The Nextel i580 sets a new standard for Nextel, bringing together maximal features and rock-solid durability. Sure, you’ll pay extra for that. If all you need is a purely voice-oriented rugged phone, the i355 will certainly suffice. But the i580’s combination of features and ruggedness is simply unmatched, making it our new Editors’ Choice for rugged phones.

All in all, I wouldn’t say that I was disappointed with the Motorola i580, per se, but it just isn’t for me. The media functions are there, but cumbersome (or crippled); the menu is a little obscure and could use some cleaning up; the mobile web and email functions are okay, but can suffer from considerable lag (that’s probably due more to the network than the phone itself); the camera is quite good though.

Calling the Motorola i580 the Hummer of cell phones is an understatement, as this rough-and-tough clamshell took quite a beating during our tests with no sign of distress. The i580 also backs up its impressive reinforced look with a plethora of calling features, including push to talk, direct-talk, group walkie-talkie, Bluetooth, three-way calling and a speakerphone. However, we were disappointed by the phone’s sub-par talk time, while messaging capabilities are average at best.