Nextlink Special Edition #1 BlueSpoon 5G review

Nextlink's Special edition #1 Bluespoon 5G with diamonds arrives! World's smallest Bluetooth headset at 5 grams – Mission Invisible for the bleeding edge is accomplished.

That's Right!! Lars Stenfeldt CEO of NextLink has presented me with the very first Serial Number #1 BlueSpoon 5G Headset with an added surprise - Diamonds!

Jon Magnussen the Senior Engineer in charge of development and assembly of the 5G Headsets has completed 10 of the very first 5G Headsets. At this time, however, there is still not enough batteries and chargers for the original 10 units with only half as many batteries and chargers being available. The units also do not benefit from the final casing, which has yet to be delivered by the sub-contractor. These final casing will allow a much easier and secure replacement of the battery and battery housing cover. The current all night charger and batteries will be replaced in a few weeks with faster 90 minute chargers and better more powerful batteries. Finally, the "plungers" for the volume and headset controls will be black on the production models as opposed to the reddish brown of my #1.

The 5G comes packaged in a very attractive presentation box with a silk-screened 5G logo on the box lid. Inside you will find the 5G in its special stainless steel carry case with 2 soft silicone rubber ear pieces. Finally, you will find the manual, batteries (production models will come with 2 I'm told), USB charger cable and 2 battery charger. The USB cable is the same mini plug used with the new NextLink AX model.

The 5G is operated by using the 2 plungers for both volume and phone/headset interaction. Unlike the AX which uses 3 buttons, the 5G operates much like the original BlueSpoons and current Digital unit. The major difference though it that instead of having to press both buttons to turn the unit on/off begin pairing the 5G's "increase volume" plunger is use by pressing in and holding for 2-4 seconds until the upper "Diamond" flashes blue 3 times and by continuing to hold it in for approximately 8 seconds to initiate "Pairing" in which the both Upper/Lower Diamonds flash blue/red for approximately 2 minutes. Press the plunger again and hold to turn the 5G off...the lower "Diamond" will flash red 3 times.

 

The tacticle response of the plungers is very high tech and positive, but until you use one its hard to describe the mental adjustment you have to make to trusting the construction of this tiny device. I always feel as if I could break these little things because of the extremely tiny size (half the size of a match stick).Which brings me to the biggest problem of ownership itself.

Charging the 5G requires that you physically remove the battery from the 5G and place it into the USB 2 battery charger.

 

The 5G in pairing mode, I just love to watch the "Blue Diamond" and "Red Diamond" flash very hard to capture the effect, but its beautiful! Jon really outdid himself with this customization, but I have been told by Lars that other custom covers will be made available to those who covet the "Bling"!

 

The Speaker grill:

 

Using the 5G is a pleasure, its so light and tiny that you don't know its there, but its sound is "HUGE" and the clarity and voice quality are exceptional. I assume that this is due to the higher quality microphone components taken from NextLink's "Invisio" series of "jawbone" headsets. (Lars tells me that he is still working on that "jawbone headset" for me - maybe next year's Beta Test?

The Biggest Problem of 5G ownership is actually due to the "tiny size" of the 5G. The 5G is so tiny, and the battery is so small, that removing and charging batteries can be a little difficult. I have small hands and very small fingers for a man, but its extremely difficult for me to remove the battery housing from the 5G. Additionally, the size of the battery is such that if you drop it like I did, outside while making photographs, you may spend some time just searching for it. It's really, really small folks. Look at the 5G here beside a penny.

While the battery actually sits on top of the penny with room enough for another almost.

The 5G is worn in either the right or left ear. Its earsprings are made of very soft silicone rubber and are just like the ones used with the AX. The weight while being worn is unnoticeable. The only thing you really notice is the ear piece blocks sound coming into the ear canal when you are not on a call. Otherwise, it's like wearing a cotton ball in your ear.

The 5G is an Engineering Marvel which showcases NextLink's Superiority in the Bluetooth Headset Design and Manufacturing area. It is not a headset for everyone. The AX and the Super-High Performance DX will be a more practical and user friendly headset for most people. The 5G is for the individual who wants the "Ultimate Bleeding Edge" product and is willing to make compromises for bragging rights to that end. The reward is having ownership of something that is so technically advanced and like no other product on the market.

Its limited production and hand-made quality insure that the owner will always be "The One" when engaged in a battle of who is the Ultimate Geek with his friends. Non-Gadget people will simply look at it in awe thinking that you must be an employee of the National Security Agency or a CIA agent on the lamb.

  

Nextlink's limited edition 5G Bluetooth headset  for people who demand the best from the Bleeding Edge!

 

Credits
This review has been edited and published with permission from the original author - Mark Morrow 
(BengalBoy).