Cordless Phone is, in a word, convenient and it has certainly come a long with regard to technology. If you’re interested in purchasing a cordless phone or phones for your home or office, then you’ve come to the right place.

This article will help guide you through the ins and outs and pros and cons of cordless phones. We’ve researched carefully basing our criteria on features, ease of use, pricing and durability. It is our goal to make shopping for a cordless phone a breeze for you!

Introduction

While most of the world has gone mobile, many households and offices still maintain landlines. Corded phones are largely a thing of the past and cordless phones are now the norm. These days most landlines are connected to a cordless phone. Let’s look a bit further into how they work.

When you purchase a cordless phone, you’ll receive two components: the handset and a base station. The handset communicates with the base station and the base station connects to the landline just like a corded phone.

The FCC allows a certain number of frequency bands for cordless phones ranging anywhere from 1.7 MHz to 5.8 GHz. Most cordless phones will run on a frequency of  900 MHz or higher. The higher the bandwidth, the better the signal and clearer the communication.

If you’re shopping for a cordless phone, you’ll find the brands and models on the market are many. Our hope is to alleviate some of the work in finding the best cordless phones.

We’ve put together this article to provide you with in-depth reviews of some of the best cordless phones available as well as offer you a comprehensive buying guide so you’ll know exactly what to look for.

Cordless Phones Comparison Table

*Please note that ratings are based on a 5-star rating scale.

Cordless Phone Reviews

Panasonic KX-TGE463S Link2Cell Bluetooth Cordless Phone

Panasonic is a leading manufacturer of electronics so it’s a given their products are of superior quality. This cordless phone system is no exception. With its myriad of features and relatively budget-friendly pricing, it will make a great addition to your home or office.

Let’s talk features:

• Bluetooth capability – you can sync two smartphones to this cordless phone using the Link2Cell feature; both smartphones can be used at the same time if needed.
• Voice paging – need to call everyone to the dinner table or wake up your kids? No problem with this intercom system.
• Talking caller ID – you can set this to either English or Spanish and hear who is calling you without having to look at the handset.
• One-touch call block – annoying telemarketers can be easily blocked with the touch of a button.
• Phonebook – transfer up to 3,000 names and numbers from your smartphone into this cordless phone directory.
• Speakerphone – hands free communication is often necessary.
• Noise reduction – no matter the noise in the background, this phone will reduce that making your calls clear and your callers easily heard.
• Backlit display – this measures 1.8 inches and is well lit, as is the touchpad.
• Backup power – no need to worry if the power goes out as you’ve got rechargeable backup batteries to keep you connected to the outside world.
• Key detector – that’s right! Lost your keys? Let your phone find them for you!
• Baby monitor – keep a monitoring handset in your child’s room and you’ll hear any sounds your child makes via the base station.

Pretty amazing, right? The only real drawback to this phone is if you do not have a working landline, you may have some trouble with the Bluetooth feature. You’ll be able to make the connection between your smartphone and the cordless phone but you’ll likely lose features such as caller ID and phonebook.

This system comes with 3 handsets, a base station with a built-in answering machine plus two additional charging stations. This is an excellent investment for your home and/or office

VTech LS6425-3 DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone

VTech is also a popular brand names in electronics and this cordless phone system is rather basic but still worth a look. It has some great features and is affordable. It has a streamlined appearance and feel, as well.

Features of this phone include:

• Caller ID and call waiting – this phone system can store up to 50 calls.
• Handset speakerphone – always a nice feature.
• Push to talk intercom – this is a unique “walkie talkie” type features that allows you to communicate with anyone who has a handset.
• Backlighting – both the display and keypad are backlit.
• Answering machine – the main base station has a built-in answering machine

There is a drawback that is worthy of mentioning. The manufacturer states this cordless phone system has HD audio. The reality: it is just audio and not any kind of real HD quality.

The communication is clearer at lower volumes (try setting the volume to 4/5 for the best sound quality), however; you’ll find this phone is a good value. Set-up is fairly straight forward and upon purchase, you’ll get all you need to have this cordless phone system up and running in a short time, including batteries and a wall-mount bracket.

AT&T CRL82312 DECT 6.0 Phone Answering System

AT&T dates as far back as the 1800s with the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell. Given their history, quality and expertise is a certainty. This particular model of cordless phone system is somewhat plain but offers enough features that it warrants a further look.

You’ll find with this model:

• LCD display – the display is large and easy to read.
• Directory – the phonebook directory can hold up to 60 names/numbers.
• Expandability – while it comes with 3 handsets, this system can handle up to 12 which can be purchased separately. It should be noted this system is compatible only with AT&T handsets.
• ECO mode – this gives you the option to use less energy.
• Multi-language setup – you can set up your system in English, Spanish or French.
• Speed dial – this feature allows you to program up to 9 numbers.

