Overview

Elegantly designed with a large touch-screen display, the Gigaset SL910A is loaded with features including an integrated answer machine, contacts book, room monitor capability as well as blu-tooth functionality and exceptionally clear call quality.

Depending on the generation that you grew up in, when you think of a landline phone traditionally most people either conjure up images of cumbersome rotary dial phones, or more recently, cordless landlines that are still somewhat on the large side. Home phone manufacturers have started to respond to the tiring image of the landline phone, introducing a range of smaller cordless options, but they’ve still been blighted by certain features. Fiddly, raised phone buttons remain standard and most of us expect to find at least one hand-set lifeless on occasion after forgetting to return it to its charging cradle. The question for the home phone giants then is what’s next? How can the humble home phone be brought in line with the feature focused and mobile phone driven market of today?

Stepping up to the challenge is Siemens with the latest offering from its popular Gigaset range of cordless landlines. It was always going to take something special to change the face of the faithful landline and Siemens may have achieved just that. The Gigaset SL910 is a complete departure from the home phone as we know it, instead borrowing from and building on the success of mobile smartphones. Designed around and controlled using a large touch-screen display, the SL910 is the first home phone of its kind in the UK. It looks great and quickly helps you understand why Siemens’ Gigasets are amongst the most popular landline phones around. Filled with useful features like the built-in answering machine and a whopping 14 hours of talk-time, the SL910 sits squarely at the top of the home phone pecking order. It’s compatible with Bluetooth and has USB compatibility for data transfer from home computers too. The SL910 looks amazing too and it’s even built durably, making it a great option for family use.

If you’re in the market for a new home phone and only the best will do, check out the Gigaset SL910. It’s the perfect blend of beautiful form and effective functionality, making it arguably the best high-end landline available right now.

Unboxing

Given that they’re far from the cheapest range on the market, we can’t help but initially be rather amused every time we review a Gigaset. It’s the packaging you see. This isn’t to say that it’s especially bad or in any way inadequate, it will protect your product just fine. No, it’s Siemens choice of design for the packaging that’s rather baffling given the high-end product found within. This isn’t the first time we’ve complained about it, but we have to ask ourselves why Siemens feels the need to cling on to its black and bright orange colour scheme? It gives a somewhat tacky first impression that isn’t a fair reflection of the SL910 at all. Then there’s the fact that although the phone’s well protected enough, there’s a lot of cardboard for you to throw away which we never like to see. Still, don’t let this early lacklustre impression put you off or you’ll miss out, as the inside of the box is a completely different and far more promising story.

The SL910 handset confronts you the moment you lift the lid of its box and you may need to take a moment’s pause to admire your purchase. It’s a stunning phone and any misgivings that the packaging gave us were instantly washed away as there’s no doubt that this is of the highest quality. Lift the phone and its cardboard surround aside to reveal the remaining accessories. There’s the base station to provide connectivity around your house, as well as a charging dock with power adapter and phone cable. Next you’ll find the phone’s battery and battery cover, along with the usual documentation. Firmware updates are directly downloaded from the internet to save you the hassle.

Design

Ordinarily if an electronic device’s design is one of its main selling points, you have to ask yourself why and if the rest of the product can live up to it. With the Siemens Gigaset SL910 that’s far less of a worry as even if the quality didn’t continue on the inside (which it does), you’d probably still be happy to have a landline phone that’s this good looking, we know we would be!

The SL910 is nothing short of breathtaking, in fact we think it’s the most attractive home handset that we’ve ever seen and we’ve seen a fair few. The build quality is absolutely superb, going quite a way to make up for the handset’s lofty price tag. Made from a combination of robust plastic and shiny genuine metal, the SL910 oozes high-end sophistication. The surround feels great in metal and it’s just a slight shame that the rear battery cover had to be made of plastic to (we assume) cut down on weight. Speaking of weight, we do have one slight gripe with the SL910. Weighing in at 160 grams, it isn’t exactly lightweight. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but it may mean that you prefer using the built-in hands-free mode if you’re taking a longer call.

