BengalBoy Tests the Motorola H5 MiniBlue BlueTooth "Ear Canal Vibrations" Headset!! Bengal Baby, It Looks so BIG!! Will it Fit Inside??







Yeah, Yeah.... I know.... "Bleeding EDGE" P.I.M.P.??? What does it mean?? Why does BengalBoy use this slogan to refer to himself and his Members?? Why would he even create such a slogan???

Well, because I and my Members always want the absolute "Bleeding EDGE" products for our wireless devices... and because we don't sit around reading Bible verses and planning our next trip to "The SiZZler" to impress our Ladies or Wife because we can't come up with an extra $100 for a real "Dinner Date".. Being the original "Bleeding EDGE" P.I.M.P. means getting the latest Bluetooth Headset technology before everyone else has it and having it for months before those Idiots on the "Howie FrogMan Forums" get it as a freebi with their next "Black RaZr" give away!! So, for my Members I present the latest "Ear Canal Vibrations" Bluetooth Headset from Motorola. Funny, only 2 weeks ago I was being teased by the actual designer of this headset at the Motorola Booth... and if he should read this.. I'm the guy you kept trying to frustrate when you put your camera lens within inches of mine as I tried to photograph the H5 headset and continued to play a game with me by pretending you knew nothing about it???? But I guess you won't be able to frustrate my photography me now??? Regardless, you did a GREAT JOB!! I'm very impressed with the design solution of an "External Battery" for being able to power this headset through a day's use... BRAVO!!

"GentleMan's Club Members" I Present the Motorola H5 Bluetooth Headset & External Battery!!



Just like a Precious Jem.......... My 2 Motorola H5 Bluetooth Headsets are very rare... Not as rare as my "PaZuZu Diamond P.I.M.P. Ring in Rose Gold" (Only 1 of those Exists).... but very, very rare at this time.



So, to start my ongoing review I'll begin by sharing some photos and the basics about this new Bluetooth Headset Technology from Motorola. Using trapped air in the ear canal to reproduce the users voice,,,,, the Motorola H5 Bluetooth Headset is a noise-cancelling solution for callers who need a solution for communicating in windy or noisy enviroments. As I had discussed earlier, my friend Lars Stenfeldt the CEO of NextLink had explained to me that the solution being used by Motorola for noise cancelling was a very Huge "Battery Hog".... this technology requires a great amount of energy to operate and he just didn't think that the battery life would be sufficent to make it in the market place... Well, what he didn't know at the time was that Motorola conceived an "External Battery" and combination carry case for the H5 to power it and recharge the H5 internal battery through out its User's day.....

Looking like a very "Futuristic Lighter" from Colibri... the Motorola H5 "External Battery" is all Chrome and Rubber Trimmed with a built in storage cell and locking protective cap. It is charged via a Mini USB 5 pin port as used in all new Motorola Handsets....



The port is protected by a rubber cover and is located within the Rubber trim that surrounds the Motorola H5 Bluetooth Headset "External Battery"...



The Mini USB plug inserted in the Battery/Case...



During the charging cycle the H5's "External Battery" has 2 indicator lights to let the User know the battery charge for both the "External Battery" and the H5's "internal battery"...




Closeups..... The "internal battery" of the H5 is the light at the top in the shape of the Headset...





The H5's "External Battery" also doubles as a protective carry case for your very expensive headset.... Something that I really like although the shiny Chrome of the carry case makes me want to put the "Carry Case" in a "Protective Carry Case" The cap is locking and the release button is located just above the "internal battery" charge indicator.....



The caps tip is trimmed in rubber with the Motorola "M" in the middle...



The Motorola H5 Bluetooth Headset itself is extremely well made in metalized plastic with Chrome & Glass like accents...



and the tiny "volume" buttons are also chromed metalized plastic....



The "Ear Canal" microphone is long with a removeable, soft silicone, plunger......



These Headsets look like 2 beautiful Chromed & Carbon Fibre ear-rings... very stylish and P.I.M.P.!!



The finish is extrodinarily good... great plastic work here.... it looks like metal and feels like metal... but weighs nothing....



Compared to my NextLink Headsets you get an idea of the extremely small size!! Somewhere between a 5G and a AX2 ...





The Motorola H5 is a big departure for me from the more subtle and "Spy Like" black finish of the NextLink AX2 Headset... Its metal look is very "BLING" "BLING"!!





So stay here on BengalBoy.com for more information on this "Bleeding EDGE" BlueTooth Headset from Motorola.... More Photos of Kittens with H5s and my opinion on this Headsets Performance.... cause you Won't see it on "Howie FrogMan Forums".... But if you like Bible Verses & "The SiZZler"??? Hey, you know where to go!!

Performance & Features of the Motorola H5 BlueTooth Headset!!



