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Motorola Elite Sliver Bluetooth Headset Review

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When my wife threw my old Bluetooth headset away at a Subway Restaurant in New Orléans, LA, I acted like I was really upset and took the opportunity to buy a newer and better one.

The Motorola Elite Sliver Bluetooth Headset now adorns my ear and connects to my Samsung Galaxy S III and occasionally my MacBook Pro.

It pairs swiftly, sounds pretty good and feels comfortable, but costs a little more than most. So far, I’m pleased. The Motorola Elite Sliver Bluetooth headset has its problems, but there’s more good than bad.

I picked the Motorola Elite Sliver for four reasons.

  • It’s small
  • Uses Bluetooth 4.0
  • Offers plenty of talk time thanks to the battery case
  • Uses NFC to tell the phone what kind of connection to use and automatically pair (in theory)

motorola elite sliver bluetooth headset

NFC Pairing

Let’s start by looking at the NFC pairing option and the case. The Elite Sliver comes in a useful carrying case that functions as a backup battery and storage. It also includes an NFC chip. Tap an NFC enabled phone, like my Samsung Galaxy S III and its supposed to communicate with the phone, turn on the Bluetooth and automatically connect the headset to the phone.

Instead of turning on Bluetooth with the tap of a finger, I’m supposed to tap the case to the back of my phone with the headset inside.

NFC pairing never worked with my phone. After some investigation I found that it only works with a couple of Motorola phones and doesn’t work with any phones from other manufacturers due to obscure requirements that most don’t meet. Since the user only pairs a headset with a phone on first use, this didn’t lower my appreciation too much. Motorola should make it clear on the packaging that it only works with Motorola headsets at present.

Design and Function

Ignoring the NFC debacle, I really like the design of the Motorola Elite Sliver. The term sliver implies small size, the first of my four reasons for buying it. Indeed, it fits on my ear and disappears for a while. I don’t mean others can’t see it, but I stopped noticing it.

motorola elite sliver headset

After about an hour I need to take it off for a few minutes since it has a round ear bud style speaker instead of a more comfortable in-ear style speaker. Still, going a full hour works for me.

The headset turns on and off by swiveling the ear bud (see picture above). The ear bud swivels in both directions so I can wear it on either ear.

With the headset turned off, it fits into the carrying case. The case fits the ear buds with form-fitting cutouts. Metal connectors touch the connectors on the headset to charge it. The case adds about five hours of talk time.

The headset lasts about four to five hours of talk time as well. In two weeks, I’ve never used up the battery. I charged it to 100% the first night. Used it a couple of days putting it back in the case when I didn’t need it and then after a week charged the case with the headset in the case. With only two full charges after a week each time, the headset announces that it holds a few hours of talk.

motorola elite sliver charging case

Those who use their headset constantly can get about ten to twelve hours of talk time. It charges in the case in under an hour.

The Motorola Elite Sliver uses two buttons. One, on the bottom of the ear holder, handles calls and interacts with the phone bringing up functions like Siri on the iPhone 4S or S-Voice on my Galaxy S III. It also works with My Moto Speak, a free Android app from Motorola that gives phones a poor man’s Siri or S-Voice.

The other button, just above the earbud, called the Smart Button, handles things like changing volume and muting the mic.

The LED indicates battery status, pairing status and call status. A second mic on the device listens for environmental noise to cancel it so it doesn’t interfere with conversations.

Sound and Voice Quality

The Motorola Elite Sliver sounds pretty good. This takes me to the second reason for picking the headset – Bluetooth 4.0. The latest Bluetooth technology offers a wider range meaning the headset won’t disconnect when I put the phone in my pocket or even lay on my desk and walk across the room. It offers great connectivity for compatible phones. Not every phone uses Bluetooth 4.0, but my Galaxy S III does as does the iPhone 4S our family uses as the family line. My New iPad uses it as well as the Nexus 7 Tablet I just bought.

Clearer sound and longer range makes Bluetooth 4.0 a must for any future phone or headset I buy.

When other people talk to me, they seem to hear me fine. No one asked me to repeat myself more than normal. I asked others how I sounded and every person said I sounded great. They couldn’t tell the difference between the headset and using the built-in phone mic on my Galaxy S III.

motorola elite sliver micro usb

To recharge the headset, place it in the case and plug into the supplied micro-USB to AC adapter.

Value

The Motorola Elite Sliver costs $129.99 retail. Save some money and buy it on Amazon for only $94.88.

At either price, I’m happy to own the Motorola Elite Sliver. It’s easily the best Bluetooth headset I’ve owned.

My wife threw away my Plantronics Voyager HD Pro, also a great headset that made our Best of 2011 list. This one’s smaller and feels more comfortable and lasts longer. I like it much better due to sound quality, the useful case and the battery longevity.

