Can you talk on the phone with Bluetooth headphones?
Bluetooth headphones have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their ability to wirelessly connect to smartphones, tablets, and other devices. According to a market research report, the popularity of Bluetooth headphones is expected to continue growing due to their convenience and ability to sync seamlessly with mobile devices. Bluetooth headphones work by using short-range wireless technology to transmit audio from a device to the headphones. This allows people to listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, make calls, and more without being tethered to their device. The market for Bluetooth headphones continues to expand as more people adopt this convenient audio solution for daily use.
How Bluetooth Headphones Work
Bluetooth headphones use Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to phones and other devices. Bluetooth uses short-range radio waves to transmit data between devices 1. The headphones contain a Bluetooth receiver/transmitter, while the phone or device has a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver. When paired, the two devices communicate via a shared radio frequency.
The Bluetooth transmitter in the phone encodes audio from phone calls, music, videos etc. into a digital signal. This digital signal gets converted to a radio wave and transmitted wirelessly to the headphones. The Bluetooth receiver in the headphones picks up this radio signal, decodes it back into digital audio data and converts it to audible sound that you hear in the headphones 2.
This wireless audio transmission happens continuously, so you can hear audio playing on your phone in real-time through the headphones. For phone calls, your voice gets picked up by the headphone’s microphone, encoded into a radio signal and transmitted back to the phone.
Using Bluetooth Headphones for Phone Calls
One of the most convenient features of Bluetooth headphones is the ability to use them for phone calls in addition to listening to audio. Many Bluetooth headphones come equipped with built-in microphones, allowing you to make and receive calls hands-free.
The call quality you’ll get with Bluetooth headphones can vary depending on the model. Factors like microphone quality, noise cancellation technology, and wireless connectivity strength all impact how clear your voice sounds on calls. Some headphones even allow you to use just one earbud for calls, switching to mono mode for a more natural phone call experience.
According to reviews on Amazon, headphones like the Tribit XFree Tune provide excellent call quality with crisp incoming and outgoing audio. Bose, Beoplay, and other premium brands are also well-regarded for call performance.
Battery life is another consideration for making calls with Bluetooth headphones. Constantly utilizing the microphone and wireless connectivity can drain a battery faster. However, many quality headphones today offer upwards of 30 hours of battery life, allowing you to make calls throughout the day without worrying about recharging.
Pairing Bluetooth Headphones
In order to use Bluetooth headphones for phone calls, you first need to successfully pair them to your smartphone. The pairing process allows the headphones and phone to establish a connection and communicate with each other wirelessly via Bluetooth technology. Here are some tips for pairing your Bluetooth headphones to your phone:
- Make sure the headphones are turned on and in pairing mode. There is usually a button or slider to activate pairing mode. Consult your headphone manual for instructions.
- On your phone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure Bluetooth is turned on. Your phone will then scan and detect available Bluetooth devices.
- Select your Bluetooth headphones from the list of available devices. Your phone may prompt you to confirm pairing.
- If prompted for a passcode, enter 0000 or 1234, which are common default Bluetooth passcodes.
- Once successfully paired, your headphones and phone will automatically connect when in range without needing to repair.
If you experience any connectivity issues during pairing, try the following troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure the headphones and phone are within 30 feet of each other during pairing. The closer the better (1).
- Check that the headphones have sufficient battery charge. Low battery can affect pairing (2).
- On your phone, forget the device then retry pairing from scratch. This resets any connection issues.
- Consult your headphone and phone manuals in case specific instructions are required.
With most quality Bluetooth headphones, the pairing process is quick and seamless. But being familiar with the steps and troubleshooting tips will ensure a smooth connection experience.
(1) https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-pair-bluetooth-headphones-and-earphones
(2) https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00199057
Recommended Bluetooth Headphones
When searching for the best Bluetooth headphones optimized for voice calls, there are a few key models that stand out:
The Bose 700 Headphones are considered one of the top options for call quality using Bluetooth. They feature a noise-rejecting system with eight microphones to isolate your voice and reduce background noise. The headphones have a design focused on clear calls.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are premium wireless headphones with excellent noise cancellation. They use Precise Voice Pickup technology and an advanced microphone system to capture your voice clearly on calls.
Jabra’s Elite Active 75t earbuds are engineered for calls with 4-microphone technology to filter out wind and noise. They are comfortable to wear for extended periods.
Apple’s AirPods Pro have beamforming microphones that focus on the sound of your voice during calls. They also have a transparency mode that lets in outside sounds when needed.
Other top choices are the Beats Studio Buds, Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro, and Shure AONIC 50. When researching Bluetooth headphones for voice calls, look for advanced microphone systems and noise reduction features.
Using Headphone Controls
One of the main benefits of Bluetooth headphones is the ability to easily control calls right from the headphones themselves. Most Bluetooth headphones have built-in controls that allow you to answer, end, and adjust calls without having to touch your smartphone.
