NEXTLINK INVISIO B3 Review

Introduction:

NEXTLINK identifies with high-quality Bluetooth headsets. The very fact that SWAT and the like in many other countries rely on NEXTLINK products (customized, of course) speaks for itself. In this review, we present you one of their new products, part of the INVSIO line, designed for the consumer market, the B3.

Package Contents:

• Hands-Free Headset
• AC Adapter (with mini USB plug)
• Two Exchangeable Soft Springs (large and small)
• User’s guide

Design:

The design of the INVSIO B3 is both classical and high-tech and overall, it is very clear and simple, to which contributes the presence of only three buttons. The device is not the smallest or the lightest one (both titles belong to the G5), but it is a competitor for the rest of the new models of other manufacturers. There are two color solutions offered – black and silver.


The multifunctional TALK button (used for turning on/off, accepting calls, etc.) is located in the upper part. It is big, somewhat concave, and marked with the power logo, but it’s very easy to press even with one finger.

We have the volume control buttons on both sides. Although there are three relieved lines on each one in order to make them easy to find by touch, their  functionality isn’t marked. You will have to remember that if the headset is on your right ear, then up=volume up and down=volume down, and the other way around when on the left ear. The buttons do not provide any kind of feedback, which is very unpleasant, since you don’t know if you have pressed them and in case you are still not familiar with the system, you might get really confused. Every volume level is identified by a tone with additional ones for MIN and MAX.

The microphone is located on the front, and on the back, we have the charger connector. The good news is that the INVISIO works with a standard miniUSB so you can use your PC to charge it.

On the bottom, we have the speaker, which is indirectly related to one of the biggest advantages of the model. That’s where the so called SoftSprings are attached. Basically, they are “rubber caps with a tail”, which follows the relief of the cochlea. Because of them, it’s going to take you some time to get used to wearing the headset, but you won’t be willing to give it up for another one. That’s the most elegant and comfortable method we have seen. It attaches impressively firmly without bothering you, even after a longer use. Besides that, the rubber “tails” are rotating freely around the microphone, allowing you to easily adjust them for whichever ear you prefer. There are two SoftSprings of different sizes, the “tails” of which you can be shortened manually if too long.    



Only the TALK button is illuminated – in red and blue. The first color indicates an empty battery or charging mode, and the second blinks while in standby mode.

Functionality:

Connectingthe device to a phone is standard. In order to enter pairing mode, thehandsfree has to be turned off. Then, you need to press and hold theTALK button until it starts blinking (blue and red). The pairingpassword is 0000.

We were impressed with the rich functionality,achieved with the three buttons only.Normally, accepting, ending, orrejecting a call is done via the TALK button, rejecting is done bypressing it twice. The B3 supports call waiting (by pressing the TALKbutton for one second) and conference call (by pressing the volume upbutton for one second).

All these features would have beenvery useful if the volume controls had been designed better. The lackof feedback and the fact that they are not easy to press would make youavoid them. Muting/uniting the microphone is the hardest thing to do.You have to press and hold for 3 seconds both volume controls at thesame time. It’ll take some time to get used to that. At least, you heara beep every two seconds, once the option is activated. The headsetkeeps its volume settings when turned off, so that kind of makes up forthe rest.

Performance:

We expected the sound quality to be one of the B3’s strong sides. Unfortunately, we were wrong. The sound through the headset is not loud enough; the voices are clear, but sometimes sharp and hard to make out. It’s the same on the other end of the line. Surprisingly, even though the B3 can be used in somewhat windy or noisy environment, the surrounding noises sound like a background and the only thing that prevented us from having a normal conversation was the low level of the sound.

We are disappointed with the battery life of the headset. During our tests, it only lasted for 3 hours and 30 minutes of talk time, and according to the official data, provided by the manufacturer, you are supposed to easily get at least 6 hours. These results are very strange and having in mind the size of the device, we don’t see why a stronger battery has not been used.




Conclusion:

To a certain extent, the INVSIO B3 disappointed us. On one hand, it is very comfortable for continuous use, it has a nice design and is pretty light. On the other, the unhandy buttons and the low sound level during a conversation make it unsuitable for heavy usage.

In the end, it really depends on how you are going to use the device. If you need to make a lot of calls, including conference ones, you are better off choosing a more complicated model with user-friendly buttons. If you only make short calls, sometimes even in a noisy environment, and you also care about comfort, the INVISO B3 is a decent choice.