Hands-free Speakerphones Tested

We pick from ten speakerphones in our hands-free mega-test.

Auto Express Car Reviews

February 2011

As smartphones get smarter, motorists wanting to take full advantage on the road need  a hands-free kit to stay on  the right side of the law.

Whether it’s a battery meter  for your iPhone, or voice dialling so you can call out without even touching your mobile, technology has really come on since rules banned drivers from holding and using their phone at the wheel were introduced four years ago. Here, we look at speakerphones.

The Test

Bluetooth hands-free kits  for the car have been around  for some time now, but it’s still important to get the basics right. While some drivers choose on features alone, many motorists will be more concerned about these devices’ sound quality and ease of use, as well as their cost.

So we looked for simple  pairing with our mobile phone. Speakerphones needed to be secure on the visor or windscreen, and have large buttons for easy usage.

We then rated sound quality, with conversations between our testers, parked and on the move, marking clarity. Plus, we assessed each product on the road over a short route, taking in a stretch between tall buildings and trees, and a section with the window wound down – the latter to test wind reduction. We liked manual volume controls, and checked for solid build and easy operation.

Looks and price were also factors.

Verdict

It's tough at the top, with the best speakerphones separated by the narrowest of margins. The feature-packed Motorola T215 won, and the Samsung HF1000 took our runner-up spot. Final place on the podium went to the Nokia HF300.