Poly (now part of HP) recently announced its latest partner and product updates across their hybrid solutions, including a new entry-level version of the Voyager Free 60. The Voyager Free 60 series of devices were designed for use with mobile devices as part of HP’s future-ready portfolio.
The series of devices include:
1.) Poly Voyager Free 60 – An entry-level model designed to work with your mobile phone to help bridge the gap between work and everyday life – Priced at $229.95
2.) Poly Voyager Free 60 UC – Enterprise-grade earbuds featuring adaptive ANC, come with a BT 700 USB adapter and charge case – Priced at $279.95
3.) Poly Voyager Free 60+ UC – All the features of the VF60 UC plus a touchscreen charge case that enables users to control call status, mute/volume, and more, and a USB to 3.5 mm audio cable that connects to in-flight entertainment systems – Priced at $329.95
Plus the Voyager Free 60 UC versions are now Microsoft Teams and Zoom certified and each of the Voyager Free 60 models includes a charging case with Qi charging capabilities.
The Shift To Hybrid Working
A high number of employees are considering a shift to hybrid working and they are expecting to spend more time on video calls. People are bringing in their consumer wireless earbuds (non-certified devices) to address these changes. And IT teams are looking to offer Teams/Zoom/Google-certified solutions that they are able to manage and control.
Poly Voyager Headphones Features
The Poly Voyager devices have several notable features:
1.) Design – The headphones have 6 microphones, a stem design, and noise cancellation to make voices the central focus for calls.
2.) Adaptive ANC – As mentioned above, certain versions of the headphones have adaptive active noise canceling (ANC). Plus the headphones also have NoiseBlock AI and Acoustic Fence technology – which keeps you focused wherever you are working
3.) Multi-Point Connectivity – The headphones feature multi-point connectivity so users can stay connected to up to 2 devices at the same time.
4.) Transparency Mode – You will be able to hear your surroundings without having to remove an earbud.
5.) Solid Battery Life – The earbuds feature 5 hours of talk-time with ANC activated. And the smart charge case offers an extra 10 hours of talk-time and comes with a USB-C port so you can charge while on the go. Plus the case also includes a BT700 for more functionality.
Smart Charge Case
The smart charge case enables customized configurations and control over the earbuds. You can use the smart charge case features the media controls play/pause; back; and next. You can also control the volume and switch between devices using the smart charge case. Plus it shows the battery status, the call status, and you can control apps. You can also use the smart charge case to connect to external audio sources via the 3.5mm input, which can come in handy while you are on a plane.
HP global product marketing manager Roger Ogborne told me that the company will also issue firmware updates periodically, which could include bug fixes and security enhancements as time goes on.
Ogborne also told me that the smart charge case also supports Qi wireless charging. This can come in handy if you have a Qi wireless charger on your nightstand or built into a lamp.
Inside the Voyager Free 60 UC Series smart charging case is a BT700 Bluetooth adapter. This adapter features LC3 Codec (improved audio at a lower bit rate and is ideal for enterprise use); Bluetooth 5.1 support; audio device recognition (no need to open Bluetooth stack); seamless plug-and-play.
In terms of comfort, the earbuds come with three different-sized conical-shaped ear tips: small, medium, and large. Switching between the tips is pretty straightforward.
IP Rating
The earbuds have an IP rating of IP 54. This means that it is protected against contamination from limited amounts of dust and other particles such as dirt, oil, and other non-corrosive material. This means you should try to avoid getting water on the earbuds or using them during heavy workouts.
Poly Lens app
It is recommended that you download the Poly Lens app as well. The app lets you make settings adjustments and there are intelligent features like automating common actions such as auto-mute, auto-answer, and auto-pause music. Plus there are built-in tips for the devices and you can use Find My Device in case you misplace them.
Earbud Controls
Through the Poly Lens app, you can configure the gesture controls and physical buttons for the earbuds. The physical button can be configured at a granular level in terms of the length of the key press (short, medium, long). And the gesture is configured in different states (call mode; idle mode; streaming media mode).
Pulse 2.0 Score: 4.5 / 5.0
Considering all of the features and the pricing, the Poly Voyager Free 60 series of devices have received a Pulse 2.0 score of 4.5 out of 5.
