The Yealink T46 series has been one of the most widely used business desk phones for years. Yealink is now retiring it, and if it is sitting on desks across your office, it is worth understanding what that means and what comes next. The short version: your phones keep working for now, and the models that replace them are a genuine step up.
What is happening
Yealink is discontinuing its T46 series, the popular mid-range desk phone that many businesses have relied on. Like any technology that reaches the end of its life, it is being phased out to make way for a newer generation. If you already have T46 handsets, they will carry on working as normal in the short term, but over time new units become harder to source, and firmware, security updates and support gradually wind down.
What it means for your business
There is no need to panic, but there is every reason to plan. The businesses that handle this well treat it as a scheduled upgrade rather than an emergency:
- you can keep using your current handsets for now;
- you will not be able to buy more of the same model, so growing or replacing a broken phone means moving to the new range anyway;
- as updates tail off, staying on old hardware carries a small but growing security and reliability risk; and
- a planned, phased swap is far cheaper and less disruptive than a last-minute scramble.
What is replacing it
Yealink has replaced the older T4 generation with a newer line-up, and the models we fit are its latest desk phones, the T7 series, along with the W73P for cordless. In practice that means the T73, T74 and T77 depending on how much a user needs from their phone, from a tidy everyday handset to a full-featured phone for reception and power users.
Why the new phones are actually better
This is not just a like-for-like swap. The newer handsets are a real improvement on the T46, with:
- Bigger, sharper, adjustable screens that are easier to read and tilt to the right angle for each person;
- Clearer calls thanks to improved HD audio and background-noise reduction, so callers hear you and not the office;
- Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options on the higher models, so you can pair a wireless headset or place a phone where running a cable is awkward;
- More programmable keys and easier expansion for busy users, reception and hunt groups;
- A faster, more modern interface that is quicker to use day to day;
- A longer support and firmware lifecycle, so you are buying into current technology rather than something already on the way out; and
- Better energy efficiency, which adds up across a whole office of phones.
A good moment to review the bigger picture
Replacing handsets is also a natural point to ask whether your setup still fits how you work. If your team is more mobile or hybrid than it used to be, it might be the right time to look at calling through Microsoft Teams or a softphone alongside, or in place of, some desk phones, so people have one number wherever they are. There is no one right answer, and we will give you a straight view of what suits you.
How we handle the swap
We manage the whole thing so it is a non-event for your team. We keep your numbers and your call setup exactly as they are, pre-configure and provision the new handsets before they arrive, and install them around your working day so the phones simply keep ringing. We will also take the old kit away for responsible recycling. And, as always, the support that comes afterwards is included.