Can a headset this small offer up what mobile professionals need? Jørgen Sundgot finds out in this review of Nextlink's latest Bluespoon model, the Chameleon.
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Having earned itself a name for bringing the tiniest of tiny Bluetooth headsets to market, Nextlink's newest model is slightly more sizeable than previous models from the company - but what it lacks in the miniaturization department, it makes up for with style. Sporting exchangeable covers, the Bluespoon Chameleon is something as unheard of as a stylish Bluetooth headset - although beauty is, as always, in the eye of the beholder.
 | Despite its stylish appearances, the Bluespoon Chameleon is marred by poor range
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Weighing in at a featherweight 16 g, the Bluespoon Chameleon is ligher than the vast majority of Bluetooth headsets currently available, however still 50% heavier than the Bluespoon Digital - also from Nexlink. It's also bigger, at 5.7 x 3.2 x 3 cm, but not uncomfortably so as it will fit within the circumference of all ears not belonging to pygmés.
Attaching the Chameleon to the ear is, as with other headsets from Nextlink, a somewhat complicated affair since the headset relies on a plastic spring feather which fits in below one of the canals in the user's ear. The headset must be inserted in a particular position first, then turned approximately 60 degrees counter-clockwise to lock into place - a maneuver which takes some time to master, but fortunately the learning curve is not to steep. The major benefit from this is that no matter what you do, the Chameleon stays in place, however it can become uncomfortable to wear unless its design matches your ear well. Fortunately, additional plastic spring feathers come bundled to allow for greater compatibility.
Pairing the headset with a compatible device is at best uneventful, and courtesy of its dual support for both the Headset and Handsfree profiles, compatibility with a maximum number of devices is guaranteed. As with other Nextlink headsets, two multi-function buttons allow users to control the various functions available, and also double as notification LEDs. The learning curve is a bit steep, but this aside the setup functions well.
Sadly, however, the Chameleon is marred by poor performance in terms of range and reception. With a clear line of sight, static was introduced to a conversation at a distance of only 4 meters, while when worn on the opposite of the head the distance was reduced to a pitiful 2 meters. Despite this, however, the Chameleon delivered good talk and standby times, falling but somewhat short of the manufacturer's claims of up to 6 hours of talk time and up to 200 hours of standby time.
Furthermore, the headset also boasts two nice touches for travelers: not only does it charge via USB, but its 'ordinary' charger is also delivered with exchangeable wall plugs for the UK and U.S., as well as a standard compatible with the majority of Western European countries.
Availability
The Nextlink Bluespoon Chameleon is available now in most larger markets, including France, Germany, the U.K, U.S. and online, and sells at a price of $112 USD.
Conclusion
Although not as minute as other Nextlink headsets, the Bluespoon Chameleon is certainly very small. Sadly, however, price-cutting efforts seem to have caused a drop in performance as the range and reception of the headset is very poor. Still, there are mitigating factors such as quite impressive talk and standby times given the size of the Chameleon, coupled with dual profile support and USB charging. To make a long story short, provided you don't venture far from your device frequently, the Bluespoon Chameleon comes recommended.
- What's positive: Small and lightweight; stylish; USB charging
- What's negative: Apalling range
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Price and availability
The will start selling for TBA () in December 1969.
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