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How we chose our top 10 Bluetooth Speakerphone finalists

When we look for our Amazon bestsellers we often try to look for product categories that are not only popular among consumers and become best sellers but also can bring value and enrich lives of our readers. In our opinion Amazon bestselling Bluetooth handsfree kits are fully qualified by those criteria. While almost all of drivers on the road today have a smartphone and they expect to be "reachable" at all times, driving and using your phone, especially texting, is not only very unsafe but also very illegal in most places today. Hands free Bluetooth headsets or in-car Bluetooth speakerphones (aka Bluetooth car kits) are a great solution that can enable us to communicate while driving and make us all safer at the same time. They provide an excellent way to carry our phone conversations in a safe manner while driving but also can be used in all other situations that our hands are otherwise occupied. Distracted drivers are dangerous not only to themselves but also to other people on a road and before we become the "Distracted Driver" we should armed ourselves with a Bluetooth handsfree assistant that will help us stay focused and keep everybody safe. Bluetooth technology is now better than ever with improved performance, battery life and ergonomics. In just a few years our Bluetooth little helpers matured and now they perform their main functions with ease and predictability that was not possible even a few years back. The units that we tested for our Bluetooth handsfree speakerphone review also featured some impressive features as far as noise and echo reduction that bring the conversation quality to a whole new level. We hope that our review will help you to find a hands free Bluetooth device that at least meets your expectations and requirements. We also hope that our comprehensive feature and option list will help you to better understand the importance of various aspects of the Bluetooth technology used by your next handsfree Bluetooth car kit and make a better buying decision since in most cases you can't really take the unit for a "test drive". Before we continue with our Top 10 Bluetooth Handsfree Speakerphone review we would like to mention that because of our testing process we decided to modify our review format and instead listing devices with a specific feature we reverted to individual review for each tested Bluetooth Device.

What To Look For When Buying A Bluetooth In-Car Hands Free Speakerphone

When you are looking to buy a Bluetooth handsfree speakerphone for your car you should consider some of the aspects of your intended use. The most important part of a Bluetooth speakerphone that you plan to purchase is the compatibility with your phone so before you buy, Always check the compatibility of the chosen handsfree speakerphone and devices that you are planning to connect with it.  Among other things to consider are: The target user - Is the selected speakerphone intended for a driver only, for both front seat occupants or maybe for any passenger in the car. Are you going to use the hands free speakerphone in only one car or take it with you to other cars that you drive? Are you going to use is as a �stand alone� or integrate it with car�s existing audio equipment? What connectivity to the existing car's audio equipment is optimal in your situation? You also might consider using your speakerphone in other places than your car. For example a bike or a motorcycle. All those considerations and how well each candidate will meet your expectations will affect your final choice and your satisfaction level. In our Top 10 Amazon Bestseller list review we tried to evaluate each unit and consider all options that they provide. We create a list of features that are important in evaluating a hands free speakerpone and as we review each speakerphone unit we will try to keep the review in the same order as the list below.

• Speaker/Microphone Performance
• Noise And Echo Cancelation
• Multipoint Feature
• Ease Of Installation
• Battery Life
• Texting Support
• Auxilary Audio Port
• FM Transmitter
• Media/Music Playback Support

Jabra DRIVE, Bluetooth In-Car Hands Free Speakerphone

This an entry level hands free Bluetooth in-car speakerphone from Jabra, a company specializing in Blootooth and audio products. Jabra is a manufacturer of an array of speaker, speakerphone and headset products for mobile and stationary communication needs.
Jabra DRIVE designed as an entry level speakerphone for people that are more concerened with an ease of use than with a plethora of features. A very simple yet competent unit that in most cases can be setup and used without even unpacking the manual. It produces a good quality sound with its single 2W speaker that is suficient for most passenger car cabin noise levels. Its omnidirectional microphone with noise filtering delivers good qulity audio. To complement the speakerphone performance unit is equiped in DSP with echo cancelation. Jabra DRIVE's Blutooth v 3.0 suports multi-point connectivity alowing for two devices connecting to the speakerphone at the same time. As we already mentioned befor it is one of the easiest hands free kits to install, just clip it on your visor and you are ready. Li-Polimer (no "memory effect") 700 mAh battery provides around 20h of talk time and 30 days of standby time. Other features include support for music, podcast and GPS audio playback, a "Mute" feature and limited Voice Guidance functions. Compared to other hands free speakerphones it does not include: Voice Control, Auto Turn ON (engien start sensor), Spoken caller-ID, FM Transimitter or Auxilary audio output.
For more info please watch the videos below

