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Bluetooth headsets aren’t anything new by all means. The allure of them has definitely taken a hit over recent years, and the lack of innovation in this category of devices has left it sitting in an optional category. However, Motorola has brought it’s take on what a “headset” should be, and with the Motorola Hint, has garnered its attention back in a huge way.
Let’s start off by saying the Motorola Hint is tiny. So much so that it literally disappears into your ear when wearing it. Motorola told us during our tour of their facilities that discreteness was a focal point in the creation of the device. In the package which cost a steep $150, you get the Hint, portable charger, extra earbuds, and micro-USB charging cable. That’s it. But again, that adds to the simplicity of the Motorola Hint as it is truly all you need to make this device work seamlessly. The Hint does what any traditional bluetooth headset can do currently, whether it be answering phone calls, or asking it to call a certain person etc. What makes the Hint unique other than it’s size is it’s user experience. The Hint allows you to use Google Now commands as if it were the phone itself. The answers are read back to you in the earpiece swiftly and are not compromised in the least.
Because of this ability, and the device being so damn small, battery life on the device is pretty bad. 2-3 hours on a single charge is nothing to rave about, however, the aforementioned portable battery pack included inside the package helps remedy that issue a bit. It holds 3 full charges, allowing for up to a theoretical 9 hour battery usage out of the Hint. The time to charge the Hint is extremely quick so their isn’t a lot of wait time during this process. Without this battery pack, the Hint is basically a novelty item. Other little quirks with battery life include turning it off when it leaves your ear (instantly), and turning it on when it enters. These small but genius ideas help add to the overall value of the Motorola Hint.
When it comes to a buying decision on the Hint, I’m sold, sort of. Unless you’re really into new tech and MUST have the device like myself, then by all means buy this bad boy. However, $150 is too much to ask for a bluetooth headset in this day and age. The price is undoubtedly incorporating all the R&D dollars it took to make it this small, but maybe when the device drops down to $100, it can be considered a true option for the average consumer.