This phone system is also hearing aid compatible, has a visual indicator to show when the phone is ringing and when there is voicemail, has backlit buttons on the keypad, a built in answering machine in the main base station and can easily be mounted on the wall using the included bracket.

The only negative comment that can be made is about sound quality. It could be better and sometimes comes across as a bit tinny or distorted. Overall though, this is a good phone for the price. Setup is straightforward and the cordless phone system itself is easy to use.

Buying Guide

Cordless phones, like with any other electronic purchase, is a matter of personal choice. What you buy depends solely on your needs as a consumer. It is however, important to note there are both pros and cons with a cordless phone system.

Taking into consideration corded and mobile phones, let’s look more at the advantages and disadvantages of a cordless phone:

PROS

• Portability – cordless phones allow you to be mobile while at home or at the office; corded phones do not.
• Features – you’ll find with cordless phone systems features that most corded phones do not offer such as a built-in answering machine, LCD display, intercom, etc.
• Security – mobiles phones are wonderful to have but with a cordless phone system in your home or office, you’ve got an added measure of security in the event of an emergency; 911 operators can see your physical address and often first responders can get to you quicker than if you’d called from a mobile phone.
• Sound quality – cordless phones typically have better sound quality than mobile phones.

CONS

• Batteries – batteries can get costly so if you purchase a phone that does not have rechargeable batteries, you’re looking at an added expense.
• Energy – corded phones simply do not use the energy that cordless phones use.
• Signal loss – cordless phone systems can lose signal during power outages if there is no backup feature.
• Misplaced handsets – it happens! Sometimes handsets can get lost and additional costs are incurred by having to purchase new ones.

If you’re looking at the big picture, you’ll see the pros far outweigh the cons. Most cordless phone systems come with features that will negate the cons or at the very least, help to limit them.

Every potential buyer should be educated as to the types of cordless phones. There are two:

• Analog – typically the most affordable and most available, analog systems don’t always offer the best in sound quality. They are prone to interference from other wireless services, lack security and usually have a short range limiting your mobility. This type of cordless phone is adequate if your needs are simple.
• Digital – enhanced sound quality, better security, clearer signal and less prone to interference, digital cordless phones are generally a better option. They are usually more powerful and versatile than analog systems. This would be the best choice for busy households or for offices.

You now know the pros and cons, you’re informed about the two types so now, let’s discuss features. As stated previously, the features you should look for will depend on your needs. Do you desire a built-in answering machine? Will you need multiple handsets? Do you find the use of a speakerphone helpful and necessary?

What about multiple phone lines? There are systems that can handle more than one phone line/number. Would you prefer a cordless phone with visible indicators for rings and messages? Is a phone directory important for easy access to numbers?

Other features to think about are battery backup/rechargeable batteries, easy to read displays and aesthetics. You’ll also want to read carefully all warranty information, especially for higher priced cordless phone models.

Know what repairs and parts are covered and understand your rights and responsibilities. Also, understand clearly return policies. You may encounter problems that are beyond your control and can’t be fixed. Make sure you’re able to return the phone, if needed.

The best way to go about making an informed decision is to make a checklist of the features most important to you (you can create a checklist using this buying guide), take into account your budget and then do comparison shopping.

Investigate various manufacturers. Some leading brands are AT&T, Panasonic, Uniden, VTech and GE. Another great way to learn more about cordless phones is to read reviews written by other consumers. You’ll usually find quite a bit of honesty in consumer reviews

Remember, the smart way to go about purchasing any electronic item is to be educated. Know what’s on the market, do your research and never be afraid to ask questions. An educated consumer is a happy one!

Conclusion

Our research has led us to the decision that the Panasonic KX-TGE463S Link2Cell Bluetooth Cordless Phone is the best option. The attributes speak for themselves. This is an especially great choice if you have small children and can benefit from the monitoring feature.

We also like the backup system that keeps the phone working during power outages.

Those are two wonderful safety measures that can be quite important. While this model may be the pricier of the phones we’ve reviewed, we still feel it’s an excellent investment for your home, your office or both.

We hope this guide will help you on your way to making a successful cordless phone purchase. We’ve provided you with reliable information and in-depth details to help relieve some of the stress of the decision-making process. All that’s really left is for you to go shopping. Have fun!

Source Links

Ebay – http://www.ebay.com/gds/Cordless-Telephone-Buying-Guide-/10000000177628769/g.html
Hometechanswers – http://www.hometechanswers.com/archives/17
Consumpersreports – http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cordless-phones/buying-guide.htm

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