Jabra TOUR, Bluetooth In-Car Hands Free Speakerphone

Our second entry is another hands free Bluetooth speakerphone from Jabra. It is a mid range TOUR model with just enough features to keep it easy to use, user friendly and yet capable of delivering a very solid performance.
Jabra TOUR had been designe with a very simple yet modern and elegant look and feel to make it appealing and unobtrusive once it is cliped on your visor. In our tests it produced a good quality sound with a single 3W speaker. The soud quality and volume made it possible to use it even with our windows down at lower speeds. Its HD (High Definition) omnidirectional microphone with noise filtering delivers excelent qulity audio. To complement the speakerphone performance, unit is equiped in DSP (digital audio signal processing) with echo cancelation and noise reduction. Jabra TOUR's Blutooth v 3.0 suports multi-point connectivity alowing for two devices connecting to the speakerphone at the same time. Visor clip design makes it easy to place your speakerphone at the optimal spot favorited by users and manufacturers alike. Li-Polimer (no "memory effect") 950 mAh battery provides about 20h of talk time and 60 days of standby time. Other features include support for music, podcast and GPS audio playback, as well as "Mute", Spoken Caller-ID, Voice Guidance and Voice Control. It also features Engine Turn ON sensor that turns your speakerphone on as soon as you start your car's engien. It does not include: FM Transimitter or Auxilary audio output.
To see a complete manufacturer's techincal specifications please follow this link to a PDF document.
For connection instructions and tutorial, please watch the video below

Jabra's FREEWAY, Bluetooth Hands Free Speakerphone

The top model from Jabra, FREEWAY is loaded with every feature that one would expect in a top of the line hands free speakerphone, including hands free texting capability.
The best bluetooth hands free speakerphone among Jabra's offerings has most features that one could expect in state of the art hands free speakerphone. Jabra FREEWAY's three speakers produce 7W of an amaziong Virtual Surround sound that works even in the noisiests car cabins that we could find. While the speakers make FREEWAY one of the bulkiest speakerphones on the market, they also produce one of the best sounds that we have heard, in fact good enough to listen to podcasts and streaming music. The two HD omni-directional microphones in concert with DSP handle noise reduction and echo cancelation with great precision and as a result your listners hear your voice clearly without much of an ambient noise. As all of the speakerphones included in our review it supports mult-point connectivity with two devices being connected at the same time. Despite its bulkines Jabra FEEWAY still fits on your car's sun visor very will thanks to its shaped design and places your speakerphone at the optimal operating position. Li-Polimer (no "memory effect") battery provides about 14h of talk time and 40 days of standby time. Jabra FREEWAY features also support for hands free texting with an optional Voice Assist service (free for the first year, $59 a year thereafter). Other features include support for music, podcast and GPS audio playback, as well "Mute", Spoken Caller-ID, Voice Guidance and Voice Control. It also features Engine Turn ON sensor that turns your speakerphone on as soon as you start your car's engien, with Jabra FREEWAY you also get: FM Transimitter and Auxilary audio output to connect to your car's audio system..
To see a complete manufacturer's techincal specifications please follow this link to a PDF document.
For manufacturer's FREEWAY review please watch the video below

SuperTooth Buddy, Bluetooth Hands Free Speakerphone

Compact Bluetooth speakerphone from SuperTooth, Buddy is a very nicely packed, compact yet versatile unit. Measuring only about 5 inch by 0.5 inch fits very nicely on your car's sun visor.
Buddy's 2W speaker delivers clear audio that we didn't have problems hearing in a normal driving conditions. This bluetooth speakerphone features a microphone equipped with noise reduction, echocancelation and DSP technology that when we placed calls deliverd a clear sound on both ends. SuperTooth Buddy's Blutooth v 2.1 suports multi-point connectivity alowing for two devices connecting to the speakerphone at the same time. Car's sun visor clip features a unique two part design with a coin magnet that connects the unit to the visor's spring clip. Lithium-Ion (no "memory effect") recharchable battery provides about 20h of talk time and 1000h of standby time. Voice recognition functions can be accessed if the connected device supports those functions. Unfortunately this model does not include FM Transimitter or Auxilary audio output features.
To see a manufacturer's User's Manual please follow this link to a PDF document.
For manufacturer's introduction info please watch the SuperTooth Buddy video.



