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Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W Review

If you are looking for the best of the best when it comes to phones, this easy to use and feature-rich model is our first recommendation
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Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W Review (We love how intuitive and easy to use the Panasonic KX-TGM420W system is.)
We love how intuitive and easy to use the Panasonic KX-TGM420W system is.
Credit: Laura Casner
Price:  $340 List
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Manufacturer:   Panasonic
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Dec 20, 2021
74
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 9
  • Sound Quality - 30% 7.0
  • Range - 25% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 20% 8.0
  • Features - 15% 7.0
  • Battery Life - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

If you are looking for the absolute top-scoring cordless phone — and you're willing to pay for it — the Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W should be at the top of your list. This phone did exceptionally well across the board in our set of rating metrics, delivering some of the best performance we have seen to date. It's exceptionally easy to use and has a great battery life, pairing those traits with excellent range and sound quality. Unfortunately, this is one of the more expensive phones of the bunch, but it is our top choice for someone searching for the best.
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to use
Excellent battery life
Great sound quality
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Cordless Phone
Top Pick Award
Great Sound Quality at a Great Price
  Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Price $340 List
$189.98 at Amazon
$66 List
$55.95 at Amazon
$61 List
$49.95 at Amazon
$80 List
$56.95 at Amazon
$45 List
$36.62 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
74
69
64
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53
Star Rating
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Bottom Line We highly recommend this model for anyone looking for a top-tier cordless phoneThis phone is a fantastic option if you want a bare-bones product that is easy to use with impressive sound quality and rangeThis phone performed moderately well across the board and usually retails at a reasonable priceThis middling phone is basic in its functions and inexpensiveGreat phone for a great price
Rating Categories Panasonic KX-TGM420... AT&T CL82207 AT&T DL72219 AT&T BL102 AT&T EL51203
Sound Quality (30%)
7.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Range (25%)
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Ease of Use (20%)
8.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
Features (15%)
7.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
Battery Life (10%)
9.0
7.0
3.0
7.0
4.0
Specs Panasonic KX-TGM420... AT&T CL82207 AT&T DL72219 AT&T BL102 AT&T EL51203
Link to Cell Phone No No Yes No No
Caller ID Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Caller ID Announcement Yes Yes No Yes No
Measured Unobstructed Range 840 ft. 840 ft. 840 ft. 840 ft. 840 ft.
Measured Obstructed Range 280 ft. 300 ft. 280 ft. 290 ft. 220 ft.
Call Waiting Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Call Block Up to 250 Smart Call Blocker* Up to 1,000 Yes Dial *60
Expandable Handsets Up to 6 Up to 12 Up to 5 Up to 5 Up to 5
Corded (Phone) Base No No No No No
Speaker Phone on Base No No No Yes No
Speaker Phone on Handset Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Phone Book Capacity 100 50 1000 50 50
Speed Dial Yes Yes No No Yes
Redial Yes Last 10 Numbers Last 10 Numbers Yes Last 10 Numbers
Wall Mountable Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mute Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hold Yes No No No No
Any Key Answer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Push to Talk (PTT) No Yes No No No
Backlit Display Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Eco Mode Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Silent/Quiet Mode Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Voice Command No No No No No
HD Audio w/ Equalizer No Yes No Yes No
Lighted Keypad Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Optional Belt Clip Yes No No No No
Headset Jack Yes No No No No
Additional Lines No No No No No
RoHS Compliant Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Answering Machine Yes Yes Yes Yes No

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W is a top-tier cordless phone but costs as much as two or even three times more than some of the budget options. It's a good choice if you want the best and rely on your cordless phone, but it might be more phone than many people need. We like that this phone has a very large display and that every button is backlit. It also features a visual indicator on top for incoming calls, making it a very accessible phone compared to many others.

Performance Comparison


panasonic kx-tgm420w + kx-tgma44w - if you are looking for the best, then this phone is hard to beat.
If you are looking for the best, then this phone is hard to beat.
Credit: Laura Casner

Sound Quality


Our first round of tests focused on the sound quality of each of these products, carrying the most weight when it came to determining the final score. We awarded points based on the quality of multiple test calls between judges and by scoring the sound of a voicemail left with each phone. The Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W did very well, meriting a score well above average for its performance.