I’d like a smaller earbud and I wish the NFC worked with my phone, but those are minor complaints. My wife better not throw this one away!

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Chris Wilkerson, DC

    08/20/2012 at 7:22 am

    >>After about an hour I need to take it off for a few minutes since it has a round ear bud style speaker instead of a more comfortable in-ear style speaker. Still, going a full hour works for me.<<

    This sounds like a deal breaker for me.

  2. Terry

    08/25/2012 at 5:23 am

    I own this one, it’s comfortable lasts long time on battery. The audio quality is outstanding! I listen to music or radio ,make calls etc. the range is awesome! No static breakup if I walk around my office or my home.

  3. Michael

    09/02/2012 at 8:54 am

    For the record if you look at Motorola’s website containing the specs for the unit, it uses BT 3.0 not BT 4.0.

    https://www.motorola.com/us/consumers/Motorola-Elite-Sliver-Bluetooth%C2%AE-Headset/75589,en_US,pd.html?selectedTab=tab-2&cgid=accessories-headsets

  4. James

    09/09/2012 at 12:54 pm

    The battery in the case can’t extend talk time unless you stop talking, The NFC configuration helper is basically useless and the sound quality is “pretty good”… and you recommend purchasing this thing with an enthusiastic voice? $130 for a messed up ear bud…? you must be on the payroll, or “way much” a geek.

  5. torch55

    10/19/2012 at 8:59 am

    Motorola says that it is Bluetooth 3.0, not 4.0. Did you review a different model?

  6. Romas

    12/24/2012 at 2:45 pm

    I have had this since about Feb (2012). The first started malfuntioning after a couple of months and eventually i had to have a warranty replacement when it wouldn’t turn on anymore. Well my replacement unit has decided to call it quits now, I can’t hear a thing. Arrggh. Not very good quality. On other issues, car noise or other excessive noise interferes with the sound quality and people can’t understand what I say or the phone can’t figure out what I want to do. The MotoSpeak app would be great if it worked all the time because it allows for texting; but the app fails more often than it works.
    I like the style and the light weight but I really am aggracvatted with the problems.

  7. Sheddawg

    03/31/2013 at 2:21 am

    I have had the pleasure of owning two Motorola Elite Sliver Headsets. The first one my kids stepped on (by accident) and broke I took it back to the Sprint Store in which I bought it at and they replaced it for me now as far as the second headset goes not sure but it’s now broke as well. This has happened less than a year of ownership now I’m experiencing problems with the charging case it won’t charge unless it’s plugged in. Wow you would think at this price you would get a better quality of product. Now I’m stuck with a broke very expensive headset. Overall I’m pleased with the concept and upset with the design. If anyone has any solutions to the problem please let me lnow thanks.

  8. Norman

    04/08/2013 at 2:25 pm

    Out of the box, the design and performance delivered as spec’d – it was by far the best blue-tooth headset we have ever used. We loved this headset. It’s flaw however is that it is simply not durable for everyday use. Ours (3 in total) lasted just a few weeks to a couple of months before A.) the on\off switch wouldn’t turn itself off, B.) losing it’s ability to stay connected to a previously paired phone and C.) the flex joint where it rests on the peak of your ear breaks & shreds apart,

  9. Veeks

    09/16/2013 at 8:50 pm

    I loved mine at first. Got a good 2 months out of it. Now, it won’t charge in the case… SMH. And it sure as hell aint built to be used if you sweat a lot at work! Damn

  10. Marcus

    05/20/2014 at 1:07 pm

    Not very good I am on my 4th one and it is dead not impressed at all with it everything else is great about it but I get about 1 to 2 months and it stops working

  11. Ryan

    05/15/2015 at 8:13 am

    Just purchased the Silver II. 1 week ago. I was able to pair the bluetooth with my iphone 4s, and i have the device fully charged. However, when I try to make a call, there is no sound in the earbud. Please help. The odd thing about this is when I first paired the device, the earbud sound worked. I turned the device off and then the next day when I tried to use this again, there is not sound in the earbud. Just stopped working. Any advice? I have clicked “forget device” and re synced the phone and Silver II, and hit 0000. But still no sound in the earbud. When there is an incomming call, I can hear the device ask me “call phone Person A, accept or decline” and I say accept and then when the person is supposed to be on the other line, there is no sound.

  12. John Balicki

    11/02/2015 at 5:48 pm

    I love this headset, HOWEVER I am on my 3rd purchase. There is a slit about half way on the boom which breaks. I don’t understand why that design flaw was left in. The price has gone way down so I continue to persevere since it’s the best I have found.

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