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Grandstream

Grandstream GXP1628 Review: Australia 2026

The GXP1628 is Grandstream's entry-level business desk phone. A 2 SIP account, monochrome LCD, PoE phone with 8 BLF keys and Gigabit Ethernet at around $89 AUD. For businesses replacing ageing analogue handsets or installing phones on a tight budget, it is one of the lowest-cost options in the Grandstream range.

By the Need to Know Comms Team · Last updated 7 September 2026

78/100
NTK Score Recommended with caveats
Relevance17/20

The GXP1628 closely matches routine small-office calling needs and remains supported, although its two-account ceiling and older GXP platform limit broader roles.

Effort14/20

Physical installation and UCM provisioning are straightforward, but third-party PBX status, cross-vendor migration and the absence of native Teams support add administrator effort.

Adoption15/20

Familiar physical controls, clear documentation and responsive ticket support ease adoption, while the basic display and a concerning fleet reliability report temper usability confidence.

Commercial value16/20

Transparent sub-$110 Australian pricing and broad self-service availability support economical rollouts, but independently demonstrated payback and formal volume-discount evidence are lacking.

Trust16/20

Open SIP, confirmed Australian compliance and local distribution are strong, but a recent critical RCE and confusing official firmware guidance demand immediate patch verification.

What to know before buying

Warranty pathway

Grandstream's manufacturer warranty for non-GWN products is one year and applies to certified partners; end users must pursue replacement, repair or refund through the seller or certified partner, whose terms may vary.

A grey-market or poorly supported seller can make an otherwise inexpensive handset slower or harder to replace during a business outage.

Matters most to: Businesses buying marketplace stock, parallel imports or large fleets where replacement turnaround is operationally important. · Buy through an authorised Australian channel, obtain the seller's written warranty and RMA terms, and retain a spare handset for critical desks.

Local support accessibility

Direct manufacturer technical support is primarily ticket-based; telephone support is routed through certified installers or resellers. Australian distribution and reseller support exist, but Grandstream does not publish a dedicated general Australian manufacturer support line or after-hours SLA.

The reseller's capability and operating hours become important when a business needs urgent voice-system troubleshooting rather than next-business-day ticket support.

Matters most to: Businesses needing after-hours telephone escalation or guaranteed restoration targets for customer-facing calling. · Confirm the chosen Australian reseller's support hours, escalation path and restoration SLA before purchasing.

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Firmware security warning: the GXP1600 series (including the GXP1628) has a critical, publicly disclosed vulnerability, CVE-2026-2329, allowing unauthenticated remote code execution with root access on firmware before 1.0.7.81. A public exploit exists. Grandstream's own firmware download page was still serving the vulnerable 1.0.7.56 release as of August 2026, so do not assume a fresh unit ships patched. Before deploying or continuing to use this phone: check the firmware version in the web admin, update to 1.0.7.81 or later, and do not expose the phone's web admin interface to the public internet.

Who is this phone for?

The GXP1628 is aimed at budget-conscious deployments: businesses replacing analogue phones with VOIP for the first time, small offices that need a functional desk phone at the lowest per-seat cost, or large rollouts where per-unit cost is a controlling factor and basic functionality is sufficient. Two SIP accounts is enough for many individual desk-phone setups -- typically a primary number plus a second line for overflow or shared team calls, though needs vary by role. The 8 BLF keys are useful for monitoring a small number of colleagues or commonly-used speed dials, though they are not sufficient for a supervisory or operator role.
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Alternatives to consider: The GRP2602P is a newer-generation Grandstream phone and is generally the preferred option for new deployments as it represents current Grandstream architecture, though its Australian availability is limited and we are not currently quoting a price for it. If 12 SIP accounts and 8 BLF keys in the newer GRP Professional series is the target, step up to the GRP2634. For a Yealink equivalent at a similar price, the Yealink T31P offers 2 SIP, PoE, and a solid build.

Specs at a glance

SIP accounts 2
Screen 2.95" 132×48 backlit graphical LCD
PoE Yes (802.3af)
Wi-Fi No
Bluetooth No
BLF keys 8 programmable
Headset port RJ9
Ethernet Dual switched 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit ports (PC passthrough)
Codecs G.711μ/a, G.722 (HD), G.723.1, G.726-32, G.729 A/B, iLBC
SRTP / TLS Yes

Build quality and design

The GXP1628 uses the GXP Classic chassis -- a slightly older design than the current GRP series but a solid, professional-looking phone. The 132x48 backlit LCD screen is adequate for reading caller ID, call status, and contact information. The displays differ in size: 2.95 inches on the GXP1628, 2.4 inches on the GRP2602P, and 2.8 inches on the GRP2634. The 8 BLF keys are physical hardware keys with LED indicators. They can be configured as BLF monitors, speed dials, or line keys. For a basic staff phone with a few commonly-used speed dials or two or three extensions to monitor, 8 keys is workable. For supervisor or reception roles requiring more BLF capacity, step up to the GRP2636 or GRP2670. The Ethernet ports are Gigabit rather than the 100Mbps common at this price tier, a genuine advantage for a desk that relies on PC passthrough for a fast wired connection.

Call quality on Australian NBN

Despite being the entry-level model, the GXP1628 supports G.722 HD audio alongside the standard codec set (G.711, G.723, G.726-32, G.729A/B). HD call quality is achievable on well-configured NBN connections, which is an upgrade on the call quality delivered by the PSTN lines it typically replaces. Wired Ethernet provides consistent call quality. Disable SIP ALG on the router. The GXP1628 registers via standard SIP credentials; confirm compatibility and provisioning support with your chosen provider before purchase. Bulk deployment provisioning is available via Grandstream's legacy GAPS auto-provisioning system; the GXP1600 series is not yet supported by Grandstream's newer GDMS platform.