The Motorola H5 BlueTooth Headset is Motorola's first venture into "Bleeding EDGE" Bluetooth Headsets... NextLink's Tiny "5G" Headset and its "Digital" & "Invisio Mobile" models representing the smallest and best technology in headset design possible at this time.... with the "Invisio" model representing true "JawBone" technology in a wired headset. The NextLink AX2 BlueSpoon though is a serious headset at an affordable price and along with the NextLink 5G I believe this is what Motorola was looking to as a combination of the best of the 3......

1. A Headset with "Bleeding EDGE" technology!!

The H5 uses a "Ear Canal Vibrations" solution for taking the vibrations created in the human ear and using a microphone system to reproduce the user's voice to callers. This in theory would solve windnoise and enviromental noise concerns...



2. A Headset of Small Size & P.I.M.P. Design!!

Like a Small GemStone.. the Motorola H5 MiniBlue Headset Shines with cues of metal and glass....



The H5 is tiny all right, not as small as the 5G, but some where in between that model and a NextLink AX2 with a different approach to materials and design... it weighs just 0.2 onces...



But so does the NextLink 5G.....



The NextLink AX2 & Digital come in at 0.4 onces...





With its "Power Pod" the H5's weight and size Jump Substantially... to 2.3 onces



3. A Headset that can be used through out a day!!

The H5 uses a unique "Power Pod" solution for powering this new noise cancellation technology. I don't know what the "external battery's" size in mAh is...but its fairly large and heavy... It does power the H5 through a full day of use though with ZERO issues!! Based on my use over the last few weeks the "External Battery" will recharge your H5 Headset through approximately 3 days of normal use. The Motorola H5 MiniBlue Headset itself will operate for about 1 and a half hours before the "low battery" tones begin to sound. Once you hear the tones.... you have about 5 more minutes of talk time before the headset dies. Connection distance does deteriorate though ..... so just before power loss you will not have a good connection between the H5 and your handset.

The "Power Pod" has two "Indicator Lights" for telling the User that the "External Battery" and "Internal Battery" are completely charged. When you first plug it into the AC outlet it takes approximately 15 minutes for the H5's "Internal Battery" to be completely charged and that "Indicator Light" will then go out....

Lights at Plug in....



Approximately 15 minutes later the "internal battery" Light is out while the "external battery" indicator is still glowing..... the "Internal Battery" of the H5 is fully charged and the H5 is ready to use.... It takes approximately 3 hours to fully charge the "External Battery/Case" before its "Indicator Light" goes out.

Now, while using the H5 MiniBlue during the day and placing it back into its "Power Pod" .... it will be recharged. Generally, it takes about 5 minutes for the "internal battery" indicator light to go out after a 10-15 minute call.... pretty fast refresh rate on that "internal battery"!!



A fully discharged "internal battery" takes about 30-45 minutes of refreshing in its "Power Pod" before the "indicator light" goes out and your H5 MiniBlue is fully charged and ready to go for another hour or more of conversation..



So, how does it Work??



I've been using the Motorola H5 Headset with the Upcoming Sony Ericsson W810i and my Universal. One a small phone with SE's great bluetooth stack and the other a full featured Convergence Device running Windows Mobile and using MicroSoft's Bluetooth Stack...





The Motorola H5 MiniBlue headset supports both the "Handsfree" & "Headset" profiles. It pairs easily with both devices and uses the pairing code of "0000". Using the "Handsfree" profile in both phones, the H5 uses the version 1.2 bluetooth (Long Range) and displays superior range with both. The SE device also adds a DSP to the bluetooth stack for even clearer performance. I found the range with both devices to be in excess of 30 feet with great clarity of call, especially in the Sony Ericsson W810i. While the callers for the most part reported very good call quality and clarity... the only complaints were made when the H5 was almost out of battery and the low battery tones were sounding. I was told some static was being heard but this was solved by moving closer to the handset. Also, the Universal does exhibit some "line of sight" issues that the W810i did not and which were more pronounced when the H5's "internal battery" was near complete discharge. I have experienced talk times in excess of an hour over the last few weeks of using the H5.... much better than the NextLink 5G but far far short of the AX2 & Digital headsets 5 hour and more talk times.



Comparing its performance and battery life to its intended competitor though, the H5 is far superior to the 5G!!



Which brings us to a problem with the H5, at least for me.... It has very low volume compared to the NextLink 5G, AX2 and Digital Models. I can only conclude that the reason is because the "ear vibrations" technology prevents the use of a large speaker such as the ones used in the NextLink headsets. Here you see the H5's "microphone barrel" exposed with the silicone "ear canal plug" removed and compared to the

NextLink 5G Headset...



AX2......



Digital....



