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Inexpensive yet rugged push-to-talk flip phone
- Rugged clamshell design
- Meets military durability specifications
- Plenty of push-to-talk features
- Bluetooth, GPS included
- Tiny low-resolution display
- No camera or music player
- Slow push-to-talk network
"I've tried other rugged phones but this one takes the cake!" boasts one Motorola i576 owner at PhoneScoop.com, reflecting the sentiments of fellow users and CNET reviewer Kent German. Like its simpler cousin, the Motorola i335 (*est. $60), and its candy-bar fraternal twin, the Motorola i365 (*est. $40), this rugged clamshell push-to-talk phone meets military standards for withstanding the elements -- everything from dust, shock and vibration to solar radiation, low pressure and extreme temperatures -- although the Casio GzOne Boulder wins in the waterproofing division. With its shell wrapped in rubber siding, the Motorola i576 measures 3.46 inches by 2.1 inches by 1.1 inches and tips the scale at 4.3 ounces, making it slightly smaller and lighter than the hefty Motorola i850. While rival devices don't need to go far to outdo the Motorola i576's small display screen and tiny print, once the phone is flipped open, it delivers a backlit and roomy keypad supported by predictive text entry along with spacious and tactile navigation controls. Unfortunately, not as much real estate is devoted to the 1.75-inch, 128-by-160-pixel internal display, which one user describes as "horrible at best." Likewise, the flimsy extendable stub antenna gets panned.
On the communications front, Sprint Nextel's support makes this phone a chatter bug, even though it taps into the slower iDEN network. The Motorola i576 wins accolades from users and reviewers for its exceptional call reliability and voice quality. Push-to-talk features also abound, including the ability to chat with up to 20 friends at once. Second-line services allow users two phone numbers, a convenient way to manage a business and personal line on one device. Additional features include Bluetooth, GPS, web access, email, text and multimedia messaging, a 600-entry phone book, call forwarding, voice recorder, voice dialing, speakerphone, 2.5 mm headset jack, plus downloadable ringtones, wallpaper and Java applications such as games. A camera and music player, however, are not on the docket. While some users lament this absence, the Motorola i576 targets the workplace versus the playground. As German sums up, "Nextel phones mean business, and business only.
CNET provides an in-depth standalone review of the Motorola i576, while user reviews from CNET and PhoneScoop.com help to show how the device fares with ongoing use.
Our Sources
1. CNET
"It's not glamorous, but it works," says German in regards to the rugged Motorola i576 phone. The easy-to-use phone scores for great audio quality, plenty of push-to-talk features, GPS and Bluetooth, although the tiny, low-resolution displays and flimsy expandable antenna fall short of the mark.
Review: Motorola i576 -- Black (Sprint), Kent German, Dec. 19, 2008
2. CNET
Several Motorola i576 owners share their opinions about the push-to-talk device. Overall, they like its design, good call quality and Bluetooth. One user considers it an upgrade from the Motorola i580.
Review: Motorola i576 -- Black (Sprint), Contributors to CNET
A handful of users weigh in on the i576, praising its rugged design (which meets military specifications), long battery life, Bluetooth and GPS functionality. The internal display, however, doesn't fare as well, with one user pegging the screen as "horrible at best."
Review: Motorola i576, Contributors to PhoneScoop.com
