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Rugged prepaid push-to-talk phone
- Rugged, military-certified design
- Easy-to-use keypad
- Clear, crisp voice quality
- Push-to-talk function
- Affordable price
- Small, low-resolution display
- No camera or music player
- Outdated interface
- Slow network speeds
The Motorola i335 is a rugged cell phone with a mission -- to make "clear calls a top priority," says Sascha Segan of PCMag.com. This candy-bar model is so durable that it meets certification to Military Standard 810, and while it is not waterproof or crushproof, it is resistant to dust, shock and vibrations. The i335 is a step-up from Boost Mobile's Motorola i290 (*est. $50) and Motorola i425t (*est. $30), particularly in exterior design. Although the i335 is about the same size -- it's 4.9 inches by 1.9 inches by 0.5 inches, and at 3.5 ounces slightly heavier than the i290 -- its shell, keypad and navigation keys are rubberized and brightly backlit in red, making for more secure handling, a tougher protective casing and easy visibility in adverse light conditions. As Segan says, "it's durable enough to throw across the room without having the back fly off."
Reviewers and users are unanimous that the i335 excels as a calling device but is otherwise a simple, no-frills phone. Great voice clarity and a loud speakerphone with voice-activated dialing are its forte, and unlike the i290 and i425, it is Bluetooth-capable. As with other Nextel and Boost devices, it has push-to-talk functionality supported by the older iDEN network, which doesn't extend coverage to rural areas and is slower than the 3G network for Internet access and data transfer. The i335 includes text messaging, instant messaging, a receive-only mode for picture messages and a 600-entry phone book. While the i335 comes equipped with a 2.5 mm headjack, it does not have a camera, media player or memory card slot, and its tiny 1.5-inch display has a low 130-by-130-pixel resolution. The mediocre WAP web browser is, by InfoSync standards, "an afterthought," and when teamed with the slow iDEN network and outdated, scroll-happy user interface, downloading games, wallpaper and ringtones can limp along. Still, when it comes to delivering reliable calls and surviving the elements, the i335 marches along. As several PhoneScoop.com users note, the i335 is a great alternative for anyone wanting the durability of a flip-phone in a candy bar design, and they consider it one of the best phones in Boost's lineup besides the Motorola i776.
Detailed reviews from PCMag.com and CNET give the i335 a cursory comparison to other Nextel and Boost Motorola products, while InfoSync offers a standalone assessment. User reviews from CNET and PhoneScoop.com help show how the i335 fares with extensive use.
Our Sources
1. PCMag.com
The rugged durability of the Motorola i335 wins over Segan, who considers it "a simple, almost perfect voice phone that makes clear calls a top priority." Setbacks include the outdated, scroll-heavy user interface, slight background hiss behind calls and iDEN network limitations.
Review: Motorola i335 (Boost Mobile), Sascha Segan, March 16, 2009
2. CNET
In his review of the Motorola i335, German concludes that this durable cell phone is by no means showy or exciting, and it suffers from a dim display and thin navigation keys. But overall, it provides superior call quality and a decent feature set.
Review: Motorola i335 (Boost Mobile), Kent German, March 16, 2007
3. CNET
More than 20 users share their opinions about the Motorola i335. Like other experts and users, they like the rugged design and durability, with one describing it as "bulletproof," while another calls it "the Swiss army knife of cell phones." However, some owners cite problems with the iDEN network, user interface and customer service.
Review: Motorola i335 (Nextel), Contributors to CNET
"The i335 is a solid, if uninspiring option," says Ruiz. He describes the clumsy web browser as an "afterthought" and determines that the i335 is completely useless as an Internet device. Otherwise, the phone scores hits for its rugged design and call quality.
Review: Review: Motorola i335 rugged phone, Matthew Ruiz, March 6, 2008
About a dozen users post their comments about the Motorola i335. Strong points include the lightweight, rugged design to military specifications, push to talk, Bluetooth and great call clarity. Customer service and lack of compatible Nextel accessories are among the complaints.
Review: Motorola i335, Contributors to PhoneScoop.com