The H5's volume is simply not loud enough for me whereas the AX2 in particular requires me to turn the volume down..... I always find myself trying to turn the volume up!! This can be improved somewhat by widening the silicone plugs hole...using the tip of a stylus for instance.... still, the H5 needs some work done on the volume for my tastes. Hopefully this is a firmware and not hardware issue and I have some evidence from my use that it might be.... read on for that insight..

Which brings me to another problem... the H5 indicator "tones" don't always work with my Universal and the MicroSoft Bluetooth stack.... In particular the voice dialing activated tone, the caller name being played through the H5, and the incoming call ring more often than not don't work with the H5/Universal combo.... although the W810i/H5 combo work just fine together. This is a firmware related issue on the H5 and the MicroSoft Bluetooth Stack. My AX2 works perfectly with the Universal reporting all tone properly and playing the caller's name clearly through the headset. My NextLink Digital, though, like the H5 is finicky about reproducing the tones.... it does sometimes..... but usually does not.



On the other hand, the four most important functions on a Bluetooth Headset work perfectly on the H5 with Universal combination.

1. Initiate voice dialing from the H5. Check!! Works Everytime!!

2. Receives and Transmits call between headset and handset. Check!! No problems here or crashes. After several weeks of use the H5 has never crashed my Universal, unlike my Digital, which occassionally loses its connection and requires a new re-pairing. Not as interactive and good as the NextLink AX2 with my Universal....but better than the 5G & Digital in firmware and as stable in use as the AX2.

3. End a Call from the H5. Check!! Works Everytime!!

4. Low Battery Tones Work. Check!! Everytime the H5's internal battery gets low... the H5 will alert you with some suprisingly "VERY LOUD" tones... This is an indication to me that the low caller volume is a firmware issue and the H5 is capable of reproducing the caller's voice at a bit louder volume.

Wearing the Motorola H5 MiniBlue Headset is certainly alot of fun!! Other than my "Diamond 5G" this Headset is the "P.I.M.P. DADDY" of Bluetooth Headsets at this time!! So small and made of the best looking metalized plastic I have seen.. No rough edges or flack around the plastic.. it is very expensive looking as it should be....



As you can see, the H5 is tiny on the ear... and Celestrelle's ears are super tiny guys!!





To initiate or end a call from the Motorola H5 MiniBlue Headset one simply presses the "Glass Center" of the H5.... it will light up "Blue" and the device its paired with will prompt you to say a command.... these prompt tones can be heard played through the H5's "handsfree" profile as well as the caller's name during a call or when receiving a call if that number has a voice tag..





Adjusting volume during a call can be done by pressing the "extremely tiny" but superbly finished chrome buttons on the side of the Motorola H5 MiniBlue...



In order for the voice cancelling technology to work propertly you have to "Shove" the H5's "MicroPhone Barrel" deep into your ear canal....



The above photo demonstrates a properly seated Motorola H5 in Celestrelle's delectable little ear.... makes me want to take alittle nibble!!

Which brings us to the actual noise cancelling performance of this headset and yet another issue.....



The Motorola H5 MiniBlue Headsets noise cancelling really works!! It is an excellent performer in windy conditions with no "wind noise" and it also works quite well in a noisy enviroment. To test this I made a call while riding in my Bronco. With the Alpine Stereo turned about a 1/4 of the way in volume I began the conversation with reports of very little background noise..... as I increased the volume the caller reported very clear conversation all the way up to about 3/4 full volume on a 2 amplifier and sub system... Its a freak'in nice stereo!! Still, at all times he reported that he could hear me and understand me clearly,,, although there is a unusual tone to my voice....but the music was creaping in and getting louder... and it should have been.... Still, in a very closed and loud enviroment the H5 performed as advertised whereas the AX2 and 5G would have been useless at 1/4 volume....and the Digital would have become useless at approximately 1/2 volume.



This brings us to the "Greatest Problem" of the Motorola H5 MiniBlue Headset!! ITS FUCKING UNCOMFORTABLE!! IF all those babies who used to complain to me about the NextLink BlueSpoons and Digital being uncomfortable want to experience "REAL DISCOMFORT"..... get a H5!! The barrel is so long and the silicone plug's little "stopper" COMPLETELY SEALS the ear canal!! This creates alittle disorientation when wearing the H5 and getting 2 sets of stimuli coming at your auditory system... For instance... I could hear my caller quite well in my right ear....but I was also processing eviromental sound from my left ear as well. It starts to become very confusing and the wierd feeling of having one ear completely sealed while wearing it is a little unsettling.... It is gonna definitely require alot of "Product Desire" for a User to get this Headset and Learn to enjoy it and its performance...

