What is it?

This is Zaap's new Bluetooth receiver, one amongst the zillion ones available online and offline. However, what's different about this one, and what has particularly caught my attention, is its in-built battery. This means not just the new-age cars, but old cars that don't have a USB port/12V power outlet can also use this device, without having to bother about a continuous external power supply. This review will delve deeper into its other features and will tell you if it's worth considering.

What's in the box?

The smartly packaged box has a thank-you card thanking you for purchasing their product. Very courteous I must say! The Zaap Bluetooth 4.1 Receiver is up front embedded in the box, while a built-in 3.5mm Aux connector, micro-USB charging cable, a user manual and a warranty card are neatly tucked away inside the box. What's not there in the box, but is worth mentioning is a customer support available on mail and through phone as well.

How to install it?

First and foremost, if your car doesn't have a 12V power outlet, make sure you charge the Bluetooth receiver before-hand through the charging cable. Otherwise, you can charge it on the run by connecting it to the USB port/12V power outlet. Now connect the gold-plated Zaap connector to the device and locate the Aux port on the dashboard. Insert this connector pin, select Aux on the music system and switch on the device. You are done with all the physical connections required.

Now for the music and telephony bit, search for Bluetooth devices on your phone and connect to 'Zaap-BRX-268', which is the name by default. You can edit this in Bluetooth settings just like any other connected device. Once successfully paired, the device intelligently connects to the phone whenever the Bluetooth is on. Interestingly, it supports multiple devices meaning more than one device can also be connected to this receiver at the same time.

How does it work?

We used it in different cars like the old-gen Honda Jazz, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Tata Hexa, Maruti Suzuki Swift etc. This Zaap Bluetooth 4.1 receiver has wide compatibility. We tried connecting it to different android and iOS smartphones and it paired without any hassle. Once connected, every audio from your smartphone will be routed to the car’s music system through this device. So one can use it to stream music, answer phone calls and even the GPS audio. The device has an in-built microphone and control buttons on it to change the volume and play/pause music with ease. It cannot play previous tracks but can skip to the next track. A long press of the button activates Siri on Apple devices and the google assistant on android devices.

On a full charge it can provide 10 hours of playback and talk-time, or up to 200 hours on standby on background. We used it on a long trip and the device easily provided uninterrupted playback throughout the journey and back. Back then, we paired the driver’s phone for telephony and the co-driver’s phone too along with it to play music. Interestingly, when the driver received a call, it intelligently paused the music on the co-driver’s phone for the driver to answer the call. High clarity of sound on hands-free calling and a high quality audio is ensured thanks to the APT-X & CSR chipset on-board. This Bluetooth AptX HD is a wireless audio codec meant to provide better than CD quality sound when using compatible wireless devices.

The Bluetooth receiver also went on standby automatically when it wasn’t in use or not connected. Additionally, it’s not just ideal for vehicle infotainment systems but can be used to connect home audio systems as well. Now that’s a very useful added benefit adding to its versatality.

How much does it cost?

Pack mentions the price to be Rs 4,000. This might look outrageous especially when there are similar devices available at very cheaper rates. However, there's a discount going on Amazon through which it's on sale for Rs 1,599. This not only makes it a good bargain, but considering it to be a product with exceptional quality and innovative design, it's a steal. And since it feels as if it's designed to last, I don't think you are going to have to shell out money for any other Bluetooth receiver once you buy this. A robust design, clear audio, no lag, long-lasting battery and even a customer care back-up definitely make this product worth considering. In fact, I must say it's a must-buy for its compact size and multiple features.

Pros

Premium quality

Compact size

Plug-and-play easy usability

Quick charging

Long-lasting battery

Two devices can be paired at a time

Versatile

Cons

Matte finish attracts dust

Specifications

Brand - ZAAP

Model - ZAAPBRX-268

Item Weight - 49.9 g

Product Dimensions - 8 x 6 x 4 cm

Item model number - ZAAPBRX-268

Compatible Devices - Universal Compatibility - iOS, Android & Windows

Pictures by Kaustubh Gandhi