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Driving whilst using your phone is frowned upon and illegal in the majority of countries around the world. However, by installing a Bluetooth handsfree car kit, it helps you overcome this issue and ensures you can keep your eyes safely on the road.
The best Bluetooth handsfree car kit is the Jabra Freeway Speakerphone, which uses 3 speakers and dual microphone technology for crystal clear calls. If you are on a budget, the Avantree CK11 is the best alternative.
Table of Contents
- The Best Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit
- Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit Buying Guide
Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit Comparison
Bluetooth Handsfree | Type | Stereo Output |
---|---|---|
Jabra Freeway | Speakerphone | Optional |
Motorola Roadster 2 | Speakerphone | Optional |
Avantree CK11 | Speakerphone | Optional |
Nulaxy BR05 | Speakerphone | Optional |
SuperTooth Buddy | Speakerphone | No |
Plantronics Voyager 5200 | Headset | No |
Parrot CK3100 | Hard Wired | Yes |
Bluetooth handsfree devices have become invaluable and are an essential gadget for many drivers. Although they can be found in the majority of modern cars, there are many aftermarket devices that can be installed in seconds and are suitable for all types of cars.
Below is a list of the best Bluetooth handsfree car kits that are compatible with a range of devices and provide clear communication.
The Best Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit
1. Jabra Freeway Bluetooth Handsfree Speakerphone
The best and most simple solution for receiving calls over Bluetooth while driving is a speakerphone. The Jabra Freeway is a premium example that’s packed full of functionality and is designed for the best possible call quality out of all the speakerphones on the market.
Some of the features of the Jabra Freeway include:
- 3 speakers that produce 7 watts
- Voice control
- Built-in FM transmitter
- Dual microphone technology
- 2 hours to fully recharge
- 14 hour battery life
- 40 days battery life in standby mode
Although this Bluetooth speakerphone is a premium option, its performance is highly impressive. The three speakers and the clever system that announces the name of the incoming caller makes it the perfect device for pretty much all scenarios.
The Jabra Freeway is the best Bluetooth handsfree car kit with impressive functionality and an intuitive design, which makes transporting it between cars much easier.
2. Motorola Roadster Bluetooth Handsfree For Car
If you are willing to lose slight performance in order to stick to the big brands, the Motorola Bluetooth handsfree car kit is a great alternative. It’s known as the Roadster and is packed full of the latest technology for improved usability.
When compared against the Jabra Freeway, it does lack the additional speakers and power but it does make up for it with clever functionality such as the automatic switch on and off.
Other features of the Motorola Roadster include:
- Simple mounting to the sun visor
- Automatically switches on as you enter the car
- Powerful 2 watt speaker
- Ability to output audio via FM transmitter
- Crystal Talk technology and dual microphones
- 20 hours battery life
- 500 hours battery life in standby mode
If you are an Android user, there is even an added bonus of the “MotoSpeak” technology. This is a patented feature by Motorola that allows you to listen and dictate text messages.
The Motorola Roadster is a stylish handsfree Bluetooth speakerphone that’s developed by a reputable brand for complete peace of mind. The only drawback is that it’s fairly expensive and requires your phone’s software to be up to date in order to use all the functionality.
3. Avantree CK11 Hands Free Bluetooth Car Kit
Another popular Bluetooth car kit is the Avantree CK11 speakerphone, which is the best affordable alternative to the Jabra Freeway. It’s a compact device that uses a built-in 2W speaker and noise reduction technology for crystal clear calls.
A unique feature of this particular Bluetooth hands free car kit is the rotary knob, which makes adjusting the volume far easier.
Other features of the Avantree CK11 Speakerphone include:
- Available with a black or titanium finish
- Motion sensor enabled
- 600 hours standby time and 22 hours talk time
- Fully recharges in less than 3 hours
- Supports Siri and Google Assistant
- Connects two phones simultaneously
The Avantree CK11 is an excellent all-round Bluetooth handsfree car kit that won’t disappoint. It has a long battery life, compact design, crystal clear audio and generally ticks all the boxes.
4. Nulaxy BR05 Handsfree Bluetooth Car Kit
Nulaxy are well-known for their Bluetooth FM transmitters but they also produce an array of other gadgets such as this speakerphone. It’s an easy to use clip-on speakerphone that supports up to two devices and provides crystal clear audio via the built-in 2W speaker.
In order to improve the usability of the device, it features a range of automated functionality. These include auto connection, auto standby and auto power on, which allows you to start driving without any delays.
Other features of the Nulaxy BR05 Bluetooth Handsfree include:
- Built-in 2W speaker for crystal clear sound quality
- Multi-device supported
- Compatible with Siri and Google Assistant
- Up to 18.5 hours of talk time and 45 days on standby
- Integrated motion sensor for automated features
- Comes with a USB car charger
- Easy to use and large buttons
Compared to similar priced alternatives, the Nulaxy BR05 offer far superior quality and is built to last. It’s also much smaller than the majority of speakerphones yet retains crystal clear audio via the 2W speaker.
