EmailBest Reviewed
Cordless Phones
- Basic cordless phone AT&T EL51209 *Est. $40
- Best cordless phone with answering machine Panasonic KX-TG1032S *Est. $55
- Corded/cordless phone with answering machine AT&T CL84109 *Est. $65
- Phone/answerer for the hearing and sight impaired Radio Shack 43-140 *Est. $100
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Corded/cordless phone with answering machine
- Very long range
- Clear voice quality
- Corded phone works in power outages
- Accepts up to 12 cordless handsets
- Setup can be complicated
- No headset jack
The AT&T CL84109 has two unusual features: it includes a corded handset on the base that will work during blackouts (when cordless phones won't), and it accepts up to 12 cordless handsets (it includes one). It uses the latest Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) technology (on the cordless-handsets) and reviews say it sounds exceptionally clear and interference-free. This model also includes an answering machine and all of the most popular features, such as caller ID memory, a voicemail indicator and a backlit keypad. It doesn't have a headset jack, though, and reviews say this phone can be complicated to set up. If you don't need a corded phone, consider the Panasonic KX-TG1032S (*Est. $55), which has a headset jack and accepts up to six handsets, but lacks a backlit display.
ConsumerReports.org's experts thoroughly test the AT&T CL84209 (identical to the CL84109 except that it has an additional cordless handset), and the CL84109 has accumulated plenty of owner reviews at Staples.com. We also found a few owner reviews at Amazon.com.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org tests the AT&T CL84209, which is the two-handset variation of the CL84109. Experts test the phone's ease of use, range, voice quality, answering machine and more, and they rate it against 33 other cordless phones in a handy chart. Most information is only available to subscribers, however.
Review: Cordless Phone Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Aug. 2009
2. Staples.com
The AT&T CL84109 is one of the best-rated phones at Staples.com, earning an average of four stars (out of five) from more than 20 owners. Users especially praise its clear reception, but some say they find the controls difficult to navigate.
Review: AT&T CL84109, Contributors to Staples.com
3. Amazon.com
Only a small number of users have reviewed the AT&T CL84109 here, and they are split in their opinions. Half highly recommend the CL84109 and say it has a great range. The rest give it lower marks; one complains that you have to use the cordless handset to record the answering machine message, and another wishes it had a headphone jack.
Review: AT&T CL84109, Contributors to Amazon.com
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