Hybrid working has become the new norm with studies showing that up to one-third of employees are working partly from home and partly in the office. One of the biggest challenges associated with remote work is the efficacy of the equipment and technology used to ensure the optimal working environment.
There’s a plethora of options available on the market, but I’ve found two devices which make virtual meetings more seamless, empowering and productive without breaking the bank.
Enter the recently launched Jabra Evolve2 Buds (RRP $399) and Jabra Speak2 75 professional speakerphone (RRP $559), which I’ve had the opportunity to get hands-on with.
Jabra Evolve2
Jabra is known for its wide range of wireless earbuds with an option that caters to any discerning customer. For those looking for a discreet and stylish look, the Evolve2 Buds are the company’s smallest true wireless earbud design yet. The buds are portable with a pocketable case that houses the buds, USB adapter and an LED light on the front to indicate battery status. What’s more; they’re also waterproof and dust resistant with an IP57 rating – a handy inclusion when you’re on the move.
A unique (and probably my favourite) feature is that the Eolve2 Buds are certified for Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom. This means they’re specifically designed and built to plug-and-play and work seamlessly with these virtual meeting apps. Say goodbye to audio connection issues, which seem to still be lingering even three years after the onset of Covid.
Simply connect the (included) USB Bluetooth adapter to your laptop for a more stable connection and enhanced sound experience. The USB also provides added freedom with up to 20 metres of wireless range and fewer dropouts – who said you can’t make a cheeky coffee while listening to a virtual presentation?
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Another feature that’s key to a smooth hybrid working experience is advanced Bluetooth Multipoint. Although this isn’t unique to Jabra, it’s worth a mention because it allows you to switch between a meeting on your laptop and a call on your smartphone, making multi-tasking easier than ever before.
Now let me take a step back to the set-up of the Evolve2 Buds, which will be a familiar process for anyone who owns Jabra buds, and for those who don’t, it’s super simple and quick. Just install the Sound+ app, connect your buds to your phone via Bluetooth and follow the step-by-step guide on the app.
Beyond the simplicity, what I love about the Sound+ app is the MyFit feature to ensure you receive the best possible audio experience, including deeper bass and improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is super important when working in noisier environments, whether it’s a home office, co-working space or on public transport. Put the buds in your ears and let the app analyse the fit and confirm you’re wearing the right size ear gels. (Another thing to note there are three gel tips included in the box).
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You can also easily switch from ANC to HearThrough mode when you need to tune in to any important conversations or announcements without removing the buds. For a more customised music experience, the MySound feature in the app will tailor the audio by performing a quick test on your right and left ear and then creating a personalised hearing profile.
You can also control and manage functions from the buds themselves – which can be customised to your preferences. Out of the box, with the left bud, you can play or pause music (one press), skip to the next track (two presses), go back to the previous track (three presses) or engage a voice assistant (hold for three seconds). With the right bud, you can open Microsoft Teams or view notifications (one press), answer a call or mute the microphone (one press), end or reject a call or activate ANC or HearThrough mode (two presses).
The buds boast up to 8 hours of battery life or 33 hours with the case. Thanks to the super rapid charge feature, you can get over an hour of power in just five minutes. To stretch battery life even further, you can use one bud while the other charges. The case is also Qi-certified for wireless charging.
If you’ve got back-to-back calls or a full day’s work with the buds, I assure you the Evolve2 deliver one of the most comfortable and secure fits of any earbud I’ve tested for numerous hours of use.
Jabra Speak2 75
Jabra continues the portable and pocketable form factor of the Evolve2 Buds with the Jabra Speak2 75 professional speakerphone that can turn any room into a meeting space thanks to advanced super wideband audio and precision microphone performance incorporated into the full range 65mm speaker.
With four beamforming microphones and the latest digital signal processing algorithms, the speaker fields sound from all directions and picks up every nuance, no matter where you are. Noise reduction technology helps remove any distracting background noise.
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The Speak2 75 claims to be the only speakerphone to feature a custom-designed microphone quality indicator. The 360-degree light ring shows if you’re being heard loud and clear or if you need to be closer to the speaker. Green indicates good quality, while red alerts you to poor quality sound. Whether you’re softly spoken or prone to raising your voice, Jabra’s voice level normalisation technology means everyone will be heard without the need to adjust volume controls.
Aside from the light ring, other controls on the speakerphone include a power button, play or pause music, answer, end or reject a call, Bluetooth pairing, volume up or down, and mute microphone, as well as a battery status indicator. Settings can also be customised using the Sound+ app.
Just like the Evolve2 Buds, the Speak2 75 is certified for Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, for a seamless plug-and-play connection. The speaker also comes with Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair compatibility.
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A design makeover from the original Speak Series sees the Speak2 75 sport a modern and minimalist shape with brushed aluminium and premium speaker fabric. It’s small yet durable with an IP64 rating for protection against water and dust and includes a handy soft travel case.
The Speak2 75 claims to be the first speakerphone in the category to have both a USB-C and USB-A connector on a single cable (included in the box) so it doesn’t matter which laptop model you’ve got. It has Bluetooth version 5.2 with a wireless range of up to 30 metres and boasts up to 32 hours of battery life when used wirelessly.
As part of Jabra’s sustainability efforts, the packaging is made with recycled materials and FSC-certified paper. The casing of Speak2 75 is made using over one-third (33%) of sustainable materials and includes built-in parts that can be repaired or replaced.