And directly related to this is the issue of "Active Users".... If your ear is damp or sweaty.... you cannot keep the H5 "in ear".... unlike the NextLink series of headsets...there is no "Spring" to keep the H5 seated firmly in your ear... So, if you intend to use this headset in the summertime or during exercise... its NOT A GOOD IDEA!! It will drop out and you'll probably step on your beatuiful little jewel of a headset. My recommendation to Motorola ..... especially as a stockholder ... ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME MR. H5 "I WANT TO BE A COMEDIAN DESIGNER/ENGINEER" GUY??? Pay NextLink the money to license its "ear spring" so this thing can sit securely in your ear!! See the NextLink "Invisio Mobile" here..... for a good example... of its patented design..





Motorola H5 MiniBlue "Good Vibrations"!!

1. Extremely Small and Beautifully Designed!! Fantastic P.I.M.P. Look!!

2. "Bleeding EDGE" technology!! Ear Vibrations reproduce sound for incredible resistence to wind and eviromental noise!!

3. Inventive and Unique solution for power and protection of your expensive toy. The H5's "Power Pod" acts as an "External Battery/Case" and gives your H5 up to 3 days of standby time during normal use!!

4. Higher Price guarantee's you want see some Cheap Ass Wood Working Idiot wearing one of these babies..(cough, cough, Dave Evans).. Exclusive, Expensive, and Limited!!

5. It WORKS!! Unlike the super tiny NextLink 5G, the Motorola H5 MiniBlue Headset works like it should within its limits of "internal battery" life.


Motorola H5 MiniBlue "Ear Wax"!!

1. Damn!! This Thing Feels Fuck'n Weird in My Ear!! H5 must be shoved into your ear canal for proper operation. Completely blocks all external noise from that side of your head and with a call in progress, loud external noise processed with the other ear combined with the caller can create some disorientation in the user..

2. No spring or other means of keeping the H5 in your ear canal. Not recommended for users who intend to exercise while using it or who will be in a hot climate where body perspiration can cause the ear to get sweaty and slick..

3. Short Battery Life. Talk time of about 1 hour and 30 minutes is the upper limit of the "internal battery".

4. Large "Power Pod" makes you look like your packing a Dildo in your Pants... or a small penis... neither of which is a good thing...

5. Embarrassing EAR WAX!! This is not for a person who doesn't believe in using a Q-Tip at least once a week. The H5 could double as an instrument for a "ENT Doctor" for removing ear wax from your ear. If you don't have good personal hygiene.... PLEASE DON"T REMOVE THE H5 FROM YOUR EAR WHILE ON A DATE OR IN FRONT OF ANY WOMAN YOU ARE TRYING TO IMPRESS!! UGH... THAT's GROSS!!

6. Expensive!! Estimated cost for the Motorola H5 MiniBlue Bluetooth Headset is somewhere around $200 with a release of early 2nd quarter I was told at CES in Vegas!!

So there you have it!! The Motorola H5 MiniBlue Bluetooth Headset!! Once again, need I point it out, "Bleeding EDGE" P.I.M.P.s know where to see it first and get the low down on the Best in Wireless.....






BengalBoy.Com & "The Wireless GentleMan's Club"... Where the "Bleeding EDGE" P.I.M.P.s Come to See It First!!

Cheeky tease

Is that a Motorola H5 Bluetooth "Ear Canal Vibrations" Headset in Your Pocket.... Or are You Just Happy to See Me???

I would say something about it going in the earhole but I think we've had enough innuendo for today

Well, I guess I shouldn't take any photos of it with a Kitten then????

Awesome combination of tech+styling. Any news on when the H5 will be available to the rest of us?

Wow. Now THAT is one nice earpiece. I like the styling and how the whole side lights up in blue - very attractive. And jawbone technology to boot.

I have to say, it looks to be exactly the same size as the 5G - OK, maybe just a pinch wider, but even shorter.

I didn't quite understand how the battery case was going to power the earpiece for longer than the H5's estimated 1.5 hour talk time, but I see now. Smart. Very smart. I like the styling of the protective case... looks like a high tech 21st century pen or fat cigar for a robot!

Well, I know what my next earpiece is going to be.

My understanding is that this is supposed to go for around $150 USD or so, but I haven't managed to hear when it'll be available for purchase.

This should make for a supreme combination with a Qtek 9000.

Didn't think I'd say this for awhile, but "Great job, Motorola!".

The H5 will not be available for several months commercially.... maybe beginning of 2nd quarter I was told in Vegas... maybe a bit later...

I'm just glad I got me some backups!! Hehe....like a Pirate with his Booty.....their mine...... (belly laughter) ALL MINE!!

Hey Bengal, thanks for the pics!

Just a couple of questions, how much does the case weigh with the headset in it and secondly, can you reveal whether Nextlink is planning to release any new headsets in the near future.

I'm just going to stare a bit more now...