Review: Samsung Rugby III
Wait a second. The IT Nerd is reviewing a phone that is only a phone? Yes. The question is why would I do that. Simple. For some people out there, it’s more important to have a quality phone rather than a phone that allows users to Instagram their local hangout or update their Facebook status. The Samsung Rugby III is such a phone. What sets it apart is the fact that this phone is designed to be water resistant, shock resistant and dust proof and it’s designed to meet military specs. Seeing as this wasn’t my phone, I wasn’t going to try dropping it or putting it in water. But picking it up, you can tell that it’s designed to be tough. The phone is extremely solid in terms of feel. For example the hinge (as this is a clamshell type phone) is overbuilt to resist torque. Buttons are clearly designed to have purposeful clicks without letting in water and dust. That makes this phone ideal for construction sites and extreme environments.
The phone itself is an 3G HSPA phone which maxes out at 7.2 Mbps. I couldn’t confirm that, but it did feel fast when I was using the built in web browser. It includes voice control provided by Nuance that worked quite well. One feature that was welcome was noise cancellation to ensure clear conversations. When I tested this, it worked as well as my BlueAnt Bluetooth headset which is excellent at what it does. The audio that I was listening to was crystal clear. So the Rugby III is keeping some very good company when it comes to audio quality. Besides bluetooth, there’s a 3MP camera. Okay, it’s not the top end in terms of camera on phones, but it did take decent photos. Keep in mind that the users of this phone aren’t interested high resolution photos. It also allows you to pop a 32 GB MicroSD card so you can pop your music onto the phone. After all, even those who work in demanding environments need a break from time to time.
This phone is going to appeal to a very limited market. Which is fine by Telus as they have solutions for mobile workforces which includes Fleet Complete which allows companies to track workers, assets and vehicles in real time while gathering information from the field to help improve operating efficiencies and drive operating efficiencies and enhance customer service.
The Rugby III is a quality phone for those who need a phone that will take the hits and keep coming back for more. If you’re a construction worker or someone who needs a phone that is a very rugged phone and nothing more than a phone, this is your phone. IF you need a phone that is tough and allows you to update your Facebook status, there’s always the Rugby LTE that runs Google Android, which Telus also carries.
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