this one.

this is not the most comfortable head set i've ever had but that seid the recption is clear. light to were and as its pink the men in the house dont nick it lol