It might feel to you like the traditional home phone is a thing of the past, replaced by the mobile – but there are still good reasons to buy a handset for your landline, not least because they’re actually quite cheap.
Plenty of internet service providers require you to have a landline and offer phone deals as part of your contract, so you might as well get what you’re paying for.
And, unlike smartphones, best landline phone don’t cost the Earth: the models I tested for this article topped out at £100. Honestly, I found half that amount was sufficient to buy you a good product. And there’s the health aspect too. It doesn’t take me to tell you that our smartphone addiction is revealing some knock-on consequences, from the relatively menial (thumb tendonitis) to the seriously worrying (mental health issues).
What’s the best home phone out there? We’ve spent more man hours than I care to recall trialling, testing and reviewing the different options from the major manufacturers, to find which ones are worth picking up and which should be left off the hook.
Here are top 10 best landline phone in UK 2021.
The design does the job here: nothing special but nice enough (noting a theme yet?). We prefer the Advanced Phone as the Premium Phone has a glossy surface on the keys which picks up fingerprints very easily – but aside from that they’re easy to use and have nice clicky buttons which are satisfying to press. The phones are a good size and comfortable to hold with a decent heft which makes them feel sturdy.
Our favourite feature of these phones is the call screening service. This is actually something that Google launched on its brand new Pixel 3 recently, but BT have been doing it for much longer. Once you’ve set it up, the caller has to say who they are, and then you can choose whether or not to accept or ignore the call.
It works pretty seamlessly (though setting it up is a bit of a faff) and, don’t worry, contacts you’ve already got saved in your phonebook will be directed straight through. Your mother won’t have to deal with a machine every time she calls.
The KX-PRS120EW looks and feels tremendous with a curved back that fits the hand perfectly. It has a bright colour screen, buttons that fall under your thumb easily and a chic, effective charging cradle. You can block up to 100 numbers – calls from these numbers will be silently dropped if they ring. You need to be a subscriber to your phone provider’s call ID feature for this to work.
The interface is appealing and capable, including details such as setting the screensaver as an analogue clock. You can buy an optional key finder tag which you can attach to frequently mislaid items (such as your mobile phone, perhaps) so that when you press a button on the phone, the tag beeps. This phone has slick design, as advanced-looking as a mobile, and solid performance.
A slightly more affordable option from Panasonic, the KX-TG6622EB is still a nice phone to look at, or more accurately is a phone that will easily blend into the background in your home, which is what many people will be looking for. It’s simple and easy to use, as well.
Its soft-touch keys are easy to read and backlit for when you’re flailing around in the dark, and while its display isn’t exactly cutting-edge, you’re still getting a great package for the price, one which will do very nicely for most users.
A landline phone we certainly wouldn’t mind having on display in our house, this cordless phone has all the features you might expect, plus it looks pretty good.
Complete with a handy ‘do not disturb’ mode, designed to prevent unwanted disturbances, as well as the option to block calls, 18 hours of talk time and an incredible 200 hours of standby time, this model covers more than the basic requirements.
Our only complaint? The interface isn’t as friendly as it could be. However, if you’re after a phone to simply make and receive a few calls a week, then is the best cordless phone for you.
Slim, neat and not dissimilar looking to sought after designer cordless phones, this model will blend in seamlessly with your home’s interiors.
BT’s Everyday Cordless is priced like a basic home phone but manages to pack in some extra features. It’s easy to use, with good-sized buttons and simple menus, including a multi-function rocker that scrolls through lists and options and controls the volume. It’s also very comfortable to hold.
However, it’s got built-in controls for 1571 answerphone services, a 50-number contacts list that syncs between handsets and – best of all – call blocking for up to 20 numbers and a Do Not Disturb mode, where only numbers tagged as VIP contacts can get through. Call quality is good, although the default ring volume will be too quiet for some, and the only real issue is the lack of speakerphone.
If you refuse to spend more than £20 on your landline, this is the cordless phone to buy.
The KX-TGC210EB digital cordless telephone features exciting new nuisance call blocking technology. Whether you’re looking for a phone for your home or small business, the KX-TGC210EB cordless telephone has many attractive features that should spark your interest.
An intelligent built in mode reduces power consumption and when the handset is in mode the KX-TGC210EB offers unto 10 hours of talk time giving you plenty of time to talk to family and friends. A unique night mode allows you to silence the KX-TGC210EB cordless handset from ringing during a set period of time, ensuring that you always enjoy a good night of uninterrupted sleep.
Further features of the KX-TGC210EB cordless telephone include: Easy to read illuminated LCD display 1.6 Inch, advanced alarm clock, caller ID with 50 item caller ID memory Subject to network subscription, one touch mode, nuisance call block specified number/block range of numbers/block no number, clear sound and hands free speakerphone on handset.
