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Bluetooth speakerphone mini test

If your car doesn't have Bluetooth, a speakerphone is a good alternative. We've tested a newcomer against our current favourite

Many new cars now have Bluetooth hands-free phone kits integrated into their stereos, so you can legally make calls via the speakers. But if your car doesn’t have Bluetooth, and a headset doesn’t appeal, a good alternative is an aftermarket speakerphone.

The latest arrival is the Crystal, from specialist Supertooth. So we put it through its paces against one of our favourite speakerphones: the £99.99 Jabra Freeway.

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We paired each device with our iPhone, noting how easy this was to do, then assessed the clarity, loudness and crispness of the audio at both ends of the call over a mile-long city test route.

We also tested sound quality with the window down, and tried any additional features like voice-activated dialling or automatic reconnection when you return to your car. Finally, we checked the build quality and compared prices.

The Crystal is sleek, slim and, at £49.99, half the price of the Jabra. But sound quality isn’t great and the device feels built to a budget. The solid Freeway is worth every penny – even better if you shop around online and get it for less.

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