Cordless phones with answering machine review 2009

03.Profiles

Profiles - What to buy

Panasonic KX-TG8321AL

Price $150

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• Screen saver mode.
• Alarm.
• Colour LCD.
• Headset connection.
• Long standby time.

Bad points

• Loses time setting after a power cut.
  

Siemens Gigaset A265

Price $70

Good points

• Second-best range performance.
• Out-of-range warning.
• Alarm.
• Long standby time.

Bad points

• No call waiting.
• No polyphonic ringtones.
  

Panasonic KX-TG7341AL

Price $110

Good points

• Keypad on base station allows calls to be made without handset.
• Out-of-range warning.
• Long standby time.
• Longest talk time of models on test.
• Alarm.
• Call privacy.

Bad points

• Loses time setting after a power cut.

Siemens Gigaset SL375

Price $220

Good points

• Colour display.
• Bluetooth.
• SMS compatible.
• Out-of-range warning.
• Separate base station and charger.
• Alarm clock and calendar.
• Two-way communication without the base.
• Best range of models on test.

Bad points

• No headset port (only Bluetooth as an option).
• Not able to access messages from base.
• No indication on base that there is a message.

Oricom Slim 8800

Price $109

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• Baby monitor.
• Alarm.
• Clear display screen.
• Has call barring to prevent certain numbers being dialled.

Bad points

• Not as comfortable to hold compared with other models on test.

 

Profiles - the rest

Doro Neo Bio 25r

Price $90

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• Long standby time.
• Headset connection.
• Alarm.

Bad points

• Power adapter does not have an efficiency marking like the rest of the models on test.
• High standby power consumption.

Telstra Slim 8400a

Price $120

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• SMS support.
• Has DECT headset for hands-free operation.
• Alarm.

Bad points

• No polyphonic ringtones.

Uniden DECT 2035

Price $80

Good points

• Long standby time.
• Out-of-range warning.
• Privacy mode.

Bad points

• Lowest ringer loudness on the handset of the models on test.

Telstra V850a

Price $130

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.

Bad points

• No polyphonic ringtones.
• Loses time setting after a power cut.

Telstra 2400a

Price $110

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• SMS support.
• Large keypad.
• Large display.
• Long standby time.

Bad points

• No hands-free feature.

Uniden Elite 9035+1

Price $200

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• Headset connection.
• Privacy mode.

Bad points

• Loses time setting after a power cut.

Uniden WDECT 3355

Price $100

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• Two-way communication between base station and handset.
• Recording of conversation.
• Can make calls from base without handset.
• Privacy mode.
• Headset connection.
• Easy set-up for answering machine and base station option.
  

Bad points

• External aerial.
• Loses time setting after a power cut.

Telstra 8200a

Price $70

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• Three-way chat.
• Alarm.
• Long standby time.

Bad points

• Loses time setting after a power cut.
• Very poor range test results.

Uniden DSS 8955

Price $150

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• Can make calls from base without handset.
• Privacy mode.
• Headset connection.
• Hearing aid compatible.

Bad points

• Very poor range test results.

Panasonic KX-TG4391

Price $130

Good points

• Headset port.
• Alarm.

Bad points

• Worst range of models on test.
• No out-of-range warning.
• Only one extra handset supported.

Uniden SSE17+1

Price $150

Good points

• Headset connection.
• Visual ringer.
• Can make calls from base in a power outage.
• Large display.
• Emergency dialling.
• Large keypad.

Bad points

• Loses time setting after a power cut.
• Poor range test results.
• Only one extra handset supported.

Oricom eco5200

Price $80

Good points

• Out-of-range warning.
• Can make calls from base without handset.

Bad points

• No backlit keypad.
• No ringer on phone when connected.
• Shortest talk and standby times.
• No headset port.
• Short battery performance.