More reviews coming soon.

As the 2015 holiday season approaches, we decided to update our amazon best portable charger selection lists. After all the power bank market is very dynamic with new or updated models showing up almost daily. Our lists also grew bigger and now contain 15 best sellers for both compact and high capacity portable charger lists.

In addition to the best selling amazon portable charger list update with new best sellers, we also decided to create a list that our editors found worth sharing with our readers. They all are some great finds that in our opinion are some of the best portable chargers listed on amazon's website.

Lastly, because of growing interest we included two more listing from new technology categories. They are: solar power chargers and accessories and Qualcom Quick Charging power banks and accessories

TOP PORTABLE CHARGER REVIEW FEATURE POSTS' QUICK LINKS

What is it and why do I need a portable charger / power bank

Our phones become evermore powerful and essential in our lives. They are now not only our communication devices but they become our mini offices and personal assistants that we take with us everywhere. Their screens grew bigger and number of applications available for them is growing every day. As a result we relay on them to be charged and ready for use at all times. Manufacturer's "stand-by time" per battery charge lost its meaning because we hardly ever have our phones in the stand-by mode. It is not uncommon to charge our phone a few times a day and as long as we have a power outlet handy we learned to accept this as a part of our daily routine. But many times we find ourselves in a situation when we don't have access to a power outlet or we can't afford to be "tied-down" with our cell phone charger cable. But there is a solution that can solve those problems and it is called a battery portable charger or a power bank. Power bank is a device designed and build with one goal: keep our phones charged and ready even if we don't have access to a power outlet. Portable chargers not only provide an emergency energy source for our phones, tablets or any other device that can be plugged into a USB power source but can also relatively quickly charge our phone's battery. In simple terms a power bank is a portable charger that doesn't need an outlet to charge our phone. In most cases a power bank is small enough to fit in our pocket or a purse and we can take them with us anywhere we go.

What to look for when searching for the best portable charger for your phone or your tablet

We based our Top 10 power bank selection on multiple factors and device technical characteristics in addition to the Amazon Bestseller status. In our decision making process we looked at a product's user reviews and ratings, Amazon bestseller status and also weighted in our staff's expert opinion. Many of our choices match consumers' preferences that made a particular power bank an Amazon Bestseller and they all deserve the title of the best portable charger, but we also included a few portable chargers that are not best sellers on Amazon and yet we found their quality and value compelling enough to include them in our list. In our search for the best portable charger the evaluation process was primarily based on the following characteristics of selected power bank:

• Total Capacity - expressed in milliamp hours or mAh
• Amperage Rating - expressed in amps or A
• Portability
• Durability
• Design And Extra Features

Portable charger's total battery capacity

Battery capacity indicates how much electricity it can store. When you consider buying an external battery charger you need to consider your needs. When you plan to use it only for emergency charges for your phone the range of 3000mAh - 5000mAh should be enough to provide you with 1-2 full charges for your phone, depending on your phone battery capacity. However if you plan to use it for more than one phone or maybe a tablet you might consider a portable charger/power bank with capacity of 10000mAh and over. Just keep in mind that the higher the capacity the bigger the overall battery charger size. All of our picks feature at least 3000mAh for the compact models and 10000mAh and over for more bulkier multi-phone or tablet models. The highest capacity among our portable chargers belongs to Anker� Astro E7 Ultra-High Capacity Compact Portable Battery Charger, its whopping 25600mAh (11/9/2015: Now upgraded to 26800mAh) should be enough for multiple charges for your phone and tablet.

Portable charger's USB charging port amperage rating

Portable charger amperage rating tells us how fast the electricity is going through a USB port and into our phone's internal battery. Which by the way is true as much for external battery chargers as it is for wall chargers. When picking the best portable charger make sure that the USB port amperage rating is 1A or greater. If you ever tried to charge your tablet or even a phone from your laptop's USB port, chances are that you could see on your phone or tablet that the external power source was connected but the battery was either charging very slowly or not at all. The reason for this behavior is that standard laptop's USB ports are only 0.5A and charging any device from such a port takes a long time in the best case scenario. All power banks in our review are at least 1A rated and many feature ports rated at 2A or higher.