Dominating the design and taking up the majority of the front of the handset is a wonderfully bright 3.2 inch touch-screen display (TFT-VA 320 x 480 resolution). Having the screen take up the entire front of the handset is a definite nod to the smart-phone and it’s really paid off. Not only does it provide stunning looks, but also adds to the handset’s usability, giving more detail and superior colour to competing home phone displays. It’s also used as the phone’s main method of control, finally eliminating the fiddly buttons that we’ve come to associate with recent smaller landline phones. The on-screen keyboard is easy to use and instantly responsive, it’s also easily read in virtually any light. There are only three physical buttons on the phone; answer, reject and a menu button, all found beneath the display.

A really useful inclusion that’s worth noting is a USB port to connect the SL910 to your computer to manage data transfers. You can move pictures or ringtones between your phone and PC easily like this, as well as import contacts saved in your Windows or Mac address book (this can also be done via Bluetooth). This is great in saving you time from physically inputting contacts yourself.

Calling

With a design that’s such a radical departure from what we’re used to in terms of home phones, bringing landlines ever closer to their mobile counterparts, it’s easy to forget that the SL910 is a phone above all else and has to perform well as such. Fortunately Siemens’ high sound performance technology achieves outstanding results on every call. Sound comes through clearly and dialogue is easily separated from background noise. You don’t have to concern yourself with straying out of range as the SL910 has a 300 metre range from its base station, allowing you the freedom to roam whilst you talk. With 14 hours of talk-time (20 standby) you won’t have to worry about running out of power mid-call either.

Siemens has enhanced the SL910’s calling quality by integrating a brilliant hands-free feature. This is really useful in allowing you to take calls whilst you’re busy working and if you need to take notes, there’s also a built-in recording function that will let you revisit key conversation points later.

Call quality can be further improved by adding additional handsets for connectivity throughout your home should you so choose. The SL910 can be expanded up to 6 handsets in one network for seamless communication in multiple rooms.

Features

Let’s be honest, it would be rude not to revisit that glorious touch-screen briefly as it’s a feature in itself. A lot of you are probably thinking, do I really need a touch-screen landline? The answer is probably not, but once you’ve tried out the SL910 and seen how much easier it is to use than a standard cordless home phone, it’s doubtful you’ll want to go back. The user interface is a pleasure to use, dividing the phone into three screens which you can flick between with the swipe of a finger. The first screen provides the keypad to input numbers, the second gives easy access to contacts, the clock and calendar, then the third provides answering phone services and missed calls. Anyone who has ever used a smart-phone will find that this organization makes their life far easier and anyone who hasn’t will soon welcome the user friendliness of having all the tools you need most instantly available. Another bonus is the ability to have full sized pictures of each of your contacts show up on the screen when they call, as well as full colour backgrounds to keep your phone looking good when it’s not in use.

Siemens has also given you an improved contacts book to store those all important numbers. As previously mentioned, you can save time by importing contacts directly from your home computer or from a compatible device via Bluetooth. There should be plenty of room for all of your friends too with storage space for 500 contacts, each of which can have 8 separate numbers linked to them, making it easy to save work, home and mobile numbers. You can even assign special information to contacts like birthdays and meeting reminders, meaning you never need miss an important occasion. The SL910 also allows text messages to be sent to and from the handset, putting yet another handy feature at your fingertips.

Missing important calls isn’t a concern either thanks to Siemens’ outstanding fully-integrated answering machine. It allows for a huge 55 minutes of message recording and is improved by the ability to easily select between messages, as well as a message previewing system that allows you to hear a snippet of each message before you choose which one you want to listen to.

In addition to an eco-mode that surrenders some of the handset’s range in favour of energy efficiency, there are a couple of features that enhance your home life. There’s the ability to programme the handset not to ring between certain times, allowing you to sleep undisturbed. The SL910 can even be used as a room monitor, which is great for owners with young children. Simply activate the monitor, leave it in the desired room and if the noise exceeds a certain level the SL910 will alert another phone of your choice. This is a really effective feature that isn’t only useful for parents, but can also be used as an extra security measure to monitor noise levels when you’re out should you so wish.

Conclusion

Siemens has achieved the rare feat of creating a phone that really stands out from the crowd in what has become an overcrowded market place. It’s arguably the home phone of the future, combining a smart-phone like touch screen interface with the traditional landline tools that we rely upon for communication at home. In addition to looking great, the SL910 has a huge 14 hours of talk time and exceptionally clear calling quality. The hands-free feature is perfect for multi-tasking and a 500 entry address book means there’s plenty of room for all your contacts. There’s USB and Bluetooth compatibility with your home computer too, meaning you can easily personalise your phone with sounds and photos. Really useful features like the built-in answering machine and room monitor will be used time and time again, proving that the SL910 has great functionality to add to its fabulous form.

