Philips XL 3000 Series (Dual)

The basics

The XL 3000 series packs a raft of features, including extra loud sound, hearing aid compatibility, a great handsfree and bright screen as well as an impressive 14 hour talk time from the battery, 100 name phone book and 30 minute answering machine.

The unit comes in shiny black with large rubberized buttons and the base unit features controls for the answer machine. Both look modern, but ease of use remains at the heart of this phone.

The good

We loved the build quality of the 3000 series. This handset would suit most generations, but is ideally suited to the more mature among us. The buttons are large and responsive, responding to even the gentlest touch. Calls are loud and crisp, both on ear, and over speakerphone.

The range is great – in our test home we achieved coverage in every room, as well as at the end of the garden.

Battery life and overall power consumption are fantastic, allowing for 14 hours of talk time, as well as a tiny standby power drain meaning that your electric bill won’t shoot up as a result of your new home phone.

The bad

The Philips XL 3000 isn’t going to suit everyone. If style is key over functionality this may not be the handset for you. The unit is quite large, which is a feature to allow for easier holding, but it does mean that it looks a bit odd when compared to most of today’s technology.

The bottom line

If you struggle in any way – either with hearing or dexterity in your hands then the Philips XL 3000 is the handset for you. It is a well made, feature rich and most of all, easy to use phone, however if you care more about fashion then function, you might want to pass this one by.