Portable charger's/power bank's portability

When choosing a power bank for our phone we should ask ourselves a few questions concerned with intended use. For example: How are you going to carry your power bank? Are going to carry it in your purse or a pocket and is your phone the only device that you plan to charge with your portable charger? If so you should pick a smallest compact model. You should know that there are some power banks that are not much bigger then a lipstick. All portable chargers included in our review, even the smallest models, should provide you with at least one full charge for your phone.

Portable charger's battery durability

All our selected power banks feature modern Lithium-Ion technology (they are not susceptible to Memory Effect that was common with older battery types) and they can last at least 500 full charge cycles (one charge cycle = 0% to 100% OR 2x[50% to 100%]), so even with a daily use they should last for not less than 2 years.

Portable charger's extras

In some cases you might consider some extra features that will meet your particular needs. Among our selected portable chargers there are some models that feature:

• Waterproof/Shockproof design (SadoTech 10400mAh Portable Charger)
• Flash Light (SadoTech 10400mAh Portable Charger; Acuvar Power Bank Portable Backup Battery Charger; KMAX-806 External Travel Battery Pack)
• Multiple USB Ports (All High Capacity Models except KMAX-806 External Travel Battery Pack)
• Solar Panel Recharge (LevinTM Solstar Solar Panel Charger) Late addition 01/09/2015

We also collected a few wall/car charger and other accessory item recommendations for you. After all our power bank is useless unless it is charged.

Best portable charger - Top 15 compact portable chargers from Amazon's bestseller list

The following list contains Amazon's best selling compact portable chargers. We collected not only those that take the top spots in cell phone accessories but also some that are preferred by users of other battery powered gadgets like cameras, portable speakers etc. The main criteria for our selection was the physical size of the charger, we made sure that any of the chargers featured on the list is small enough to fit in your pocket or a purse. The ultra-portable models in general come with a capacity of 3,000-5,000mAh, that is still enough to provide at least one full charge for almost any smartphone on the market. There are a few however that despite their relatively small size can provide more than 10,000mAh, enough to recharge even a tablet and a phone from a single unit.

Best portable charger - Top 15 high capacity portable chargers from Amazon's bestseller list

For multi-device charging needs we created the following Amazon's best selling high capacity portable charger list. While they are a bit bulkier than the compact models, they provide at lease 10,000mAh capacities that can provide either multiple charges for your phone or tablet or keep multiple devices charged and ready for use.

Best portable charger - Editor's choice for Amazon best portable charger

The following list includes top portable chargers that while did not make the Amazon's best seller list, are worth mentioning either because of their quality or unique features that our editors deemed useful to our readers. There are also those that had not have a chance yet to make to the best seller list because they are new releases and did not have the time to build a reputation among the general public.

Best cellphone portable charger - Solar Chargers, Solar Power Banks and Accessories

With recent advances in solar power technology we are finally at a point that a relatively small solar panels can provide enought power to either charge our cellphones or save it for latter in a power bank. During our research and testin for our Top 10 Portable Cellphone Charger Review, our editors found quite a few products in the solar power category that would not qualify as Best Sellers, at least not yet. They are however a good, clean alternative as a portable power source. In some situations they might be the only way to keep our phones charged and operational. For those reasons we create a dedicated section with products that use solar technology at the power source.

Qualcomm�s Quick Charge Charging - Cell Phone Portable Charger Review

Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology can significantly reduce the charging time for phones build with Snapdragon processor (more info on Quick Charge 2.0 and Quick Charge 3.0). However to take advantage of that technology you need charging devices to be able to comunicate with your smartphone and adjust the charging parameters. We created a list of poratble chargers, wall chargers and car chargers that support Quick Charge technology.

Wall Chargers, Car Chargers and Charging Accessories - Cell Phone Portable Charger Review

As we worked on our Amazon's best selling portable charger list we came across some noteworthy products related to the topic and we decided that they might be of an interest to our readers. We compiled a list of wall chargers, car chargers and other cell phone accessories for our readers. Please use the link to view our list of top quality chargers and accessories. If you have any suggestions for our list addition, questions or requests, please leave us a comment at the end of the post.