Compared to mobile phones, cordless phones are clearly ahead because they offer more convenience and are more resistant to interference. But not all landline telephones are the same: Cordless telephones, which are intended for registering with the DECT base of a router, have a greater range of functions than devices with their own base. These DECT telephones also score points on IP connections with a higher call quality (HD Voice). However, the number of functions depends on which telephone is connected to which router. The ideal companion for a FritzBox is AVM’s in-house FritzFon. Below you will find a comparison of all current DECT telephones from the company from Berlin.
The best DECT phones
AVM
Details about the test
Per
Lots of features
Great sound
against
No bluetooth
No micro USB port
AVM
Details about the test
Per
Lots of features
Very high ease of use
against
Housing somewhat angular
No bluetooth
Gigaset
Details about the test
Per
Great sound quality
Class feel
against
Slightly short battery life
Hardly any special functions
Gigaset
Details about the test
against
Just sounded ok
No internal forwarding
Gigaset
Details about the test
Per
Easy handling
Good call quality
against
No headset jack
No micro USB port
panasonic
Details about the test
Per
Great sound
Works with many routers
against
A little big and heavy
Few functions
Complete List: The Best DECT Phones
FritzFon M2: For beginners
The FritzFon M2 has a monochrome display. The equipment is simple.
The AVM telephone with the simplest equipment is the FritzFon M2 (from 50 euros; all prices as of March 30, 2022). It offers all important basic functions such as call waiting, call forwarding and three-party conferences. The DECT telephone has a monochrome display (112×65 pixels) and a battery with 750 milliampere hours (mAh), which according to the manufacturer lasts up to 15 hours of conversation on one charge. Users of the FritzFon M2 are happy about the good call quality on IP connections thanks to HD Voice. Full duplex technology also improves the sound when speaking hands-free. The device adopts the router’s telephone books with a maximum of 300 entries. If you want to reduce DECT radiation, activate the Eco mode – but then the range from the base to the phone decreases. Good: Smart Home devices from AVM registered on the FritzBox can also be controlled with the FritzFon M2.
FritzFon C5: For comfort lovers
Slim and good: the FritzFon C5.
The FritzFon C5 (from 75 euros) can do as much as the cheaper FritzFon M2 – and a little more. It comes with a color display (240×320 pixels) and a headset connection, shows photos of callers (Picture CLIP) and plays up to five of your own ringtones (from FritzOS 6.98). The device is slightly taller and slimmer than its predecessor FritzFon C4 (no longer available in stores) and has volume buttons on the side. In the DECT telephone test, the maximum conversation time was a bit short at ten hours and 19 minutes, but the C5 left a positive impression overall.
FritzFon C6: The current top model
Better feel, brighter display: The FritzFon C6 was good in the test.
The FritzFon C6 (from 80 euros) is the current top model among the DECT telephones from AVM. In the test, it convinced with great sound, pleasant haptics and bright display. The battery life was measurably better in the laboratory: The C6 can be chatted for exactly 13 hours and six minutes at a time – a good result. This currently puts it at the top of the best DECT phones. The telephony functions of FritzOS 7 are also available for the C6 if it is registered on a router with the current operating system. This is how the phone screen shows place and country names. Call diversions can be limited and phone numbers from call lists can be added to phone books and call blocks.
FritzOS 7.20 and 7.25: New telephony functions
In 2020, the operating system version FritzOS 7.20 brought innovations in terms of telephony in addition to improvements in WLAN, DSL and Smart Home. Customers of Deutsche Telekom, Easybell and Dus.net can make encrypted calls with DSL FritzBoxes if they wish. The FritzBox supports other online phone books (Apple iCloud, Telekom Mail, CardDAV providers). With the new telephone firmware from version 03.04.57, the FritzFon C4, C5 and C6 devices also have fresh functions if they use a FritzBox with FritzOS 7.20 as the basis. The FritzFon now suggests telephone book entries when entering numbers. There is also a new start screen for the FritzFon with the temperature display of a selected AVM Smart Home sensor and nine fresh ringtones. The latest function update FritzOS 7.25 gave the FritzFon another start screen that displays current weather information and a weather forecast.
