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Forbes

Technology

Mark Sparrow, Contributor

This Affordable JLab Wireless Headset Is Ideal For Hybrid Workers

The JLab GO Work is a super-affordable wireless headset that's ideal for phone calls and video chats thanks to support for multipoint connections. JLab

Hardly a week goes by without a new headset landing on my desk aimed at the growing market for office products aimed at home workers who need a high-quality headset for making phone calls and taking part in video meetings.

JLab has made a name for itself by offering competitively priced products that offer many of the features found on models from more expensive brands. The latest product launched in JLab’s Work Category of products is the GO Work headset. Designed for people who are working from home, at the office or out on the road, this is a well-made headset that offers multipoint connectivity along with great sound at a price that’s sensible and competitive.

The GO Work headset was developed in response to specific requests from customers who want an affordable headset that offers the audio quality needed for professional use. A lot of Bluetooth headsets and earbuds can only connect to one device at a time. The drawback of these types of headsets is that it can be cumbersome and fiddly to switch between a computer being used for a webchat, to a smartphone that’s being used for incoming phone calls.

A clever little feature of the JLab GO Work headset is a red mute light on the end of the microphone boom arm. No more forgetting to unmute. JLab

In practice, by the time you’ve switched from the video chat to the phone call, the caller has rung off and you’ve missed the call. With multipoint, the user can be connected to the computer and the smartphone at the same time and switching between the two devices is simple, enabling users to transfer seamlessly between their phone and computer without having to adjust the Bluetooth settings on either device.

Alongside the multipoint connectivity, the GO Work headset has an exceptional 45 hours of playtime on a single charge thanks to its 500mAh battery. If the battery runs low, then an auxiliary USB-C to 3.5mm cable is included to make sure the device can continue to be used while it’s being recharged.

The JLab GO Work headset can also be used for listening to music thanks to its 40mm dynamic drivers and with two optional listening modes: Work and Music. The GO Work can be used to call a team member or for listening to music while working. The sound quality is surprisingly good and much better than I expected given the low price of this headset.

The boom microphone can flip up out of the way when it's not needed. JLab

Weighing just 170g and fitted with comfortable foam ear cushions, the headset feels pleasant to wear even for relatively long periods. The headset’s external rotating boom microphone can be flipped up out of the way when not needed. In use, the dual microphones in the boom can eliminate ambient sounds enabling the user to be more easily heard in noisy office environments.

If the user needs to mute the GO Work’s microphone while they consult with colleagues, there’s an intuitively placed mute button that activates a red LED at the end of the microphone, so users are visually reminded when they have muted themselves and hopefully avoid those embarrassing “You’re on mute!” comments from colleagues.

Verdict: It’s fair to say that there are more expensive and more deluxe wireless headsets on the market for use with platforms like Zoom, Skype and Teams. However, the JLab GO Work headset offers a lot of bang for your buck. The sound quality is impressive for the price and the noise-canceling microphone does a good job of conveying speech more clearly while cutting down on ambient sounds like typing, air-conditioning or just the general hubbub of office life. I’d like to have seen a sidetone function so you can hear your own voice when chatting, but that’s probably a little too much to ask for at this price point. The Bluetooth multipoint function is a great feature for anyone who juggles between video meetings on a computer and making or receiving calls on their smartphone. It makes life so much easier. Once you try multipoint, you won’t go back. There’s very little to criticize about this budget headset and the price is competitive.

Pricing & Availability: JLab GO Work Bluetooth headset is available from Amazon for $39.99 / £49.99 / €59.99.

More info: www.jlab.com

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