Base-Independent Features Mean More Handset Choices

Most new cordless phone features require changes to both the handset and base. This means if you just purchased a new cordless phone and a new model comes out, you'll end up missing out on the new features. But you don't have to!

Sometimes, new features concern just the handset and don't require a newer base to work. The Panasonic KX-TGDA99, for example, introduced in-handset Bluetooth for headphones, and that feature doesn't rely on any changes to the base. This means you can register it to your new KX-TGF975, for example, and you added in-handset Bluetooth to your phone thanks to that handset.

When a new cordless phone model is just an existing base + new handset, you can simply purchase the new handset to add to your current system if it's compatible, without having to get a whole new phone just for the new features. You can mix and match different handsets to give your phone system a wide array of features, designs, and color options. However, in some cases, a particular handset color might not be available as an additional handset, only as the included handset for some models. For example, the rose gold KX-TGDA86G supplied with the KX-TGD862G isn't available as an additional handset at this time.

The KX-TGD890 series is the best example. This model is just a KX-TGD830 base in black/silver, but instead of KX-TGDA83 handsets, it has KX-TGDA99 Bluetooth handsets. This means you can mix and match silver and black KX-TGDA99 Bluetooth handsets with navy blue and rose gold KX-TGDA86 handsets, for example, to create a custom phone system based on your design preferences or to fit in with your home's design. For example, you may want the rose gold of the KX-TGDA86 to add luxury to your designer home, but you may also want the in-handset Bluetooth of the KX-TGDA99 and the power backup mode of the KX-TGF970 base and KX-TGFA97 handsets. Instead of replacing your cordless phone with a newer same-base-but-different-handsets model, just get one or more of that different handset to add to your current one! And definitely don't replace your entire system just to shake up the colors--just add one or more of the desired color handsets to your current one!

Some cordless phones offer waterproof handsets in addition to regular ones. While there are cordless phone models which have waterproof handsets included, sometimes as their only handset model, you can add them to your current system, if compatible.

Panasonic phones used to list more than one handset model in their manuals, each with different features and designs. For example, the KX-TG6524 includes KX-TGA653 handsets, but those aren't the only ones you can use. In fact, that model isn’t available as an additional handset. For example, if you want a handset like what came with your phone, add a KX-TGA651 handset. If you want large keys, add a KX-TGA401 handset. If you want a multi-items-at-a-time display and buttons with a premium click feel, add a KX-TGA750 handset. As of 2012, most manuals only mention the included handset, or a similar model, as the compatible model to add to the system, but if you look on their website, you'll discover that there are often many more you can choose from, because the basics (making and receiving calls, intercom, registration/deregistration, basic settings) all work fine. The only issues are with base-dependent features like the shared phonebook.

For example, you can add diamond-cut keys and a color display to your KX-TGE274 with the help of the KX-TGHA20 handset, or add a touch of rose gold or navy blue to your silver KX-TGF975 with the KX-TGDA86 handset.

Uniden also did this. For example, you can add talking caller ID and amplified volume to a DECT1580-2 with the EZX290 handset--no new base required.

AT&T cordless phone models indicate color with the 4th digit of the model number. For example, the AT&T CL82207 is silver, while the CL82267 is black/wood-colored. The handsets are CL80107 and CL80167 respectively. These are the same handsets, just different colors. Vtech uses the second digit after the dash to indicate color if there are 2 digits after the dash. A suffix of -1x is used for a single-handset system available in multiple colors, with x representing a digit identifying the color.

The manuals only list tested and fully-compatible handsets at the time the model was released or the manual was published/last updated, but you can check with your cordless phone brand to find other handsets that may work--there are likely lots of options to choose from.