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Best Office Phones

Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
XBlue Small Office Phone
XBlue
Small Office Phone
Simple Yet Solid

Have up to 16 devices and 6 lines supported with this model that works with an X16 system server.

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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

Have up to 16 devices and 6 lines supported with this model that works with an X16 system server.

Pros

Functions include call waiting, caller ID, and automatic forwarding to cellphone. Displays the outgoing log and has a personal phonebook for keeping track of contacts. Offers 1-touch intercom calling.

Cons

Has to be connected to an X16 system server to work.

Best Bang for the Buck
AT&T Corded Standard Phone
AT&T
Corded Standard Phone
Simple Yet Solid

Simple to use corded phone that comes equipped with all the necessary features for making and receiving calls.

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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

Simple to use corded phone that comes equipped with all the necessary features for making and receiving calls.

Pros

The large buttons and backlit display screen are easy to see and navigate. Volume control for ringer, receiver, and speakerphone. Has a digital answering machine, caller ID, and call waiting. Logs the name and number of the previous 50 calls. Can be wall-mounted.

Cons

Some users have had issues with the missed call log being inaccurate.

Panasonic Bluetooth Corded / Cordless Phone System
Panasonic
Bluetooth Corded / Cordless Phone System
Most Comprehensive

This phone comes with a corded base unit and 2 portable handsets, as well as the ability to link to a smartphone.

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Most Comprehensive
Bottom Line

This phone comes with a corded base unit and 2 portable handsets, as well as the ability to link to a smartphone.

Pros

The main corded phone has an LCD display screen that can be tilted for a better visual. Cordless phones have a long range connection ability. All 3 units feature noise reduction technology for clearer sound. Can sync 2 smartphones via Bluetooth. Call blocking ability.

Cons

There have been some reported issues with connecting the handheld phones with the base unit.

AT&T Expandable Corded/Cordless Phone
AT&T
Expandable Corded/Cordless Phone
Customer Favorite

The Smart Call Blocker feature screens phone calls based on customized settings.

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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

The Smart Call Blocker feature screens phone calls based on customized settings.

Pros

Comes with a corded and cordless handset. Expandable up to 12 additional handsets for large or growing businesses. Has 9 speed dial options, can log up to 50 previous calls, and a digital answering service that can hold up to 22 minutes of messages.

Cons

Sound quality was not the best, according to a few reviews.

VTech Expandable Corded/Cordless Phone System
VTech
Expandable Corded/Cordless Phone System
Feature-packed

This corded unit and the accompanying cordless phone have several helpful functions for streamlined telephone communication.

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Feature-packed
Bottom Line

This corded unit and the accompanying cordless phone have several helpful functions for streamlined telephone communication.

Pros

An additional 5 handsets can be used with the base unit. Has speakerphone, call waiting, and caller ID. Digital answering system keeps track of calls for easy reference, and has capacity for 22 minutes of voice messages. Line-power mode enables phone use during an outage.

Cons

The charge for the cordless unit doesn’t last very long.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
September 25, 2021
35
Models
considered
28
Hours
researched
Category cover

Buying guide for best office phones

Kyle Schurman
Written by Kyle Schurman

Updated January 2023

In a society filled with smartphones, it may seem like telephone hardware on a desk is unnecessary. However, for certain types of businesses and office settings, a smartphone can’t do it all. The smartphone is a valuable tool, but it doesn’t have every feature businesses may need.

Office phones are the answer. This type of phone is connected to the system with a wire. It doesn’t have the freedom of a smartphone, but for a busy office environment, it is a must-have piece of hardware.

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Businesses that choose hosted VoIP office phone solutions can pay a monthly fee for phone service rather than dealing with large upfront system costs and ongoing hardware maintenance costs.

Key considerations

Two primary types of office phones are available: the traditional phone line and the VoIP phone system.

Traditional phone line

If you receive your phone signal through a line from a telephone company, a traditional office phone works nicely.

If you have multiple phones in the office, you’ll need some sort of phone hardware system. This allows the office phones to connect to the public telephone network. The phone network is able to handle multiple ingoing and outgoing calls simultaneously. PBX is a common type of system for this purpose.

For those who need to handle only one call at a time, a phone hardware system is not needed. Your office phone can connect directly to the incoming phone line and manage the low volume of calls.

VoIP phone system

A VoIP system sends and receives calls over an internet connection. You do not need to be connected to a traditional phone line for this type of service.