Features

The GXP1628 covers the essentials for a basic business desk phone:
  • 2 SIP accounts -- handles one primary number and one additional line. Sufficient for most individual staff positions.
  • 8 BLF keys -- programmable for BLF monitoring, speed dial, or line appearances. Useful for a small number of frequently-called extensions or contacts.
  • 132x48 backlit LCD screen -- caller ID, call history and contact display.
  • PoE powered -- single Ethernet cable handles both power and network. No mains adapter required.
  • G.722 HD audio -- HD codec support for clear call quality on compatible connections.
  • PC passthrough -- dual Gigabit Ethernet ports for single-cable-drop desks.
  • Grandstream GAPS provisioning -- legacy cloud-based configuration management for multi-unit deployments (GDMS does not yet support the GXP1600 series).

What works / What doesn't

Pros

  • ~$89 AUD -- one of the most affordable Gigabit-Ethernet VOIP phones in AU retail
  • PoE powered -- no mains adapter needed
  • Gigabit Ethernet ports, unusual for this price tier
  • G.722 HD audio support
  • 8 BLF keys sufficient for basic speed dial and monitoring
  • GAPS auto-provisioning for bulk deployments

Cons

  • GXP Classic platform -- older architecture than current GRP series
  • 2 SIP accounts only -- not suitable for multi-line roles
  • No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • GRP2602P (newer platform, similar price) is generally preferred for new deployments

Australian pricing and where to buy

The GXP1628 retails around $89 AUD from Australian ICT retailers and is also available on Amazon AU. Pricing on this page updates weekly from StaticICE AU data. Note: the Yealink T31P (~$79) is worth comparing before committing to the GXP1628, and the newer Grandstream GRP2602P is worth considering on platform grounds, although our nightly price tracking has recorded no current AU listing for it since April 2026 so we are not quoting a price. For new deployments, current-generation platforms are generally preferable.

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Verdict

The GXP1628 is a functional entry-level VOIP phone at a competitive price. It does the job for basic desk positions that need 2 SIP accounts, a colour screen, and PoE. For new deployments, however, the GRP2602P (newer architecture, often cheaper) or the Yealink T31P (equivalent price, current platform) are generally better starting points. The GXP1628 is most suitable for: existing Grandstream environments where the GXP Classic is already being used and consistency matters, or high-volume budget rollouts where the per-unit price justifies the older platform.

Frequently asked questions

The GXP1628 is one of the most affordable entry-level SIP phones available in Australia. Our best SIP desk phone Australia roundup positions the GXP1628 alongside the GRP2602P and Yealink T31P, so you can confirm which entry-level option gives you the best value for a cost-sensitive deployment.

Getting the most from the GXP1628 means pairing it with a cloud PBX that handles provisioning centrally. Our guide to the best VOIP phone system for small business in Australia covers Grandstream-compatible Australian hosted PBX options and what a full entry-level deployment costs for a small team.

New to IP phones or setting up a Grandstream GXP1628 for the first time? Our new IP phone setup guide covers VOIP provider selection, SIP credential entry, Ethernet connection, auto-provisioning, and troubleshooting the "Not Registered" display -- everything you need before making your first call.

How does the Grandstream GXP1628 compare to the GRP2602P?
The GRP2602P is a newer-generation Grandstream phone on the current GRP platform, but our nightly price tracking has recorded no current AU listing for it since April 2026, so the two cannot be compared on price today (the GXP1628 retails around $89 AUD). The GXP1628 has 2 SIP accounts and a 2.95" 132×48 backlit graphical LCD; the GRP2602P has 4 SIP accounts and a 2.4" 132×48 backlit graphical LCD. For new deployments, the GRP2602P is generally preferred as the current platform.
Does the Grandstream GXP1628 support PoE?
Yes. The GXP1628 is powered via PoE (802.3af) from any PoE-capable Ethernet switch. A power adapter is also included as an alternative.
Is the Grandstream GXP1628 compatible with Maxotel and other AU hosted PBX providers?
The GXP1628 supports standard SIP, but compatibility, provisioning support and available features should be confirmed with the chosen hosted PBX provider. The GXP1600 series is provisioned via Grandstream's legacy GAPS auto-provisioning system, not the newer GDMS platform.
What is the difference between the GXP1628 and GXP2170?
The GXP2170 has 12 lines and 6 SIP accounts, a 4.3" colour screen, 48 on-screen BLF/speed-dial keys, and Gigabit Ethernet -- it is the full operator-grade phone in the GXP Classic series. The GXP1628 has 2 SIP accounts, a 132x48 backlit LCD screen, 8 BLF keys, and Gigabit Ethernet. The GXP1628 is the entry position; the GXP2170 is for operators and power users.
How does the Grandstream GXP1628 compare to the Yealink T31P?
Both are entry-level 2 SIP account PoE phones at similar price points. The T31P has a 2.3" 132x64 backlit graphical LCD; the GXP1628 has a 2.95" 132x48 backlit graphical LCD. The T31P uses 100Mbps Ethernet; the GXP1628 uses Gigabit Ethernet. Choose based on brand preference and which provisioning system your IT setup handles more conveniently.

Not sure whether the GXP1628, GRP2602P, or T31P is right for your rollout?

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