Customer Reviews

Uniden Big Button Caller ID Cordless Phone (EZi2996)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The mother-in-law cannot read the numbers on our regular phones and has trouble hearing the ring. I bought a Clarity model at Radio Shack last year assuming all big-button phones are about the same. It looked handsome but was pricy, and I later saw that it did not get good reviews. Its performance turned intermittent in less than a year, then dead, not a good situation for the phone she relies on. A new battery could not revive it.

An hour of searching online reviews turned up this model as the best choice, so it was the Christmas gift (in October, so we've had several months experience with it now).

It is not so pretty, but the numbers are lit and huge, it flashes and rings loud, and we are all content. Thanks for the comment that fixed a mistake in this review.

[4-25-11 - The phone remains working and in regular use and remains well appreciated.]

I have a particular issue unmentioned in the reviews either of this model (or the same phone with answering machine) that I believe would make many stay away from this purchase.

As one of the other reviewers noted you must push a button to use the boost function, each time you want to use it. That could be a deal breaker for some (say an elderly relative where you want to set this phone up for them and forget it), but I figured this phone on high volume (you can adjust the volume like most cordless phones) would be fine for my needs. Well on my phone the volume always reverts back to medium. You set the volume and for some period of time it will stay on high which I feel like I require (and I am not old or have hearing problems) but after some time it reverts back to medium so I have to turn up the volume every time I make/receive a call! I don't see a pattern to when it resets the volume, eg doesn't revert with incoming calls, or when placed back on the base, or after a certain amount of time - although it will hold the volume setting usually for an hour or so, but other times immediately reverts back to medium. What a pain, let me go in an adjust the volume, then make a call, why doesn't it remember the volume settings like every other cordless phone! If you are hard of hearing you would not only have to adjust the volume each time, then also put on the boost function. Welcome to hear comments from others if they have the same issue or a silly fix I am missing. The volume flashes each time you make a call so check every so often (hours/days), just turn on the phone, does you phone revert back to medium?

A few other lesser observations. I usually like Uniden products, this has been a let down. The phone is uhmmm funky looking, and that's fine - but will say it looks "cheap" to me in person, so if you can see/handle this model at a store you may want to. The ringer on low volume is still quiet loud. I find the quality of sound with the volume up is just average, some hiss, but hey I know I am picky, with the boost even more so. If you are looking for quality sound (and don't need a boost) other phones are better, Panasonic for one.

This is a nice phone with big buttons you can see but it has some control that are not helpful. I don't like the fact thatyou have to dial before you press talk. That is not the tradidional way these phones should work. Also you have to be careful when sitting it down to make sure that the charge engages. If you set it down to quickly and don't look it will lose its charge.

I have a hearing loss and talking on the phone can be very difficult. I found this phone on Amazon, and since there are very few cordless phones for the hearing impaired I thought I'd try it. I've had it almost a year now and it's fantastic. With the Boost button, it gives me enough volume to hear, but without it, it goes back to a normal volume so my kids can use it too. Also, the sound doesn't get distorted when the volume is up high which is a problem with other phones. Talking on the phone is comfortable now. I highly recommend this phone for those with hearing loss.

As "older" users, we ordered this base and one extra handset to replace Unidens we had used for years. The larger screen and numbers were the attraction. In spite of several new features, we have been disappointed in the placement of the buttons and find we accidentally hit Flash/Exit just handling the phone. In order to go up and down in the address book or CIDs, the up/down buttons are located on the far left side of the receiver rather than on the front which is very awkward to use. Suggest you check one in store before you purchase. Amazon service is A-1, but you might want to hold the receiver and see if it meets your needs. Then come back to Amazon.

This model has several new features that are excellent for older users. If a message is waiting, a bright yellow light blinks until you check messages. There is a "boost" button to boost the sound while on a speaker phone. The CID and other messages are large and clear. You can adjust the volume easily and the back light as well. Perhaps we "old dogs" will learn new tricks and buttons. Mostly it is an excellent phone and thus 4 stars.

I've had this phone in my store for about 1 month. The sound quality is fine. The buttons are big and self explainatory and easy for my help to see and use. The battery life is, so far, fine. A good phone.

Would not recommend this product to an older person. Buttons are very touchy causing a lot of hang ups on calls. Battery life is really bad. Do not buy this item.

Needed a big button phone for my mother who is nearly blind due to diabetes... She LOVEs the buttons and the fact that this phone SPEAKS the caller ID. She also loves the speaker phone aspect of the handset. I cannot even tell when she is using speaker phone sometimes.. I got her another handset as well... Great phone she really likes it, and this was after trying many many phones....

I primarily wanted to help MagicJack users find a cordless phone that you can hear as well as your regular phone or better. This phone easily meets the need and I tried it while I was outside at a distance of 70 feet from the base and speaking to my mother, who was on her cell phone 200 miles away, and this phone works great before hitting the booster button. Once you hit the booster button, then the volume is enhanced further and without any significant loss in overall clarity. Overall clarity is very good and I recommend this for all those MagicJackers! It cost a little more, but it is worth it and it is a solid phone as well. The only negative is that UNIDEN was too cheap to include the plastic wall mounting plate that they will gladly sell you on their site for a small fee.

Also, see my review on the MagicJack as I have given tips on how to get the most from your MagicJack and what one should have as a minimum PC system and an additional (inexpensive) accessory you will need to maximize your experience.

** If you are uncertain about the MagicJack, buy it from them at their inflated price and under their 30 day trial, which they do not charge your credit card until the trial has expired, then put it through the test. If it meets your testing requirements, then get the RMA and send it back and order one through Amazon.com and save about $15.00. Don't buy all the bells and whistles; just the Jack and nothing more until you are sure it is for you.

Of course the best feature is Caller Announce (from the Handset). And it's way smarter than my other Talking Caller ID phone!! It says the person's name the way YOU put it into the phone -- not the way the Phone Company has it input in their system. Plus you can have a custom ring (or not) for each person.

The phonebook has a 70 name capacity, instead of just 50; I love that - my old one was maxed at 50.

Voice Mail Waiting Indication - very nice feature. Also you can hit just one button to check your voice mail.

The big buttons are great in 4 ways - 1) they are easy to see, 2) easy to hit with big fingers, 3) they never "miss" (a lot of times my old phone, the way the button mechanism was designed the button key-stroke wouldn't register and I would have to hit it again). But these are not soft plastic buttons so they don't have that problem, 4) you can turn on an option so that as you hit a number a voice says the number to you - it's pretty cool.

Temporary Do Not Disturb Mode is a real nice feature.

Has a headset port (a must) but some other phones don't.

I would order a belt clip - I use mine all the time for walking around and talking on the headset hands-free.