Here are two links to the products discussed in this Podcast:

Shokz Opencomm UC:  https://headsetadvisor.com/products/aftershokz-opencomm-uc-bone-conduction-stereo-bluetooth-wireless-headset-for-pc-mobile

Poly 5200 UC:  https://headsetadvisor.com/products/plantronics-voyager-5200-uc-bluetooth-headset-for-mobile-workers

In this installment of the Headset Advisor Podcast, you'll see how a name brand UC wireless headset in the Poly 5200 UC, compares side-by-side to a lesser known brand in the Shokz Opencomm UC. 

You'll find out:

• How much battery life to expect from both of them
• Which one handled unwanted background noise better
• How they're both worn, because they're very different from each other
• Which one allows you to answer incoming calls when away from your desk
• How much wireless range you'll get
• How much they cost, and how you can get a better price on them

It's true that Poly, formerly Plantronics, is a household name  in the business headset space. Anyone in business that wears a headset, or has a job that requires them to buy headsets, knows that name. But that's not the case with the Shokz Opencomm brand.  Does that mean that the name brand is always better?  Well, in this case, let's take a look and see how they compare.

First, and the most obvious thing you'll notice, is they not only look very different from each other, but they're worn differently as well. The Poly 5200 UC is worn over the ear, with an ear gel that get inserted into the ear canal. The Shokz Opencomm UC, by comparison, is worn behind the neck, with circular pads (2) that rest against the bone just behind each ear. And because of that design, it leaves both ears uncovered.

The  Poly 5200 UC pipes sound directly to the ear canal, where the Opencomm UC bypasses the ear canal entirely through its use of bone conduction technology. This can be an advantage, especially for those who have hearing challenges.

The wireless talk range is the same on both with a rating of up to 100 feet. Though in our tests, the Opencomm gave us a little more range. Not a lot more, but a little.

In terms of battery life, the Poly 5200 UC is rated up to 7 hours of talk  time, with a recharge time of 1.5 hours. This headset also comes with a portable charge case for charging on the  go.

The Opencomm  UC has a battery that's rated up to 16 hours of talk time, and up to 8 hours of listening time. 5 minutes on the charger yields 2 hours of battery life, which is impressive.

Both headsets do not have batteries that can be replaced. This means when the battery no longer holds a charge, the headset will need to be replaced.

The  Poly 5200 UC is optimized for use with the leading UC platforms such as Microsoft Teams, RingCentral, Zoom and others. This  means  you can answer, and end calls when away from the desk. The  Opencomm UC can't offer this convenience.

In our sound tests, the Opencomm UC sounded a bit better, and reduced unwanted noise better than the Poly 5200 UC. But, when outdoors, the 5200 handled wind better. Likely due to Poly's "WindSmart" techology.

How much do these cost?  the 5200 UC runs $179.99, and the Opencomm UC runs $199.99. But, you can get a better price if you use coupon code BLOG when checking out on our website which is www.headsetadvisor.com

So make sure to use coupon code BLOG to get your best price.

The best headset for you between these models really comes down to what your specific needs are.