Overall our judges found both the calls and recordings to be quite high in quality. The conversations came across on the louder side and we never really had a hard time hearing the other person.

panasonic kx-tgm420w + kx-tgma44w - the panasonic kx-tgm420w has an impressive range.
The Panasonic KX-TGM420W has an impressive range.
Credit: Laura Casner

However, we did notice a tiny bit of static present in some of the recordings but never enough to really impact the quality.

panasonic kx-tgm420w + kx-tgma44w - this panasonic cordless phone is one of our all-time favorites.
This Panasonic cordless phone is one of our all-time favorites.
Credit: Laura Casner

Range


Our next most important set of tests for these products focused on the effective range for each product, or how far one could separate the handset from the base and still get a usable amount of signal to make a call. We conducted two separate tests for this metric, one with a clear line of sight between the base station and handset and one with several walls obstructing them. The Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W did well, earning a top-tier position.


The Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W was able to successfully transmit a signal with well over 840' between the base station and handset — the furthest extent in our line-of-sight test. In fact, it was still able to complete an audible and understandable call with over 1000' separating them.

Moving on to our obstructed test, with several walls separating the base station and the handset, the Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W again did very well. It did fine with around 280' between them, maxing out at around 390'. The call would get a little static-y if you were moving around between 300' and 390' though.

panasonic kx-tgm420w + kx-tgma44w - the menu layouts on the kx-tgm420w are intuitive and make it easy to...
The menu layouts on the KX-TGM420W are intuitive and make it easy to do things like call back a missed call.
Credit: Laura Casner

Ease of Use


After range and sound quality, we next rated and ranked how user-friendly and easy to use each of these cordless phones are to operate. We looked at both basic and advanced functions for each phone, looking at things like answering a call or saving a number in the phonebook. The Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W did exceptionally well in this regard, earning it one of the best scores we have seen to date in this regard.


We love how easy it is to operate this phone in a dark environment. All the buttons are illuminated, as well as the screen. It has a find-a-phone feature but it is a little quieter than some of the other models, so could be hard to find a missing handset if one has worked its way deep into the couch cushions.

panasonic kx-tgm420w + kx-tgma44w - the ample backlight makes it easy to use this handset in the dark.
The ample backlight makes it easy to use this handset in the dark.
Credit: Laura Casner

The screen is easy to read with large numbers. It has a few different options for answering an incoming call and does have an easy option to call back a missed call. The intuitive menus also make it easy to save a number or enter the date and time.

You also can easily block numbers or set the phone to a do not disturb mode if you don't want calls coming through at certain times of the day.

panasonic kx-tgm420w + kx-tgma44w - we love how intuitive and easy to use the panasonic kx-tgm420w...
We love how intuitive and easy to use the Panasonic KX-TGM420W system is.
Credit: Laura Casner

Features


Our next series of assessments focused on the different features available on each of these phones. The Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W to do very well, meriting another score well above average.


This phone is compatible with expandable handsets, allowing you to increase the system to up to six handsets. The phonebook has a capacity of 100 entries but you can't link this system to a smartphone via Bluetooth. It has fairly large, backlit buttons on the handset and a speakerphone on the main base, though no keypad. There is an integrated answering machine and intercom system, with each handset having a headphone jack and belt clip as well.

panasonic kx-tgm420w + kx-tgma44w - the panasonic kx-tgm420w has a great battery life.
The Panasonic KX-TGM420W has a great battery life.
Credit: Laura Casner

Battery Life


Our final metric for these phones focused on their battery life. We measured the talk time of each phone, as well as looked at the manufacturer's claimed charge and standby times when it came to awarding points. This phone delivered one of the best performances of the entire group, meriting its top-tier marks.


The Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W lasted for more than 14 hours in our talk time test, playing music through a call into a recording device. It also has a claimed standby time of up to 7 days and a recharge time of around 5 hours from the manual, much faster than many other phones.

Value


Unfortunately, the Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W isn't the best value. It is a top-tier phone with a top-tier price tag. It's far from a bargain buy and will be outside the budget of what many people want to spend on one of these products.

Conclusion


All in all, the Panasonic KX-TGM420W + KX-TGMA44W is one of our favorite cordless phones that we have tested to date. This excellent product has amazing battery life and is exceptionally easy to use, with a very intuitive and simple menu layout. It had good sound quality, great range, and all the features that we would want in one of these products.

David Wise and Austin Palmer