A day with Aliph’s Jawbone Prime and BlueAnt’s Q1
Aliph’s Jawbone Prime and BlueAnt’s Q1 Bluetooth headsets are alike. The Jawbone has “NoiseAssassin”, while the BlueAnt has “Voice Isolation Technology” — in either case, audio is clearer and louder as a result. Both can pair with 8 devices, and simultaneously connect to 2. Both are voice activated, and neither require earloops to fit comfortably. Both are pretty little things: as is clear at a glance, they even share a similar design. They are both $130, and both arrive in extravagant display-case boxes.The differences: Jawbone’s latest has a nodule that rests against the cheekbone, to detect jaw movements and “feel your speech.” Its buttons are concealed underneath its flexible casing, adding a certain sci-fi geek cachet, whereas the BlueAnt has external controls. The BlueAnt has a useful voiceover that talks you through setup, whereas Jawbone users must consult the user guide.
Where the Jawbone Prime is superior is in its fit: its unusually designed earbud, in several sizes, makes it seem to float outside the ear canal, while remaining perfectly stuck inside it. BlueAnt’s Q1 is comfy enough, but only has two earbud options and is easier to shake loose. The BlueAnt’s just-works voice controls are more comprehensive than the Jawbone’s, however, and its exterior controls are easier to hit on the go than the Jawbone’s concealed ones.
But there’s only so much that can be done with a bluetooth headset: the concept in either case is to offer decent hardware that doesn’t make the wearer look like a junior executive. Both are in a league of their own compared to other headsets, so what it comes down to is taste: BlueAnt comes in black brushed metal and has straightforward controls, whereas the Jawbone is offered in fantastic colors and is too clever with its interface. BlueAnt’s Q1 is conservative and buttoned-down, while the Jawbone Prime has attitude and style.
I’d keep the Jawbone, myself, but hey: green’s my color.
BlueAnt Q1
Aliph Jawbone Prime
