SoundGuys defines Bluetooth Multipoint as a feature that lets a single headset maintain simultaneous connections to at least two source devices, such as a laptop and smartphone. Being connected to two devices is not the same as playing audio from both, and the way calls and music hand over depends on the model.
What multipoint does and does not mean
SoundGuys says multipoint does not necessarily mean you can stream media from two devices at a time, and that most headsets are limited to one device as the media player and the other for notifications. It also says Bluetooth 5.0 itself is not Multipoint, and that support is not universal and depends on the specific model. The same article notes that these limits are rarely stated in marketing copy.
What happens when a call comes in
Jabra, in a 2015 explainer, describes two kinds. In simple multipoint, a headset is connected to two separate devices at the same time and streams a call from whichever one rings, but answering a second incoming call drops the call you are already on. In what Jabra calls advanced multipoint, the first call is put on hold instead, so you can return to it.
Audio-Technica says the multipoint function in some Bluetooth headphones connects to two compatible devices, so you can answer a call on your phone and get back to music on your computer without re-pairing. It adds that behaviour varies: music on the computer may pause when the phone rings, and when the call ends it may resume automatically or need a button press.
What owners run into
In a r/headphones thread, a poster said they had yet to find Bluetooth headphones that multipoint connect to more than two devices at once, and that one device usually holds the connection, making manual switching difficult while content is playing.
One commenter said the Technics AZ80 and AZ60M2 earbuds connect to three devices at a time. A reply said several brands’ apps let you choose which previously paired devices to connect to, but still do not allow switching between active sources.
How to tell whether a pair has it
Look for the word multipoint, or a plain statement that the pair stays connected to two devices at the same time. Wording that sounds similar is not the same claim. Our Series 119 listing says Automatic pairing & compatible with multiple devices, but it does not use the word multipoint or say the buds stay connected to two devices at once.
If a listing does not say, check the manual or ask the seller before you rely on it. For what our Android listings do and do not mention, see earbuds for Android, and for what changes on Apple phones, see what third-party earbuds lose on an iPhone.
Can two phones connect to the same Bluetooth headset?
It depends on the headset. SoundGuys says some devices can support two simultaneous phone connections, while others support a phone and computer connection only.
