Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic Dect 6.0 Titanium Black Cordless Phone with Answering Machine (KX-TG6445T)

This new 2009 model of Panasonic's cordless DECT telephones lives up to its advertising. Sound very clear, battery life is long (my actual 1st day experience was 3-5 hr talking with 10+ in standby), and range is longer than my previous Motorola 5 GHZ model (good enough for a 2 story house plus a basement). The model includes cordless handsets, answering machine, and caller ID, as well as voice prompts of incoming caller ID calls. As a plus, the handsets use AAA Ni-MH batteries so easily purchased when they need replacing. My old Motorola used the typical specialized phone Ni-Cd batteries (with that funny connector), that lasted less than a year and a high cost to replace.

Highly recommend this model. The KX-TG 643x and 644x series are all the same except for the number of handsets that come in the package and whether the base station has its own dial capability. This model allows a max of 6 handsets (the 6445 cmes with 5 handsets-so you can purchase one more if needed KX-TGA 641T).

The caller ID list and address book is centralized, so updating updates the file on the base set. My old Motorola had an address book in each handset plus a shared in the base unit. The voice mail box default announcement is a man's voice-would prefer a woman's voice, but you can also record your own announcement

Lastly, the handsets are small(6inch by 1.5 in wide). Not a problem for me but might surprise others. Panasonic sells many DECT 6.0 cordless phones, so do your search carefully. I bought this model because the 64xx model series is new in 2009, plus it has a base station that you can also dial from giving you a 7th telephone set if needed.

While the overall phones are good in quality and
clarity, there are three major disappointments:

1. No dedicated caller id button
Should not have to scroll through menu to get to
caller ids of recent calls as getting recent call
history is a frequent need.

2. Speaker phone volume is too low even on highest volume.

3. System is very base-centric whereby if someone
is using one of the phones, the other phones
cannot retreive caller ids on recent calls, etc.
as the data appears to be stored at the base as
opposed to each individual phone and when someone
is using any other handset, the base is busy
and cannot respond to any other handset inquiry
regarding the phone book or caller id list, etc.

After a number of years, it was time to upgrade our phone system. I've always had Uniden's, but couldn't find a decent style phone in that brand, so selected the Panasonic. Seems like phones are like cars.. They have to change the design every year.

Pro's:
a. The phone has a great feel in the hand. Small, light, nice rubberized backlit buttons. (I hate the plastic buttons of some phones)
b. Sound quality is great. (I've not had any issues.)
c. Decent range. Live on a 1/3 acre and had reception in my entire property plus most of my immediate neighbors.
d. Price is not bad. Phone +5 handsets for $129 at Fry's. (but add on's are WAY too expensive)
e. Bright and big LED Screen (LOVE this.. My eyes are getting old, not my brain )
f. Talking Caller ID. (don't have to run to the phone to see who is calling)
g. Integrated VoiceMail indicator so you can see if you've got messages. (Nice!!!, I can get rid of that cheap flashing red light thingy that doesn't work very well.)

Con's.
a. WHY do they all have to have/be answering machines??? It's such a waste with VoiceMail!! It would be great to have a choice between a phone with an answering machine, or one without.
b. You can't name your phones. This was really shocking to me. With the Uniden, we named all the phones.. Office, Kitchen, Master BR, etc. With the TG6445 all you get is 1,2,3,4,5... So when you want to page or conference you have to stop and think.. Now which phone is in the Master BR??? (Again, REALLY stupid)
c. Wall Mount is terrible!!!! Why can't you have a flush wall mount versus a horizontal one?? It sticks out WAY too far.. So I've stuck mine to the wall with double sided table and I rotate one of my satellites for charging the base unit..
d. The selection of ring tone's is REALLY weak.. only 8, and only 1 or 2 are worth while..
e. Reception meter is pretty worthless. I walked 1 full block and was impressed by the full strength on the meter. Until I turned it on and got extremely poor reception.
f. Phone needs a built in battery in-case the power goes out.. All your phones immediately become useless including the base unit. My new Comcast phone service has a built in battery, so I won't lose phone service, but I'll lose the phone. (so we have to have a non powered backup phone just in case). It would be a great feature for Panasonic to add. The base unit can't draw that much power, so the battery could be small enough not to make it overly bulky.

All in all, not a bad phone, it's the other features or lack of features that are disappointing.

Have been using this phone for a few days. Love the big date and time display, speaker phone feature, incoming caller name announcement, ring tone customization, backlit, etc., all on base and handsets. Works great with T-Mobile @Home service with HiPort and wireless keyboard/mouse. No interference.

In the past, I have had problems with almost every set of wireless phones I bought for my house. The signal constantly dropped in and out. However, after having had success with another set of phones that used DECT6.0 technology, I decided to try these. They've been perfect--there hasn't been a single instance on any call where the signal dropped out.

Also, Panasonic's talking caller ID is great. When a call comes in, all the phones announce who the caller is, so if the call is from someone you don't want to talk to (e.g., a solicitor), you don't even have to get out of your chair to know not to answer it. How's that for lazy?