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Cordless Phones: Ratings of Sources
Total of 14 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
Aug. 2009
Cordless Phone Ratings
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this up-to-date review, ConsumerReports.org rates 34 cordless phones on eight criteria, including voice quality, range and ease of use. Each phone also gets its own brief write up, including pros and cons. Editors recommend nine models as the best, and they give advice on how to choose the right phone for your particular needs.
2. CNET
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Phones
by Editors of CNET
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Reviews here are thorough and include star ratings, but most of the phones are outdated. CNET did recently test the Panasonic KX-TG6410 series of cordless phones, and it tops the ratings. Another recent review of a VTech phone shows it to not be as capable, but stylish and affordably priced.
3. Amazon.com
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Telephones
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

There's a staggering assortment of cordless phones available at Amazon.com. Of the models that are rated by owners, most earn an average rating of between three and four stars, and many have more than 100… reviews. Some cordless phones, such as members of the Panasonic KX-TG1030 series, stand out for their high ratings after lots of reviews. Still, rather than being a starting point, a visit to Amazon.com makes the most sense once you've narrowed your choice a bit. Most new phones have fewer reviews than those that have been on the market longer, and cordless phones often remain listed long after they have been discontinued.

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4. Target.com
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Phones
by Contributors to Target.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Like Amazon.com, Target.com is a good place to find owner reviews once you've narrowed down your choice. One advantage is that, since all these phones are actually sold by Target.com, you can at least be assured the phones haven't been discontinued. A major disadvantage is that most cordless phones draw far fewer reviews.
5. Staples.com
As of Sept. 2009
Telephone and Communication
by Contributors to Staples.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Staples.com sells a good variety of cordless phones, and some of the best-rated phones have accumulated as many as 75 customer ratings. Reviews here tend to be short, but each one includes a list of pros and cons. Several Panasonic cordless phones do very well here, as do some phones from Uniden and AT&T.
6. BestBuy.com
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Telephones
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Not all of the cordless telephones listed here receive many reviews, but plenty have been rated by enough users to make the site useful for shoppers looking for owner feedback. Phones are rated on a five-star scale, and narrative reviews help illustrate each model's strengths and weaknesses. Among the top performers are the Panasonic KX-TG9344T and the Uniden DECT 1580-4.
7. RadioShack.com
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Phones
by Contributors to RadioShack.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Here's another retailer that posts consumer reviews of the cordless phones it sells. Most phones get only a few reviews (and some have none), but a few get 20 or more. Radio Shack has an especially good… selection of phones for the hearing- and vision-impaired. The Uniden DECT2080-4 four-cordless-phone system jumps out with a great rating after more than 50 reviews. The Radio Shack 43-140 is a good choice for those with hearing and/or vision difficulties.

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8. Walmart.com
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Phones
by Contributors to Walmart.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Walmart.com also lets users post reviews of cordless phones they own. The site is a little harder to use than retailer sites we like better because the number of reviews each phone receives can only be seen on the individual product pages. Some phones receive only a little bit of feedback, but others get upwards of 100 user reviews.
9. alaTest.com
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Phones Reviews
by Editors of alaTest.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Review site alaTest.com combines expert reviews (when available) and user feedback from retailer sites to provide a snapshot of dozens of cordless telephones, a bit like ConsumerSearch, but without the… editorial analysis. The listings include a numerical score that indicates how each phone stacks up to its closest competitors. A specialized product filter allows visitors to sort phones according to the country in which they're available. Panasonic models rate highest.

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10. Good Housekeeping
Sept. 2007
Best Cordless Phones
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this older article, four winners are presented out of 27 models tested. Most are now discontinued but still available in online stores. Among the still-current cordless phones, the Panasonic KX-TG1032S ties the discontinued VTech 6032 for first place honors. The discontinued GE 27909EE1 (honored for its long range) and AT&T E2912B are also singled out for praise.
11. Which? magazine
Not Dated
Cordless Phones
by Editors of Which? magazine
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Which? is a U.K. magazine that's roughly the equivalent of Consumer Reports. Editors offer a detailed comparison and review of 264 cordless phones, with 72 models recommended. Unfortunately, these phones are not available in the U.S. Panasonic and Siemens phones score the highest in this review.
12. Choice magazine
June 2009
Cordless Phones with Answering Machine: Review and Compare
by Editors of Choice magazine
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Choice is an Australian version of Consumer Reports. Editors provide a detailed comparison and review of 17 cordless phones. As with the U.K. magazine Which?, Panasonic and Siemens phones rate highest, but the tested models are unlikely to be found in the U.S.
13. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Phones Reviews and Prices
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

ConsumerGuide.com lists many cordless phones on its website, and 21 models have "full expert reviews" -- but those mostly are older and just list the phones' features. Phones are rated on their performance… and ease of use, but testing methodology isn't clear. Editors name six Best Buys and two Budget Buys. These reviews are very dated, but the phones -- or their successor models -- are mostly still available in online stores.

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14. Epinions.com
As of Sept. 2009
Cordless Phone Reviews
by Contributors to Epinions.com
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Here, as at retailer sites like Amazon.com, users rate their own phones. The trouble with Epinions.com is that, while the variety of products is vast, many discontinued phones are included here, so you have… to be sure you're reading reviews for a phone that's actually available. While the reviews can be a bit longer than at retailer sites, the number of reports cordless phones, especially newer models, receive tends to be small.

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