Poly CS540 vs Savi 8245: DECT Headsets Compared

Both the Poly CS540 and the Poly Savi 8245 are DECT wireless headsets from the same family, and both are office favourites, but they're built for different jobs. The CS540 is the lightweight desk-phone classic; the Savi 8245 is the flexible, multi-device powerhouse. Here's how they stack up so you can choose the right one, and pick it up refurbished.

Quick verdict

If you only need to connect to a desk phone and want the lightest possible all-day headset, the CS540 is the simpler, leaner choice. If you switch between a computer, desk phone and mobile, want unlimited talk time and a choice of wearing styles, the Savi 8245 is the more capable option. Both are available Certified Renewed, which makes either one a smart buy.

Connection and compatibility

The CS540 is a focused DECT headset designed primarily to connect to a desk phone (often paired with a handset lifter or EHS cable for remote answering). It does that one job extremely well. The Savi 8245 is a three-way headset: it bridges your PC, desk phone and mobile, letting you take and switch calls across all three from one device. It ships in UC and Microsoft-certified variants, so it slots neatly into softphone-first offices in a way the CS540 isn't designed for.

Comfort and wearing styles

The CS540 is famously light, around 21 grams on the head, and it's convertible, shipping with headband, earhook and behind-the-neck options so each user can pick what suits them. The Savi 8245 is also a convertible, 3-in-1 design at a similar lightweight figure, but with a more substantial earpiece and boom. Both are comfortable for full days; the CS540 just edges it on sheer barely-there feel, while the Savi feels a touch more robust.

Microphone and audio

Both use noise-cancelling microphones on flexible boom arms to keep your voice clear and reduce background noise. The Savi 8245 goes further on audio range, offering wideband voice plus a wider multimedia frequency response for music and media, which suits people who also listen to content at their PC. The CS540 is tuned for clear voice calls and does that job cleanly, but it's a call-first device rather than a media headset.

Battery and range

The CS540 delivers up to around 7 hours of talk time and up to roughly 350 feet of range, with an adaptive power system that balances range against battery life. The Savi 8245 also gets about 7 hours per battery, but the UC version ships with two hot-swappable batteries, so you can drop in a charged cell and effectively get unlimited talk time across a long shift. On range, the Savi 8245 reaches further, up to around 590 feet line-of-sight (about 180 feet in a typical office). For roaming-heavy roles, the Savi pulls ahead. Check each product page for exact figures on the unit you're buying.

Price

New, the Savi 8245 typically costs more than the CS540, reflecting its extra connectivity and hot-swap battery system. Bought Certified Renewed, both drop substantially in price, so the gap narrows and you can choose based on features rather than budget alone.

Who should pick which

• Choose the Poly CS540 if: you connect mainly to a desk phone, want the lightest headset possible, and value simplicity over multi-device flexibility.
• Choose the Poly Savi 8245 if: you juggle PC, desk phone and mobile, want unlimited talk time via hot-swap batteries, need longer range, or run a softphone-first or Teams office.

Both available refurbished

Whichever you choose, buying it Certified Renewed is the value play. Every unit in our refurbished Poly headsets range is professionally tested, cleaned and inspected, fitted with a new battery where needed, finished to Grade A cosmetics, and backed by a 1-year warranty. Since the battery is the part that ages on any wireless headset, a renewed CS540 or Savi 8245 with a fresh cell performs like new where it counts. If a desk phone is central to your setup, compare both within our wider range of desk phone headsets and pick the one that fits how you actually work.