Nokia BH-208 review: Nokia BH-208

Even though Nokia has released a few high-end Bluetooth headsets such as the Nokia BH-801, it has quite a few more affordable basic models in the market as well. One of the more recent ones is the Nokia BH-208 Bluetooth headset, which may not be as fancy as the Nokia BH-801, but it still delivers the same ease of use and has decent sound quality. It's also cheaper at $69.95 and will be available for purchase by the end of this month. To find more accessories like this, plus tips on how to use them, please check out our cell phone accessories help page.

With a simple basic black plastic shell, the Nokia BH-208 has a minimalist design that won't draw too much attention. It has a rectangular shape, rounded corners, and is relatively compact at 1.65 inches long, 0.9 inch wide, and 0.4 inch deep. It is a bit heavier than the Nokia BH-801 at 0.49 ounce, but it won't weigh you down. On the front is the flat multifunction button that has a slight plastic lip jutting above the surface. This lip provides textured detail, which is good for finding the button by feel when you're wearing the headset on the ear. A tiny LED light is on top of the device, while the volume rocker is on the left spine. While we found the multifunction button easy to press, we were displeased with both the volume rocker and the power button. The volume rocker's toggle switch is set too deep into the headset, which made it a bit difficult to feel and maneuver. The power button is simply minuscule and is behind the headset, so large fingers might have some trouble with it.

On the back of the headset are a rubber-covered earpiece and an ear loop that can be adjusted to fit either the left or right ear. The earpiece is a tad larger than most, so it doesn't fit in the ear too deeply. Therefore, you'll want to wear the ear loop for added security. Luckily, the ear loop is made from a very flexible material that lets it fit around most ears. With the ear loop on, the BH-208 feels quite comfortable when worn.

We tested the Nokia BH-208 with the T-Mobile Sidekick 3 and the LG VX8700 and were able to pair the headset with both phones successfully. Call quality was decent--we heard our callers just fine, with clear voices and loud volume. Callers had a bit more trouble hearing us, saying they had some problems hearing us when we were in noisier environments, such as on city sidewalks. In quiet office or car environments, however, callers heard us just fine. The Nokia BH-208's features are pretty basic. They include answering, ending, and rejecting calls, last-number redial, muting calls, and voice-dial support. The headset also has a spare earbud cover in case you lose your existing one. The Nokia BH-208 has a rated talk time of six hours and a rated standby time of six days.