Single Product Description Panasonic KX-TG2721EB DECT Cordless Telephone with Answer Machine and Large LCD The TG272 series includes a telephone answer machine and offers a user-friendly 1.4 inch amber back-lit display and large buttons. With 20 hours talk time, up to 170 hours standby time and up to 50 phone book entries.
This model also comes with a hands-free speaker phone function. Key Features Separate TAM function keys on base unit Smart Design for Easy Use The Panasonic 272 series includes a 1.4-inch Amber backlit screen for easy to read, clear text even in the dark. It also includes large separated buttons on the handset and separate large telephone answer machine keys.
50 Name and Number Phonebook Up to 50 names and phone numbers can be entered and stored. The phonebook allows you to make calls without having to dial manually. You simply search for the name and select the number you want to dial.
18 Minute Answer Machine The base station includes a built-in telephone answering machine that automatically answers and takes a message from the caller when you cannot answer the call yourself. A maximum of 18 minutes of messages can be recorded.
The Marbella Standard range telephone combines attractive, compact styling and is available in four colours with easy to use and practical features. The telephone is an analogue telephone that can be wall mounted or placed on a desk.
As the Marbella is an analogue telephone it can connect into a standard telephone line for home or used in a business environment, this phone does not require a power supply. The Marbella telephone is a compact telephone with large robust buttons which could be useful for anyone with visual or dexterity impairments. It has a compact appearance as the handset actually covers the keypad when it is replaced on the telephone.
The Marbella has a last number redial button so you don’t have to re input a complete telephone number just because the phone line was engaged. It also has a mute facility which cuts off the handsets microphone if you want to stop the caller hearing what you are saying. In addition the Marbella also has Tone dialling and Time break recall and is compatible with most switchboards. The Marbella is a high quality low cost phone – one of our top sellers.
One of the biggest-selling telephones for hard-of-hearing individuals, the Geemarc ClearSound CL100 Hard of Hearing Telephone is easy to use and operate – ideal for people with hearing loss. Losing touch with the outside world is a very real danger for the hard of hearing, so it’s vital they have the equipment they need to stay in contact with those most important to them.
The CL100 has a receiver volume of up to 30dB, which is approximately five times louder than a normal telephone, making it ideal for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. What’s more, this phone for the hard of hearing does not require a power supply to achieve the 30dB amplification for maximum flexibility of use. Simply plug the telephone into the phone socket (with the cables supplied) and insert the batteries.
This phone for the hard of hearing individuals also features a fully adjustable tone control, enabling the user to adjust the tone of the conversation. This is especially important for those with high and low frequency hearing loss as certain sounds can often be difficult to distinguish over the telephone.
Users with high frequency hearing loss will find it difficult to hear the letters “T” and “S” in conversation, for example. With tone control, these sounds can be boosted so they become clearer and easier to identify.
The BT Duet 210 is a sleek white corded telephone that is sure to look great at home or in the office. It has 10 number memories for easy and quick calling – and is even wall mountable.
Stay in touch with your loved ones with ease with this BT Duet 210 corded phone. This telephone, which is a neutral white making it attractive in any decor, has dimensions of just 19cm by 6cm. Easy to place almost anywhere, making it perfect for a second phone in a kitchen or bedroom. There’s also an LCD display to help you, and the buttons have a precise action.
There are a few features to consider when buying a landline phone. Most of them depend on what extras you want the phone to have.
Number of Handsets
One of the first decisions to make is how many handsets you need. Cordless phones can have up to six handsets, which allows you to place the phone in more than one room. It really comes in handy if you have a big home.
Corded or Cordless Base
You should also consider whether you want a corded base. A cordless handset needs power to work from AC or batteries, but a corded handset works without power if it remains connected to a conventional landline or you have battery backup for VoIP service. If your area is prone to power outages, a corded base with battery backup is a good choice. From there, consider the features that are most important to you.
Other Features
Some of the most popular cordless phone features include a speakerphone, a caller ID, an LCD screen on handsets and/or bases to display important information, a headset jack to allow you to chat while you move about the room or look through paperwork for a hands-free conversation, a two-line support for receiving calls for two phone numbers on the same phone.
Some phones give two distinct ringers to let you know which line is ringing. This feature is very handy if you’re conferencing with two callers in a three-way conversation.
Another excellent feature that you can find in a cordless phone is auto talk. This feature means your call connects as soon as you lift the handset from the base. Also, there’s the battery backup that enables your phone to keep working if you lose power. We won’t mention answering machine because all of the phones come with an integrated one.
That’s a wrap guys! We’ve included the best cordless phones out there which you can use for your home or office. If you have any other personal favorites, do leave the comment below to share with others in the community.
We hope you can choose the best landline phone!
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