Review: Hands-On with the TELUS Motorola Mike Brute i680

Some time ago TELUS (NYSE: TU) shipped me one of their Motorola Mike Brute i680 devices. It’s a ruggedized device that is Military Spec certified against things like rain, shock, salt, fog and more, this bad-boy is indeed, a BRUTE. A grey rubberized coating adds to the toughness of this rough little flip phone. After having spent some time with it I’d like to share my thoughts with you. Is it really that TOUGH? Will it take a beating? How about size, is the thing just too big? Keep reading after the jump for all the details.

What’s in the Box

Want to take a quick look inside the box? Let’s do that. Below is a look at what you’ll find in the TELUS Mike Brute i680 packaging:

* Of course, first is the i680 handset
* wall plug-in charger
* 1 extra capacity battery with battery cover
* 1 holster/belt clip
* 64k Mike Smart Card package
* a quickstart guide

One important thing to note… Out of the box the battery and battery cover are NOT installed. You’ll need to insert your SIM, then your battery, and THEN the battery cover to get started. But before you power up, it’s probably a good idea to charge-up your battery for the first time as well.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

* Definitely rugged, can withstand almost anything you throw at it
* Rubberized shell feels nice in the hand
* Flip form factor definitely a plus

Cons:

* It is a tad heavy (not a huge deal)
* Light on features
* Would liked to have seen a 3.5mm headset jack

Key Spec Breakdown

Here’s a quick look at the Mike Brute i680 by the numbers:

Antenna: Internal
Dimensions: 3.92″ x 2.09″ x 1.02″
Headset Jack: 2.5mm
Form Factor: Flip/Clamshell
Side Keys: Yes
Weight: 160 grams
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Battery Talk Time: 5.8 hrs
Primary Internal Display: 176×220 (2.2″)
Secondary External Display: 120×160 (1.3″)
Camera: 2.0MP, with video capture, self-timer, geo-tagging, white balance, exposure and LED Flash
GPS: Yes
Media Player: Yes, MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV, MP4 and more (complete listing below!)
Bluetooth: 2.1 + EDR
Java Apps: Yes
Memory Card Slot: microSD
USB Port: Yes (microUSB)
Web Browser: Yes
Phone Book: Yes, 1200 contact capacity
Push-to-Talk (PTT): Yes