To answer an incoming call, press the call button on your Bluetooth headphones – this is usually a center multifunction button or panel. Pressing it again will end the current call. Holding down the call button for a few seconds will often reject an incoming call if you don’t want to answer.
For adjusting call volume, Bluetooth headphones will have dedicated volume up/down buttons or rockers. Pressing these during a call allows you to increase or decrease volume to your preferred level. Many headphones have these controls conveniently located on the earcups for easy access during calls.
Beyond just taking calls, the controls on Bluetooth headphones can also allow you to perform other call-related functions like redial, voice commands, or mute. Check your headphone manual for details on all the call capabilities available.
Overall, having call handling directly on your Bluetooth headphones makes it easy to control your phone even when it’s tucked away. Just make sure to learn the control layout beforehand so you’ll be ready to seamlessly handle calls.
Troubleshooting Issues
Bluetooth headphones can sometimes experience intermittent audio cutting out or even complete disconnections during phone calls. Here are some tips for troubleshooting these issues:
If you are experiencing audio cutouts during calls, first ensure your Bluetooth device is properly paired and connected. Check for any firmware updates from the headphone manufacturer that could improve connectivity. Also try resetting your phone’s network settings to wipe any problematic configurations (source).
Interference from other wireless devices can disrupt Bluetooth signals. Make sure your phone and headphones are within close range, without many obstructions in between. Turn off other nearby Bluetooth gadgets to eliminate interference. Avoid potential sources of interference like microwaves and cordless phones (source).
For complete Bluetooth disconnects, power cycle both your phone and headphones, then remove and re-pair the devices. This often resolves connectivity issues stemming from software glitches (source).
As a last resort, check for any app updates on your phone that could improve Bluetooth stability. If problems persist across devices, your headphones themselves may be defective and need replacing.
Improving Call Quality
There are several tips for improving call performance and audio quality when using Bluetooth headphones:
First, make sure your Bluetooth headphones support the A2DP Bluetooth profile for high quality audio during calls. Many Bluetooth headphones are optimized for listening to music, but don’t perform as well for voice calls.
Also try adjusting the microphone settings on your smartphone. On Android devices, go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Advanced > Voice call noise reduction. Enable this feature to help filter out background noise during calls. You can also adjust the microphone volume level (1)
Switching Bluetooth codecs can also help. On Android 8.0+ devices, try forcing the aptX or aptX HD codec in developer settings for better call clarity (2). The SBC codec generally works well too.
Make sure to keep your phone and Bluetooth headset within 30 feet and avoid obstructions. Getting too far apart or having objects blocking the signal can degrade call quality.
Check for software updates for your headphones, smartphone, and Bluetooth drivers. Updates often improve Bluetooth performance and stability.
As a last resort, try a different brand of Bluetooth headset. Some models simply have better microphone quality and noise cancellation abilities.
Battery & Charging Considerations
When using Bluetooth headphones for phone calls, battery life is a key consideration. According to The New York Times, most quality Bluetooth headphones today offer battery life rated between 30-50 hours of continuous playback or talk time per charge. However, battery life can vary depending on headset model, volume levels, and other factors.
In general, over-ear Bluetooth headphone models tend to have longer battery life compared to earbud-style models. For example, the Sony WH-1000XM4 over-ear wireless headphones are rated for 30 hours of battery life, while Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds get around 5 hours per charge. Keep charging needs in mind if opting for true wireless earbuds for frequent phone calls.
Many Bluetooth headphones today also feature rapid charging capabilities. The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones can gain around 5 hours of battery life from just a 10-minute USB-C quick charge. So even if your headset dies mid-call, you can usually get sufficient power for another call after a quick recharge.
The Future of Bluetooth Headphones
Bluetooth technology is continuously evolving, bringing exciting new capabilities and improvements to headphones. Some key developments on the horizon include:[1]
– Bluetooth LE Audio – This new Bluetooth standard promises lower power consumption, higher audio quality, and improved broadcast audio capabilities allowing more device connections.[2]
– Enhanced audio codecs like LC3 – These next-gen codecs will enable high-fidelity audio over low bandwidths, improving wireless headphone sound.
– Multi-stream audio – Allowing the simultaneous transmission of audio to both ears from a single Bluetooth source. Reduces latency.
– Integrated sensors and biometrics – Future headphones may incorporate health sensors like heart rate, as well as touch controls and gesture recognition.
– Extended battery life – Thanks to more efficient components and low-power Bluetooth versions, battery life will continue to improve.
– Seamless AI integration – AI-powered features like adaptive noise cancellation, voice assistance, auto device switching and more will refine the user experience.
As the technology progresses, Bluetooth headphones will become more feature-packed, with exceptional sound quality, comfort, and convenience. Users can look forward to some exciting innovations in the years ahead.