Nextel i580 Review

A quick glimpse of the Nextel i580 gives you an impression that this phone was built not just for everyday calls but for use in even the harshest conditions. Built to endure even the most difficult environments the handset comes with some great additions such as a 1.3 megapixel shooter, MP3 player and a microSD slot for holding tons of music tracks and images.

Say the word “rugged” and Nextel’s name immediately pops up. Coming in its familiar clamshell design and antennae, the Nextel i580 is another welcome addition to Nextel’s lineup of hardworking handsets. The i580 is a no-nonsense, unpretentious cellphone. There are no cosmetic highlights to catch your eyes but beauty comes in its simple and sturdy structure.

Everything in the phone was designed for the single purpose of making it survive any working condition you put it through. The phone is wrapped in rubber and a two-toned gray exterior highlights its ruggedness. Tradeoff for this however is its inability to fit in below average sized pockets. The phone is big and bulky which was designed for function rather than fashion.

External display is microscopic monochrome screen which displays 96x32 pixels. Like anything on the phone, the front screen displays only important information such as signal strength, date, battery life, caller ID and time. The phones camera and flash is also conveniently located at the front panel. A self-portrait mirror is located beside the camera. Keys and buttons are finished in rubber for better grip and solid handling.

Flipping the phone open displays a 1.8 in screen that splashes you with 262,000 colors. This is quite surprising from a phone which at first glance would give you an impression that it was meant for anything but pleasure. The phones ironic display does not end here however. Menus and icons are also animated for easier viewing. Images and videos are also displayed quite vividly with colors showing great degrees of contrast.

A four-way toggle is located immediately below the internal display. The four-way toggle also doubles as a shortcut for frequently used applications. An okay button is conveniently located at the center of the toggle. Two soft keys, camera button, and talk and end keys surround the four-way toggle button. Keys are spaced out for easy access and phone dialing.

The Nextel i580 diversifies its standard features by offering a camera with the phone. The shooter is a 1.3 megapixel camera that takes six different resolutions. Image capture options include flash, 4x digital zoom, and self-timer. Camera also functions as a camcorder and captures videos in two different resolutions. Video clips however were subpar and appeared pixilated at times. MMS clips could be recorded for 15 seconds and quality setting for video was similar to image capture.

Multimedia experience remains basic and a lackluster MP3 player comes with the phone. Music interface is basic with display options like artist and song title. Music quality control comes from basic equalizer settings. The memory card provides an excellent way of storing your favorite music tracks and videos. The multimedia features are also a fresh addition to the Nextel lineup of rugged phones.

One area the Nextel i580 stands out is its communication features. Phonebook storage allows 600 contacts with each contact detail containing 7 phone numbers, email address, IP address and Direct Connect Number. Standard features in clued support for MMS and SMS, voice dialing, email support, memo recording, speakerphones and onboard GPS.

Wireless connectivity is enhanced with Bluetooth functions. Using Bluetooth headsets and connecting to other Bluetooth devices was a breeze and added another dimension to its capabilities. A PTT (Push-To-Talk) function made communicating with 20 people simultaneously was a great. Direct talk which functions as a two-way radio made short range communications inexpensive.

Maintaining two phone numbers is also a great addition to the Nextel i580. This is great for people who want to keep two separate lines for home and business. Keeping track of business and personal calls is easy with options for assigning separate ringtones for each number.

The i580 is not just one of your run-of-the-mill handsets from Nextel. It comes with the solid features and rugged design from Nextel but adds a drop of fun in the package. For people who are looking for a cellphone that could pass for personal and business phone the Nextel i580 is a great addition to the rugged phone market.

The Nextel I580 is a rugged camera phone that is the first rain resistant clam-style phone. The handset is also dust, shock and vibration resistant.