With a VoIP system, you can use the VoIP-enabled office phone to manage your incoming and outgoing calls. This gives small businesses the ability to simulate many of the features of a more complex PBX for a lower price than a PBX system.

Office phone features

Here are some key office phone features you may need for your home office or mid-sized business.

Auto attendant

The auto attendant feature routes calls and can keep an inbound call on hold until someone can answer it. The auto attendant can greet inbound callers, too. Some auto attendants play hold music or a hold message.

Conference call

If you sometimes need multiple people to participate on a call, the conference call feature works well. It has a high-quality speaker and a microphone to pick up sounds from the room while maintaining a clear audio signal.

LCD screen

The display screen on an office phone provides caller ID information along with other system alert information. Display screens on office phones vary in size and the number of characters they can show at one time.

Speed dial

An office phone with speed dial provides a significant advantage. Phones can contain anywhere from 10 to 40 individual speed dial buttons.

Voicemail

For a call that cannot be answered, you’ll want a voicemail option. Giving customers the ability to leave a voicemail can help your business.

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Did you know?
Some office phones have a battery backup feature that ensures you don’t lose your ability to make and receive calls if your location loses power.
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Office phone prices

Office phones are not overly expensive. Even phones that have quite a few features can be purchased for a reasonable price … especially when compared to the price of the latest smartphones.

Inexpensive office phones are simple pieces of hardware. If you just want a phone with no advanced call-management features, you can find one for as little as $10 to $25.

Mid-range phones have multiple telephony features. They’ll have hold and transfer buttons. You’ll be able to save common extension numbers that are accessible at the press of one button through speed dial. Often, there is a display screen for caller ID and for status updates. These office phones cost $25 to $75.

For a high-end office phone, you could pay anywhere from $75 to $250. These phones can handle multiple lines at one time. They can also use an auto-answer feature to route calls or record voicemails.

Office phone acronyms and terms

As you compare office phones, it helps to be familiar with the acronyms and terms associated with these products.

  • Cloud: A cloud phone system uses VoIP technology, but the system hardware is in the cloud. The word cloud simply refers to the fact that the system is stored and operated offsite. You’ll still have your office phone hardware, but the rest of the system hardware is located elsewhere.

  • KSU: Short for key services unit, KSU is a technology built into an office phone that allows it to handle multiple lines and communicate with other extensions. It’s a must-have feature for offices with more than 10 but fewer than 50 employees. KSU requires a traditional landline from the phone company.

  • PBX: Short for private branch exchange, PBX is a phone management system made for mid-to-large size offices of more than 50 employees. PBX-compatible office phones have multiple telephony features for managing a heavy volume of calls. PBX requires a phone line from the phone company.

  • VoIP: Short for voice over internet protocol, VoIP phones don’t use a traditional phone line. Instead, they connect to a computer network and receive and send calls over broadband internet. The VoIP-compatible office telephone will look like a standard piece of phone hardware. However, it has an adapter, so it will work over an internet connection instead of a traditional phone line.

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Office phone systems often need to have Interactive Voice Response (or IVR) with the auto attendant feature. The IVR accepts input from the caller, helping to route the call to the appropriate area.

FAQ

Q. How do I know if the office phone I choose will work with my phone system?
A.
Before purchasing an office phone, it’s important to understand what type of phone system you have in the office. If you work in a home office or a business with a few people, nearly any office phone would work. However, if you work in a business with 10 or more people, it probably has a particular type of phone call management system. You will need a phone that is compatible with whatever system is in use.

Q. Do office phones have the ability to create automated answering?
A.
Some office phones have an auto attendant feature to answer all incoming calls. This is a nice option when you don’t want to miss any calls. Depending on the phone’s features, the auto attendant may be able to route calls to certain extensions or to record voice messages. As an added benefit, with an auto answer attendant, a small business will seem larger to the caller.

Q. What are some must-have features in an office phone?
A.
You may appreciate having a headset jack in the phone, as it gives you a hands-free option for answering calls. Speakerphone capabilities are nice, too, since multiple people can join a call that way. If you frequently forward calls to other extensions, dedicated speed dial buttons are helpful. We also like a battery backup option, which allows you to continue a call during a power outage.

Q. Do I need an office phone that can handle multiple incoming lines?
A.
Some office phones can handle handle three, four, or even more incoming phone lines at once. This is a nice feature for a growing small office, as it ensures you don’t miss any incoming calls. Other office phones only need one phone line at a time, which saves you money on your phone bill. Evaluate how busy your office is to determine how many lines your office phone needs.

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