Jawbone ERA tested
New hands-free earpiece set to shake up the market.
Price: £99
Can a motion-sensing hands-free earpiece keep up with a busy motorist? We put the £99 Aliph Jawbone ERA to the test to find out.
There are only two buttons on the device – one to turn it on and another to check battery life. To pair with your mobile, you shake the ERA, which we felt a bit silly doing. But it was soon hooked up.
The sleek unit was then ready to accept calls, so we hit the road.Ringing out is tricky, as you’ll need to set up the ERA for voice-dialling by connecting it to your computer first. But when a call comes in, you simply tap your finger on the casing twice to answer.
The quality of our call impressed. As with other Jawbones, the microphone transmits sound only when the unit detects your jaw moving, to keep background noise to a minimum. The maker claims that the ERA is 25 per cent louder than its ICON model, and we’ve no reason to doubt this.
The ERA is also incredibly comfortable. So although the price tag may seem a bit steep, it’s a top performer.
Verdict
Rating: ★★★★
What is it?
A hands-free earpiece with motion-sensing technology to make it easier to use
Problems?
Lack of buttons may irritate some users, voice dialling has to be set up via the Internet.
Why buy?
Excellent sound quality on both ends of the call, comfortable, stylish design.
