New Ratings of cordless phones: Better than ever, generally speaking

They may not grab headlines much anymore, but cordless home phones continue to improve, as illustrated by the latest batch of models posted to our Ratings, available to subscribers.

Much of the credit is due to a technology called DECT, short for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. Phones with DECT technology—which comprise 23 of the 34 models in our updated Ratings—don't have the interference problems that often plagued their analog and digital predecessors, since they use the 1.9-GHz frequency band the FCC reserved for them (and other voice-only devices). They also have better talk times (sometimes exceeding 20 hours) than phones with those older technologies, and work over greater distances from their bases.

[UPDATE Sept. 2, 2009: As a reader noted, the Panasonic KX-TG6413T cordless phone does not have talking caller ID since it lacks an unattended auto-answering function. —Ed.]

Some models also add other conveniences to make calling easier. For example, the Panasonic KX-TG6413T, a phone-answerer that costs $80, can save you the hassle of leaving your comfy couch just to see lets you know who's calling without looking at the phone’s caller-ID. It verbally announces callers via talking caller ID, and also allows you to assign frequent or important callers their own, distinct ring tones. You can even block telemarketers and other nuisance callers by storing their numbers on the phone's call-block directory.

And another phone-answerer, the The Uniden DECT 2060-2, $60, is a very good phone-answerer to have if eavesdropping is a concern. If you don’t want people on other extensions to listen in on your conversation, push a button and they'll be locked out. In this mode, the word “Unavailable” will appear on the displays of the extension phones.

If you need a phone with an answerer, and many people still do, you'll be pleased to know that some such models in our Ratings cost little or no more than comparable phone-only models (as little as $30) and take up only about the same space. The least expensive recommended models, however, feature only a single handset; additional extensions typically drive up the price to $70 or more.

One sour note: This batch of phone-answerers, including even some recommended models, are a little more difficult to get up and running than in the past. Set-up controls are buried in multi-layered menus on the handset, requiring more button presses to program such basic settings as date, time, and the number of rings before the answerer picks up.

The Ratings also include standalone phones, including some recommended models that cost as little as $35 or $40. —Mike Gikas

Comments

[Sylvia]

I didn't see an answer to Tricias question, which is very important to me, as well--what phones work best with hearing aids?

[Gary]

This is for Consumer Reports and the writer who asked about cordless phones that ring if your cell phone rings. My wife and I have been use the Panasonic KX-TH1212 cordless phone system which has a blue tooth link to cell phones. We eliminated both of our landlines, which will save us over $1100 per year. And we no longer have to check our voicemails in multiple locations. The cell phones automatically link up to the cordless house wide system as we approach our house and disconnect when we leave. Great for us as we can pick up or make calls from any of the handsets we have in the house. Cost was about $100 for the system at Best Buy, which includes two handsets. We bought three additional handsets on line for $60, and had to get new cell phones. The only tricky part was buying cell phones that had bluetooth profiles HSP, HFP, OPP, and FTP. But by checking phonescoop.com before we bought we solved this problem as it lists the bluetooth profiles for all cell phones. If you don't do this the cell may not automatically link as you approach the house and its cumbersome to link it manually (we know because we had to exchange a phone for this reason). The system also has distinctive rings so we know which cell is being called and will also announce callers if it can identify the caller through caller ID or the address book. Outstanding system. Recommend CR evaluate this technology in the future, as there are four or five systems that have appeared in the stores recently.

[Michael Gikas]

Dear Roger,

Not sure I follow. We have aprox. 35 phones in our Ratings right now, and more are coming. But you have to be a subscriber to see them. --Mike Gikas, Senior Editor

[Ian Schwartz]

One of the comments in the video for cordless phones is you should pay attention to battery life. I don't see battery life listed on the specs of any of the reviewed phones.

[Roger]

Is there a reason why CR's reports of cordless phones in 2008 and 2009 have only included the recommended choices, and not all that have been tested? Relative to what's available, it's hard to evaluate what's is and is not being recommended without knowing what's been tested. Is there a more complete listing or other reviews somewhere (another website mentions a CR review of cordless phones in August 2009 that included the AT&T phones with a corded base).

[Vowell]

Are there home phones that will ring if your cell phone rings? Or is there a device that you can connect your cell phone too and be used like a home phone?

[Pat]

I know I can use these phones with traditional phone companies. I'm not sure about which feature I should look for that will also allow me to hear my cell phone ring and answer it using one of these cordless phones? Thanks for the help.

[Tricia]

Any thoughts on the best cordless and corded phones for use with hearing aids?

[Paul Eng]

To Dennis:

Oops! We goofed on the Panasonic!!

Thanks for the catch!

All best,
Paul Eng
Web Sr. Editor, Electronics
Consumer Reports

[dennis]

The Panasonic KX-TG6413T DOES NOT HAVE talking caller ID, as the article above states. There are other Panasonic models that do have this feature, but they are models with answerers.