Our only complaints are that the handset is reasonably heavy and that it comes with a high price tag (although sitting at the top of the market, the price is to be expected). This is nowhere near enough of a black mark to touch the SL910’s excellent overall quality though. If price isn’t an issue and you want the best home phone you can have, we strongly recommend the Gigaset SL910, it’s got everything you need in a cordless landline and more.

Overview

Good looking but study design with perfect sound quality and extended talk time, fully equipped with lots of useful features and customisable settings (described below), generous storage for message and contacts, plus 'eco mode' for energy efficiency.

Home phones have come a very long way in the last decade or so. We still remember having traditional rotary dial phones at home and having to take the base with you whenever you wanted some privacy. These days most youngsters wouldn’t know a corded phone if they saw one, with consumer demands moving the home phone ever closer to its mobile counterparts. Cordless has been the way forward for landline phones for some time now, and as well as wanting the freedom to move about the house unhindered, modern users want more out of their home phone. Demand has grown for more eco-friendly technology as well as the latest in time saving features. With customer expectations higher than ever before, it takes something quite special to stand out in the crowded landline phone market.

Siemens has met the challenge head on and risen to the occasion with the Gigaset SL785 cordless landline phone. With its high resolution display and impressively lengthy talk-time allowance, it’s no surprise that the SL785 became Europe’s most widely sold home phone just three months after it was released. Siemens has also equipped the SL785 with the latest technological innovations including Bluetooth compatibility with home computers (and other Bluetooth devices) and several environmentally friendly energy saving features. There are multimedia options to keep younger users happy too. Best of all, you get all this in one of the best looking handsets currently available and its built to last, making it ideal for any family home.

If you need a new landline phone and have been looking for a cordless option that will provide you with all the modern conveniences you could need, your search could end with the Siemens Gigaset SL785. It’s not the cheapest model on the market, but for once you can really see where the extra cash has gone and we think it’s well worth it.

Unboxing

The first thing to warn you about is that the SL785 arrives in a rather large, bright orange (and black) box. Don’t let this put you off as we can assure you the handset is neither as unwieldy in size, nor as garishly coloured as its packaging. In fact, the main reason for the box’s ample size is that Siemens has given you a lot in it.

Once opened, the packaging looks a lot better inside, with individually wrapped components nestled in their own slots for security. The first thing facing you in the box is the SL785 handset and what a looker it is too! Next there’s the SL785 base and phone cord, as well as a charging dock to top up power when the phone’s not in use. One note on the charging dock is that the phone can stick to it slightly after charging, although it’s not a real problem as it seems to improve with time. Other essentials are the handset’s battery and back cover, in addition to a software CD to install on your home computer (for compatibility with the phone). Of course, there’s also an instruction manual and it’s worth having a read of if you really want to get the most out of the SL785’s features.

Design

Siemens has obviously put a lot of stock into the SL785’s design as it is nothing short of stunning. You could wax lyrical about the look of this phone for days, so much so that we had to tear ourselves away from admiring it to complete this review!

The SL785 has build quality worthy of its price. The handset is made of genuine metal and robust plastic that not only looks great, but is also durable and built to last. The shiny metal frame gives the handset luxury appeal and although we thought it a shame that the back is made of plastic, it’s very tough and probably a good thing for users with children (it can handle a few knocks & is backed up by a 2 year guarantee). It’s very thin too and can easily be slipped into a pocket. Unlike older landline phones, this model is more akin to a mobile in size, making usage very comfortable. Don’t be put off by the handset’s 141 gram weight either, which feels far lighter than it sounds once in your hand.

The next thing that catches your attention is the generously large display. Siemens has added to the premium nature of the SL785 by giving it a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display that boasts a powerful resolution of 240x320 pixels and 256,000 colours. This makes usage much improved on other landline models, offering razor sharp detail and ample brightness for any setting.

The SL785’s keyboard sits beneath the display, with recessed buttons almost flat against the phone’s surface. Whilst raised buttons are usually preferred for ease of use, the SL785’s keypad is a joy to use, responding swiftly to the lightest of touches. It’s sunken in design also enhances the handset’s overall aesthetic.

