The Evolve2 30 is a superior version to the existing Evolve 30, with better collaboration features, passive noise cancellation, durability and flexibility, although the older model will also remain in production.
The Jabra Evolve2 30
Today, unified communications vendor Jabra is announcing the launch of the Jabra Evolve2 30, an entry level offering under the Evolve2 40 in the product family. The corded headset, aimed at the sub-$USD 100 market, is a significant upgrade over the older Evolve 30 line, with collaboration capabilities the older device lacks, as well as other enhancements like better passive noise cancellation. The plan is to continue both the Evolve 30 and Evolve2 30, since the former still has a strong market, even though Jabra will be recommending the enhanced Evolve2 if the users will be utilizing collaboration.
“We launched the Evolve2 40 in springtime last year, with the objective of ensuring that you have a great experience for collaboration, concentration and flexibility,” said Sidsel Enghoff, Product Marketing Manager for North America at Jabra. “With the Evolve2 30 we are expanding the line down to the entry level.”
While the Evolve2 30 is a slight downgrade in some aspects compared to the Evolve2 40, Enghoff said that it satisfies all the requirements for a strong collaboration offering.
“It has two mics, which is required for collaboration in Microsoft Open Office requirements,” she indicated. “It’s ideal for remote work because it’s flexible enough to work from any platform. It’s plug and play so works from any USB port.”
Collaboration is also enhanced with the option for a Microsoft Teams certified variant, which has a dedicated Microsoft Teams button that lets the user instantly jump in and out of virtual meetings. That’s a key feature which is not there in the older Evolve 30.
The Evolve2 30’s passive noise cancellation is much improved from the earlier Evolve 30. Enghoff said that it is 48% better.
The Evolve2 30 has an integrated busylight within turns on automatically when on a call, and can also be turned on manually to signal “do-not-disturb” to those around. The Evolve2 30 has a busylight on one ear, while the higher end Evolve2 40 has them on both, and the older Evolve 30 has no busylight at all.
Other differences between the Evolve2 30 and Evolve 2 40 include 28 mm speakers on the former [although Jabra says they are plenty powerful] and 40 mm on the latter. The Evolve 2 40 also has three mics to the Evolve 2 30’s two.
Jabra is emphasizing that despite the low price point, the Evolve2 30 is both comfortable and durable. It has been ergonomically designed to support prolonged wear, and to exert evenly distributed pressure, with premium soft memory foam ear cushions that mold to the ear’s natural contours and ease the weight of the headset on users’ heads. For durability, both the headband and slider of the Evolve2 30 are assembled with stainless steel, with a much higher degree of durability and flexibility compared to the Evolve 30.
“We have also focused on making the design attractive,” Enghoff said.
The target audience for this headset is desk workers.
“Because it is a corded phone, it’s for people who do not need to walk around much,” Enghoff noted.
Finally, Enghoff emphasized that Jabra intends to keep the older Evolve 30 in production, even with the superior Evolve 2 30 on the market.
“Many love the Evolve, so we have no plans to end it, but Evolve2 30 is really recommended if the users use collaboration,” she said. “It really is a step up.”