5. SuperTooth Bluetooth Buddy Handsfree Kit
The SuperTooth Buddy Kit focuses on high quality call audio and it does so by using a powerful speaker and DSP technology. Compared to similar priced devices, it’s slightly bulkier but on the flip side, it offers a longer battery life.
Other features of the SuperTooth Bluetooth Buddy include:
- 20 hours talk time via 3 hours charge
- Lithium-ion battery
- Pair two phones simultaneously
- Last for 1,000 hours on standby mode
- Large hot key buttons
- Easy mounting to sun visor
The SuperTooth Buddy is a cheap Bluetooth handsfree car kit that can be setup in a matter of seconds. It’s also highly portable and can be taken from car to car with ease.
6. Plantronics Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset
One alternative that works even when not in the car is of course the Bluetooth headset. You can switch off the car and simply walk out whilst continuing your phone call. Although it’s not a proper handsfree car kit, it’s a great alternative and used by many people on a daily basis.
Other features of the Plantronics Voyager 5200 include:
- 4 microphones for max call quality
- Noise and wind cancellation
- Ability to pair multiple phones
- Superior comfort
- 7 hours talk time between charges
- 9 days charge whilst in standby mode
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The Plantronics brand have improved the Voyager model over the years and this model is their flagship headset. In terms of comfort, call quality and design, you will not find a better Bluetooth handsfree headset for your car.
7. Parrot CK3100 Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit
If you are looking for a more permanent solution to use while driving, the Parrot CK3100 is the best option. It’s hard wired and outputs the call via the speakers and the microphone can be mounted wherever you feel is best.
One important factor to consider with the Parrot CK3100 is that it requires a more involved installation. This involves removing some interior trim to store the Bluetooth box and wires as well as wiring it to the car battery and speakers.
Other features of the Parrot CK3100 Bluetooth Car Kit include:
- LCD display for caller information and contacts
- Fully interactive with just 3 buttons and simple menus
- Pair up to 5 different devices
- Built-in voice recognition
- Noise reduction and echo cancellation
- 2 year warranty
- No battery charging
- Automatically switches on and off
The Parrot CK3100 has been on the market for a long time now and it’s still to this day one of the best Bluetooth handsfree car kits.
It does have its limitations such as the installation but if the car is your daily driver and you have no issues with basic wiring, then the Parrot CK3100 is a great option.
Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit Buying Guide
According to statistics provided by Statista, 3.1 million drivers used their phones during 90% of their car journeys. This figure is as expected but the more worrying statistic is that on average, there are 70,000 crashes caused by drivers being distracted by their phones.
It’s illegal to use your phone whilst driving in the majority of countries. However, if you must make calls, the safest and best solution is to use a Bluetooth handsfree car kit.
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There are various options to choose from that include hard wired devices, speakerphones, FM transmitters and even headsets. Many of the devices can also be used for playing music via the FM transmitter as an added bonus.
To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below guide regarding Bluetooth handsfree car kits.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Unless you are using a phone that’s over 10 years old, the majority will have the ability to connect to handsfree car kits using Bluetooth. This means, all of our recommended handsfree kits are compatible with your phone.
Bluetooth has been upgraded over the years with 3.0 to 5.0 being the most popular among devices. If you use multiple phones, be sure to choose a device that allows for multiple devices to connect otherwise it can become frustrating reconnecting them each and every time.
As you probably already know, connecting your Bluetooth device to your phone can be a real pain and not something that takes seconds. Therefore, it’s worth spending the extra for a handsfree car kit that allows you to pair multiple phones.
Type of Handsfree Devices
Within this article, we have discussed four main different types of Bluetooth handsfree devices, which include:
- Hard wired devices
- Speakerphones
- FM transmitters
- Headsets
Many people have a personal preference when it comes to choosing which best suits their requirements. For example, hard wired devices will require a more involved installation and aren’t portable. Therefore, if you use multiple company cars, this option isn’t viable.
With regards to Bluetooth speakerphones and headsets, they will both require charging. This can be easily forgotten when in a rush and leave you without a device. FM transmitters are another type that’s cost effective but you may find the call quality isn’t up to your expectations.
Call Quality
There is nothing worse than poor quality communication from both sides (speaking and hearing the other person). When it comes to speaking to the other person, the placement of the microphone is crucial. With hard wired devices, you are able to place the microphone virtually anywhere you want.
The best place for the microphone is close to your mouth of course and this is why most Bluetooth speakerphones come with a mount for the sun visor. The FM transmitter on the other hand connects via the cigarette lighter, which means you may need to shout for the other person to hear you.
When it comes to hearing the other person on the call, you can either turn the volume up on your stereo. However, for Bluetooth handsfree speakerphones, you may already have it on full volume and some perform better than the others. For example, the Jabra Freeway has a 7 watt 3 speaker setup as opposed to the single 3 watt speaker of the Motorola alternative.
However, if you feel the speakerphone isn’t loud enough, some have the option to tune into your stereo via the built-in FM transmitter. This means you can turn the volume up if you are struggling to hear the other caller.
Conclusion
All of the recommendations within this article fit each category for handsfree calling. Of course, if you own a modern car, many come with handsfree functionality via the head unit. However, if not, any of the Bluetooth handsfree car kits can be installed inside of your car within minutes.