Our one complaint about the SL785’s design is the fact that you have to remove the back cover to connect a USB cable. This isn’t the end of the world as data can also be transferred wirelessly (Bluetooth), but it’s a flaw nonetheless.

Calling

Too often an appliance can look great and be full of features without living up to the billing of its main function. Pleasingly that’s not the case with the SL785. Siemens has used HSP (High Sound Performance) technology to ensure that your calls can be made with exceptionally clear sound. You don’t have to worry about power constraints or range either, with 15 hours of talk-time and a 300 metre range from the base you can chat to your heart’s content without fear of dropped calls. There’s also a whopping 200 hours of standby power that means you won’t get caught short if you forget to put the handset back on its charger.

Call quality is further improved by hands free functions, allowing you to use the phone via Bluetooth headset or its own built-in hands free capabilities. This is great in allowing you to multi-task whilst taking calls and if a call is really important, there’s also two-way recording so you can revisit your conversation later.

Siemens has also given users the flexibility to improve calling throughout their home by adding up to 5 more handsets to their set-up. These have to be bought separately, but provide the SL785’s high-quality calling all around the house.

Features

Having delivered impeccable results with the SL785’s design and calling quality, Siemens wasn’t about to scrimp on the phone’s features. In fact, there’s so much on offer here that it’s hard to know where to start. As previously mentioned the SL785 can easily be linked up with your home computer via either USB or wirelessly through Bluetooth (once you have installed the provided software on your computer). This gives you a range of options that are more like a mobile phone than a landline and these are certain to please younger users.

Perhaps most usefully this feature allows the transfer of contacts between your mobile and home phones, negating the need for you to manually enter numbers into your new cordless landline (this will save loads of time as there’s room for 500 contacts). Additionally, this feature allows advanced multimedia options such as the beaming of pictures and music to the SL785 via Bluetooth. This is great for personalised ring-tones and picture viewing lets you get the most out of the exemplary TFT display. Customisable settings let you attribute a photo to each of your contacts too, showing a familiar face every time you receive a call.

You can’t be around every time the phone rings and thanks to Siemens’ built-in answering machine, you don’t have to be. The SL785 can even be programmed to text your mobile if you miss a call. An extra long 45 minute recording time means that there’s ample storage space for messages too and the phone will automatically tell you the time of each call that you missed.

The SL785 also has several features geared towards improving the quality of your home life. The phone has a ‘do not disturb’ feature which gives you the ability to disallow it from ringing (and disturbing your sleep) at certain times. This also extends to users with more than one handset as individual handsets can be programmed in this way too, allowing a child to sleep upstairs without fear of disturbance, whilst downstairs you can still receive calls as usual. Continuing along these lines, the SL785 can even be used as a room monitor for babies. It will sit silently in a child’s room and if noise exceeds a certain volume, it will alert a phone of your choice (mobile/landline). This is great news as it means owners with children don’t need to spend extra money on room monitors.

Finally, if you didn’t think enough had been forced inside the SL785’s slender frame already, Siemens has also made it environmentally friendly. The SL785 automatically cuts down on energy usage, but you can also activate ‘eco mode’ for further energy savings. As well as consuming less power, Eco mode lowers radiation between the handset and base. This is a particularly welcome extra that lowers energy to help you keep an eye on your utilities.

Conclusion

In an extremely competitive market Siemens has pulled out all the stops to make an impression with the SL785. Its marriage of sleek, modern looks and a user-friendly design that’s crammed with features is a winning combination. Boasting 15 hours, it’s talk-time is amongst the best we’ve seen from a landline and the built-in answering machine means you’ll never miss an important message. Bluetooth compatibility provides easy data transfer from your home computer and pictures look stunning on the TFT display. Perhaps best of all is that you get all of this with low energy emissions, giving you great savings and a greener conscience.

There are definitely more affordable cordless home phones than the SL785, but we don’t think there are many that are anywhere near as good. Siemens high quality design and outstanding array of features put the SL785 well ahead of the competition for us and we’d highly recommend that you check one out to see for yourself.

Overview

Unbeatable value, looks good, excellent calling quality, useful features, extra handsets can be added, environmentally friendly.

