We tested the Boost-branded i335. In case you're not familiar with Boost Mobile, it's Sprint's prepaid system. Boost runs on the old Nextel network (now owned by Sprint), which is nationwide but focuses on major cities and Interstate highway corridors, not rural areas. However, the network uses the iDen technology, making it incompatible with non-Nextel phones. iDen allows for easy walkie-talkie connections—that famous Nextel "chirp"—but suffers from very slow Internet data speeds compared with modern 3G networks.
The 3.7-ounce i335 is a slim, stylish, and semi-rugged candy-bar–style phone that measures 4.7 by 1.8 by 0.5 inches (HWD). Although this phone isn't waterproof and won't withstand serious damage, it's durable enough to throw across the room without having the back fly off. The front of the handset feels slightly rubbery, and the back is textured, making it unusually comfortable to hold. You get bumpy, red-backlit keys that are not fully separated; a four-way cursor pad with a big OK button; and a 130-by-130-pixel color LCD. Volume controls, a Push-to-Talk (PTT) button, the 2.5mm headphone jack, and a convenient mini USB charging port all reside on the sides of the phone.
On my tests, calls sounded sharp, though there was a slight background hiss. The speakerphone, which is also used for Boost/Nextel walkie-talkie calls, was loud and very clear, as were ringtones. The i335 has a jack for a 2.5mm wired headset, and the phone auto-paired with our Motorola H15 Bluetooth headset without a problem. Voice dialing is limited to recording your own voice tags. I managed nearly 5 hours of talk time on a battery life test, which isn't bad.
Beyond chatting, the i335 can send and receive text messages. It can receive picture messages, but it doesn't support video messaging. You can play basic games and run Boost's GPS-based social-networking services, Loopt and Hookt. It even supports GPS navigation with a Telmap-based solution, but given the tiny screen and extremely slow Internet connection, I wouldn't recommend using the feature that often. There's no camera, memory card slot, or media player here.
My major complaint with the i335 is the dated Nextel user interface. While it might have been state of the art in 2002, today it's clunky, difficult, and inconvenient, forcing you to click on various links labeled "More" when most phones just let you scroll.
If you're looking for a super-simple voice phone to use with Boost Mobile's unlimited $50-per-month calling plan, look no further than the Motorola i335. For Sprint we still prefer the Sanyo PRO 200, which has a better user interface and connects to Sprint's much faster EV-DO data network. But the i335 is a solid, reliable, and pleasingly loud voice phone that should provide many happy hours of chat.
Spec Data* Price as Tested: $39.99 - $59.99 List
* Service Provider: Boost
* Operating System: Other
* Screen Size: 1.5 inches
* Screen Details: 130x130 TFT LCD screen
* Camera: No
* 802.11x: No
* Bluetooth: Yes
* Web Browser: No
* Network: iDen
* Bands: 800
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