| Rating | Where to buy |
 | Amazon.com *Same or similar item |
Panasonic Answering Machine KX-TG8021BX is a compactly designed cordless phone system that features automated reply, voice message, a large color display, illuminated keypad, a ringer LED, caller ID, and rechargeable Ni-MH battery with 14 hours talk time, and 240 hours standby time.
The KX-TG8021BX is Gigarange phone. It operates in the frequency range of 1.88 GHz to 1.90 GHz (in contrast to DECT 6.0 phones, which operate at only 1.90 GHz) allowing a bigger operating range of up to 800 meters under perfect settings. However, under regular settings (several brick walls and other obstacles in the way) you should easily get at least a 100-meter range. DSL/ADSL connection subscribers need to have a DSL/ADSL filter (sold separately) to use KX-TG8021BX.
What is in the box?
Panasonic KX-TG8021BX comes in a hassle-free packaging. The package contains the base unit, handset, AC adaptor, telephone line cord, a pair of AAA Ni-MH batteries, user manual, and warranty documents.
Design and features
Panasonic Answering Machine KX-TG8021BX has a simple but effective design. It is available in two colors: black and silver. We have here the silver one to review. The base of KX-TG8021BX has a charging dock for the handset, nine keys (loudspeaker, volume up/down, play, stop, erase, repeat, and skip voice messages, locator, and answer on) and an Answer-on-indicator on its top. On its back, it has the telephone line-in port, power-in port, and two screw holes in case you want to wall mount the base.
The handset, on the other hand, is a little bulky, and not as smart looking as you would expect it to be. It has three soft keys just below its color display. Below the soft keys are the navigation keys, Receive, Reject/Power off, Speakerphone, Clear/Mute buttons, the keypad, and finally the Recall/Flash/Alarm shortcut key, and Int or intercom key. The microphone is located below the keys. The loudspeaker and the battery compartment is located on the back of the cordless phone. The Charge/Ringer indicator is located on its top, and charge contacts located on its bottom. There is nothing fancy about this handset concerning its design. But it is durable and will not break easily even if you drop it from a considerable height.
Menu
The color display on the cordless is clearly visible and bright. It uses large fonts for better visibility. You can change color, contrast, and theme of the display. The display basically shows the signal reception strength, battery life, current date and time, and caller list if there have been some missed calls. The navigation keys on the handset along with the three soft keys make it very easy to configure and tweak different settings of the phone. There are six different items in the menu: Caller List, Ringer Setup, Answer System, Handset Setup, Base Unit Setup, and Display Setup. Each of these menu items has submenus that allow you to personalize your phone the way you want.
Panasonic Answering Machine KX-TG8021BX allows up to 200 entries in the address book. You can even copy phonebook entries from another compatible Panasonic handset.
KX-TG8021BX also supports an expansion of the system. You can use up to six handsets with the base.
Performance
We inserted the batteries and charged them for 7 hours as advised on the manual. As we powered on the device, it asked for the handset configuration. You must set up and register your base unit and handset the first time you power on the device. It is easy, just follow the on-screen instructions. After setting up the handset and base unit, we were ready to run tests for Panasonic Answering Machine KX-TG8021BX’s voice quality, range, battery life, and frequency interference.
Voice quality on both the receiver and caller’s ends was excellent. There was no echo but occasionally static feed could be heard. However, the voice was clear and loud at both ends. The ringer of the phone was very loud. Setting up automated answering was easy and worked fine. Each time there was a voice message waiting to be heard, the Play button on the base blinked in red.
The recorded voicemails were clear and loud too. The signal reception tower on the display was full even when we were 20 meters away from the base and there were several brick walls in between. We could even make and receive calls from the other side of the road outside our office, which was about 55 meters away from the base. The signal reception strength was still high. The battery life exceeded our expectation too. It lasted more than 10 hours of talk time.
Panasonic KX-TG8021BX did not interfere with any other electronic and Wi-Fi devices we had in our lab. It performed flawlessly the whole time.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very good cordless range, no interference, excellent voice quality with no noise or echo. Great battery life and color display with large fonts. Automated answering and voice message option work flawlessly. Supports expansion. | Sometimes there’s a buzzing static output from the cordless. |
Conclusion
Panasonic Answering Machine KX-TG8021BX is not a DECT 6.0 phone and it doesn’t have a fancy look either, but it does provide a very good cordless range of operation and it doesn’t interfere with the signals of other electric devices that you may have. The phone’s voice quality is excellent. The automated answering and voicemail work flawlessly. It has great battery life. The color display and nifty menus let you tweak phone settings according to your own preferences. We highly recommend Panasonic KX-TG8021BX as an affordable landline cordless phone.
Specifications
* 
Operating range: 1.88 GHz to 1.90 GHz
* DECT 6.0: No.
* Battery: Two AAA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries
* DSL/ADSL connection is supported via a DSL/ADSL filter
* Speakerphone on handset
* Up to 200 entries in the phonebook
* Color display
* Power input: 220 to 240V