Over the years phones have become more and more complicated. We aren’t just talking about mobile phones either, but landline phones that we all use at home. Not only are there a ridiculously confusing number of home phones available, but the premium models can be extremely expensive too. This presents something of a dilemma for those of us who don’t want to fork out for top-end prices, but still want a good, cordless home phone that has enough features to keep up with the times.

Filling the void is the Siemens Gigaset C610A. This entry-level model from Siemens’ acclaimed Gigaset range of cordless phone homes offers outstanding usability and a good selection of features in a professional looking package. With a large address book for you to store all your contacts and family friendly features like a room monitor (for young children’s rooms), there aren’t many needs that the C610A won’t meet. Most importantly, with recently increased reductions the C610A represents better value than ever, so there’s no need to spend a fortune if you want to own a landline phone that works well and is modern.

We think that the C610A provides a user-friendly interface and enough features to make it an excellent option even at its launch price, but now that it’s even more of a bargain we really can’t recommend it enough.

Unboxing

The Gigaset C610A arrives in an alarmingly large, bright orange box. Unfortunately Siemens won’t win any prizes for economical packaging (leaving you with a lot to throw away), but that’s the only negative to this unboxing. Inside the box all is neat and tidy, with each component tightly packed in for protection.

On opening the box there’s quite a lot to take in. First there’s the standard user guide that will prove useful in getting you started with the C610A. Fortunately, it’s a really simple phone to use, so if you aren’t the sort of person who likes to spend a long time reading manuals, you can take a more hands on approach. We would recommend at least a brief review of the guide however, if only to ensure that you’re making the most of the C610A’s features. Next up there’s the handset itself, giving you an early glimpse of the great design of your new landline. The C610A base station and cable to connect to the mains follow next and it’s worth noting that some users will be disappointed by the inability to wall-mount the base station, meaning you’ll need surface space for it. Lastly you get the phone’s rechargeable batteries and a belt clip so that you can fasten the handset to clothing.

Design

As unfortunate as it may be, it’s a fact that consumer products like phones are judged firstly on their external appearance. This usually results in only higher-end options being visually appealing as manufacturer’s struggle to put the most into their more affordable handsets with the design often suffering as a consequence.

Pleasingly the Gigaset C610A is an exception to this trend. Despite its comparatively low price, it looks really good and will look at home in most settings. It’s made of robust plastic that feels sturdy enough to resist an accidental drop or two, which will be music to the ears of users with young children. The plastic also has a glossy finish, giving the product a deceivingly high-priced impression. It’s only available in black with silver trim, an ultra-modern look that will go down well with those who like their gadgets sleek and contemporary. Whilst we think it looks great, it is a shame that Siemens hasn’t given users more choice when it comes to colour as everyone has unique preferences. Still, with the price so low the colour will probably be the last of your concerns. The fact that the C610A is pretty thin and comes in at a lightweight 119 grams makes it incredibly comfortable in the hand, which is extremely important considering the amount of time most people spend on the phone.

The C610A also has a generously large 6 line graphical display, with a 128x128 pixels resolution that supplies 4096 colours. It’s extremely clear and bright, guaranteeing easy reading in any light setting. When the phone is in use it usefully shows call length, as well as the handset’s remaining battery life and strength of signal to the base station. When on standby you can set the phone to either display a clock face, or one of several colour screensavers. At this point you may be bemoaning the lack of customisable phone backgrounds or the display’s intermediate resolution, but it’s important to remember the great value of this handset. You won’t get the latest and greatest in high-definition displays or customisable multimedia here, but you will get  a great landline phone that can do the basics (and a lot more) at a snip of the price of its high-end rivals.

The phone’s keyboard is directly below the display and has slightly raised buttons to improve its ease of use. Critics of the tiny buttons usually found on modern phones will be pleased by the C610A’s full-size keys that are easily manageable for users with a larger hand size. A four way navigation key makes moving through menus a breeze, with the answer and cancel call buttons sensibly positioned on either side.

Calling

The average Briton spends almost half of their life using various multimedia and a good portion of that time is taken up by talking on the phone. That’s why it’s essential that, whatever other bells and whistles your home phone may boast, it still has good call quality. Amidst consumer demands for features and media, manufacturers often lose sight of the phones primary function. Fortunately, the C610A focuses first and foremost on doing what it says on the tin.

