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Sarah Tew/CNET
AT&T bulked up its Bluetooth accessory lineup with two devices from Samsung and Motorola.
The Motorola Moto Hint and Samsung Gear Circle hit stores on Friday, according to the carrier.
Both products represent attempts by their respective companies to break out of the typical Bluetooth headset mold with unusual designs. The Hint is a pint-size device that nestles neatly in the ear, virtually disappearing from sight. The Gear Circle is meant to be worn around the neck, and appeals to more active customers.
The Moto Hint costs $150, but AT&T will knock $50 off if a customer bundles it with a Moto X or Nexus 6. The Gear Circle carries a $100 price tag.
The Moto Hint can be paired with Motorola phones, and was unveiled alongside the second-generation Moto X and Moto G. Hint utilizes Moto Voice for voice commands, and can be used even if the Motorola phone is tucked away in a bag. It is designed to be simple, and notably has no buttons — it knows to turn on when you rest it in your ear. The other side has a capacity touch sensor.
The device gets 3.5 hours of use on a single charge, but includes a carrying case that doubles as a charger, giving you a total of 10 hours of battery life.
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The Samsung Gear Circle , meanwhile, was unveiled alongside the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, Gear S and Gear VR in September.
It is an unconventional unit worn around the neck with a built-in microphone. It also has magnetic clasps that hold on to your ear buds when you’re done listening to music or taking a phone call. It also has a vibrate feature to alert you of incoming text messages and phone call.
The Gear Circle is also resistant to sweat and splashes.
The Gear Circle taps into Samsung’s S Voice for commands.
