Best Phones for Microsoft Teams Australia: Desk Phones That Actually Work

Two Types of Teams-Compatible Phones

Before choosing a phone, you need to understand which type of Teams Phone deployment you are running. This determines which phones will work for you.

Teams-Certified Phones (Teams Mode)

Teams-certified phones run native Microsoft Teams firmware and are managed through the Microsoft Teams Admin Centre. They look and behave like Teams on a dedicated device: you see your Teams contacts, presence status, and calls within the Teams interface on the handset. These phones require a Microsoft Teams Phone licence on the user's account.

Teams-certified phones work with both Microsoft Calling Plans and Direct Routing configurations. Direct Routing is a method of connecting a Teams Phone environment to the public telephone network via an external SIP trunk provider, rather than through Microsoft's own calling infrastructure. Think of Direct Routing as your own phone line feeding into Teams, rather than buying line capacity directly from Microsoft.

Standard SIP Phones on a Direct Routing Setup

If your business uses Direct Routing through an AU VOIP provider (such as Maxotel providing SIP trunks into a Teams environment), a standard SIP phone registered to the same provider's hosted PBX can sit alongside Teams on the same phone system. The SIP phone does not run Teams firmware and does not show the Teams interface. It behaves as a standard VOIP desk phone making and receiving calls via the AU provider's platform, which connects to Teams.

This is a common configuration for businesses that want some staff on Teams softphone (laptop or mobile) and others on physical desk phones without needing a Teams licence per handset. Confirm with your AU VOIP provider how their Direct Routing integration handles desk phone registration before purchasing.

Teams-Certified Phones Available in Australia

Yealink MP Series (Teams-Native)

Yealink's MP series are purpose-built Teams phones running native Teams firmware. They are the most widely deployed Teams-certified desk phones in the Australian market, carried by major IT distributors and VOIP resellers. The current range covers entry through executive positions.

Yealink MP54 is the entry-level Teams phone with a colour display, Teams button, and speakerphone. AU pricing approximately $220 to $260. Suitable for standard office positions and shared desks. Yealink MP56 adds a larger display and improved audio. AU pricing approximately $280 to $320. The Yealink MP58 is the premium model with a high-resolution colour touchscreen and USB-A and USB-C ports. AU pricing approximately $360 to $420. For executive and reception positions where a larger screen is useful, the MP58 is the practical choice.

Yealink T58W Pro with Teams

The Yealink T58W Pro is a premium desk phone with a large Android-based touchscreen that can run either SIP firmware or Teams firmware. In Teams mode it functions as a certified Teams phone. AU pricing approximately $420 to $480. This is the most capable Yealink desk phone for Teams and suits executive or reception positions where screen real estate and call management features are used heavily.

AudioCodes C470HD

AudioCodes is an Israeli network communications company with a well-regarded range of Teams-certified phones. The C470HD is a colour touchscreen phone with built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, Teams-certified, and available through AU IT distributors. AU pricing approximately $380 to $450. AudioCodes phones are less common in the AU SMB market than Yealink but are a legitimate alternative, particularly in environments already using AudioCodes network hardware.

Poly CCX Series (Teams-Certified)

Poly's CCX series are Teams-certified phones designed to replace the VVX range for Teams deployments. The CCX 400 and CCX 500 cover standard office positions; the CCX 600 and CCX 700 are executive models. Poly CCX phones are available through AU IT distributors. AU pricing starts at approximately $250 for the CCX 400 and reaches $500 to $600 for the CCX 700. Poly's audio heritage (through the Polycom lineage) makes the CCX series a strong choice for reception positions where call quality is a priority.

Comparison: Which Teams Phone for Which Role

Does Your Teams Setup Affect Which Phone You Buy?

Yes. If you are using Microsoft Calling Plans. Where Microsoft provides your phone lines directly. You need a Teams-certified phone. Standard SIP phones will not register to a Microsoft Calling Plan directly.

If you are using Direct Routing through an AU VOIP provider, you have more flexibility. A Teams-certified phone in Teams mode will work. A standard SIP phone registered to your AU provider's PBX (a private branch exchange. The system routing your calls) will also work alongside the Teams environment, without needing Teams firmware on the handset.

For the full breakdown of Microsoft Calling Plans vs Direct Routing vs Operator Connect in the Australian context, see our Teams Direct Routing vs Calling Plans guide. For overall Teams Phone pricing in Australia, see our Teams Phone pricing guide.

What Teams Mode Means on a Phone

A phone in Teams mode runs the Microsoft Teams application as its operating system interface rather than a generic SIP phone firmware. When you pick up the handset, you see the Teams interface. You sign in with your Microsoft 365 account. Calls, presence, voicemail, and contacts all sync with your Teams tenant. The phone is managed from the Microsoft Teams Admin Centre, not from the VOIP provider's portal.

A phone in SIP mode runs standard VOIP firmware and connects to a VOIP provider via SIP credentials. It does not show the Teams interface. It makes and receives calls through the provider's phone system. Some phones (like the Yealink T58W Pro) support both modes and can be switched between them, but cannot run both simultaneously.

What Most Businesses Get Wrong

The most common mistake is buying Teams-certified phones without confirming the Teams Phone licence is in place. Teams-certified phones require a Teams Phone licence (previously called Phone System add-on) on each user account in addition to their Microsoft 365 subscription. Without the licence, the phone will not register to Teams. Check your Microsoft 365 licensing before purchasing hardware.

The second mistake is buying Teams-mode phones for a Direct Routing setup where standard SIP phones on the provider's platform would have been simpler and cheaper. Confirm with your AU VOIP provider what they recommend for desk phone hardware in a Direct Routing configuration before purchasing.

The third mistake is buying standard SIP phones expecting them to show the Teams interface. They will not. A standard Yealink T46U or Grandstream GRP2634 will make VOIP calls via a SIP provider but will not display Teams contacts, presence, or call history. If you want the Teams experience on a physical handset, you need a Teams-certified model.

Your Next Steps

Confirm whether you are running Microsoft Calling Plans or Direct Routing. For Calling Plans: choose from the Teams-certified models above matching the role. For Direct Routing: ask your AU VOIP provider whether they recommend Teams-certified phones or standard SIP phones for desk use on their platform.

For general Microsoft Teams Phone guidance, see our Microsoft Teams Phone System Australia guide. For a comparison of Teams Phone against a standard hosted VOIP platform, see Teams Phone vs Hosted VOIP.