Calling is excellent on the C610A, with crystal clear sound making conversations a pleasure. Siemens has allowed for a range of up to 300 metres between the handset and base station, giving you the freedom to roam around the house or seek privacy without worry of losing signal. An impressive 12 hour talk-time means that you don’t have to cut conversations short either. There’s also a huge 180 hours of battery life when the handset’s on standby, allowing you to leave it off the charger for quite some time without risk of running out of power.

Siemens has also included a really good hands-free setting that would usually be associated with higher priced handsets. This means that you can take calls whilst continuing with other activities, which is great if you’ve got kids to look after or are in the middle of something when the phone rings.

Call quality can be further improved throughout your residence by adding up to 5 extra hand-sets to the C610A set-up. Extra handsets have to be bought separately, but are compatible with any existing C610A set-up and allow multiple members of the household to be on the phone at the same time.

Features

Keeping the C610A’s superb value for money in mind, you could be forgiven for thinking that Siemens must have cut corners somewhere and that it must be with the phone’s features. Once again this is reassuringly not the case, as although the C610A can’t compete for features with its top of the line competitors, it still has more than enough on board to make your life a little easier.

You can cut down on an extra-appliance thanks to the C610A’s built-in answering machine. It’s impossible to always get to the phone in time and this means you won’t miss much when a call does ring off. There’s plenty of room for messages with a 40 minute recording time storage allowance. You needn’t worry about losing messages if there’s a power-cut either as Siemens has equipped the C610A with recording protection to safeguard your mailbox. Pin protection can also be set up for your messages very simply for increased privacy and security. One of this feature’s most intelligent functions allows it to send a text message alert to a number of your choice, notifying you when you have a new message on your answer phone.

The C610A’s lengthy 12 hour talk-time wouldn’t be much good without anyone to talk to, so Siemens has made sure you won’t run out of numbers to call by allowing space for 150 unique contacts. The usability of the phone’s contacts book is further improved by VIP and quick-dial settings. A VIP tag can be applied to your most important contacts, as well as a unique ring-tone that will let you know who is calling. You can also assign a number of quick-dial contacts to specific keys. This allows you to simply hold down a pre-assigned key to automatically phone the relevant person. Text messaging and conference calls (for up to 3 callers) are also handy standard features. The only real disappointment is the lack of Bluetooth integration, which means that you can wirelessly transfer contacts between C610A handsets, but not for instance from a mobile phone. Bluetooth would have been a brilliant extra in saving you from manually entering contacts, but when you’re getting an overall package that’s this good at such a low cost we think it’s forgivable.

A really clever feature that you can use whether you have a young infant in the family or not is the baby monitor. You’re probably scratching you’re head wondering why you’d want to use this function if you don’t have a baby. Well, the system works by monitoring the noise level in a certain room and then notifying an alternate phone of your choice if the decibels creep above a certain volume. Naturally this is great for babies (as you won’t need a separate room monitor), but it can also be used as a home alarm system. Activate the room monitor when you’re out and you will automatically be alerted to any noise disturbances in your home. Whilst we’re not saying you should use this to replace your home security alarm, it adds extra reassurance nonetheless.

Lastly there’s the excellent news that you can enjoy all the C610A’s great features without worrying about running up your utilities bill. Eco mode reduces the phone’s energy expenditure, whilst also cutting down on radiation between the handset and base station. At a time when we should all be thinking about doing our little bit for the environment, this great feature provides a small step towards a greener home.

Conclusion

In the overcrowded and expensive home phone market place, Siemens has achieved the rare feat of coming out with a product that is a real all-rounder. The Gigaset C610A ticks all the boxes; it looks phenomenal, is child’s play to use and it’s very affordable. Far from scaling back the phone’s features to make up for its low price tag, Siemens has provided an array of useful extras like the built-in answering machine and room monitor that put the C610A on level with many of its pricier rivals. A long talk-time of 12 hours is as good as we’ve seen at this price and you can also send text messages. The fact that the C610A is energy efficient on top of all this is a real bonus.

If you’re having trouble deciding on a new cordless landline and want a contemporary option that won’t cost the earth, we suggest you look into the Gigaset C610A. We could hardly find fault with it. It’s arguably the best value choice on the market right now and is one of the very best cordless landline phones that we’ve reviewed.