Product ReviewsSamsung Rugby - 256 MB - Black (AT&T)

Great Phone for Basic Use

For what this phone has as far as features it is a great phone. Long battery life. Hardly need to charge it. I bought it because I wasn't getting the full use out of my smartphone. I love the size of this phone. It feels good in your hands and it's NOT one of those small flip phones where everything is so small you can't see what you're doing. It's great for what it was built for. It even has WiFi and other features that I still don't know how to use (the smartphone is better for such things in my opinion), but I didn't buy it for the extra features. I wanted a simple phone to mostly talk and text (but texting is so difficult for me on these kinds of phones as compared to smartphones, which I've gotten used to as far as texting). If you're looking for something that is rugged enough to use outside and/or in places where you might drop your phone, then this is a great phone for you. And if you're like me where you have difficulty figuring out how to use your smartphone and basically end up using it to make calls or text, then it's a great phone in that respect. I'm sure my review may not be very helpful for most people, because I'm not one who is able to keep up with the technology. It's all confusing to me. It is well-priced however and worth it if it's what you're looking for.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: quickshipelectr...

Poor Documentation

Although the phone has many features, learning how to use those features is very difficult. The Us&r Guide is foo little help. The only help that seems to know what to do is Samsung Advanced Technical Services. AT&T tech support wasn't helpful. There are tutorials available for most of the functions but nowhere were they referenced.. A novice with cell phones would be lost.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: quickshipelectr...

One Rough, Tough Phone

I am sick of phones that are built around planned obsolescence, which almost all of them seem to be these days. When I want to trade in my phone, I want to trade it in because there are new features in the newer phones that interest me, not because the cell phone carrier has told the cell phone manufacturer that it should design its phones to break right at the two year mark so as to force me to up my contract. Recharger ports seem to be a prime contender in this department.

The Samsung Rugby is not an elegant phone, and by now it is well behind the curve technologicially. It's a phone, with what used to be the standard kind of cell phone features - camera, camcorder, Internet access (basic), etc. But what drew me to it is that you never have to worry about it slipping out of your hand, hitting the pavement, and bye-bye phone. No, this phone practically bounces off the pavement back into your hand, none the worse for wear. The charger port seems very solid. The speakerphone is LOUD, although it does cut out at times at the beginning of words, but that's a small price to pay for someone (me) who is getting hard of hearing. I have never heard a better speakerphone in a cell phone. I don't use the PTT function, so I don't know how that works. Battery life is astonishingly good for a cell phone (several hours of talk time), and I bought my cell phone used! The only reason I didn't rate my phone excellent instead of good is that there are a number of annoying menu issues and programs that AT&T is trying to sell you on that I didn't want, so it's a lot of junk taking up space, but these are minor quibbles.

This phone reminds me of my pickup truck -- good reliable transportation, nothing elegant, but something that I'm probably going to get at least 200,000 miles from without a lot of muss or fuss. And no teenager is going to want to steal it, cause it aint QWERTY, and the only touch screen part about it is when you rub your thumb across the screen to clean it off. That's fine with me.Read full review...

I don't like the GPS, the goobermint knows where I am 24/7.

Actually I have not used it - I got one two days later from AT&T it is a Rugby II. I didn't realize the one I got on ebay was just a Rugby / Rugby I. I previously had a 9 year old Nokia without a camera or Internet capability - so that is an improvement. AT&T took over Alltel and phased out all the old phones with out a smart chip / GPS - I didn't want the GPS capable unit, I didn't want the goobermint to know where I was every minute of the day. One of Osama bin Laden's Lieutenants had Osama's phone, at which a Tomahawk missile was fired and I presume they hit the phone. The battery lasts longer, that is good, the camera is good, internet capable is good. I bought the unit because AT&T sent me a slider instead of the Rugby - Twice. I had a choice of 5 phones, I asked which one was built the best? They said the Rugby - that is the one I want - without looking at any of them, they said they were all about the same. I have been hearing about a lot of garbage phone companies have been putting out, phones only lasting about a year = garbage to me. So now I have a spare.?!Read full review...

(good cell for the money .you need to read the manual!)

Hello: I brought this SGH-a837 rugby cell because I,m in the contracting industry. ATT tells me this is one of there most durable cells thy Carrie. it features ,ptt,camera,GPS,3G,. Shock proof,drops dust water?. the reception is not as great as one think with it,s military spec,you would think you would get calls all most any place.the buttons on the side for speaker phone and volume are easy too operate. you need to be teck savy. you must read the manual. or this phone can be difficult to use. long battery life.good feel.(good cell for the money) .but it,s not the ((motorla tundra built strong to last long))Read full review...

Good Solid Rugged Phone for Adverse Conditions

I'm an IT Technician. I leave my work at the office when I can. I do not like nor want any kind of SmartPhone. My wife and I both enjoy living life and don't wander around with our noses stuck in our phones. We don't text or connect to the internet with mobile devices. We don't pay some mobile carrier for a data package to tune out the world around us. The Samsung Rugby is the phone for us. We enjoy having a phone that we don't have to worry about dropping or getting wet. Most phones today are designed to break or be disposable. Not the Rugby. It's perfect for working or having fun outdoors. It's moderately priced and holds a charge longer than the Motorola Tundra. Reception is pretty decent on it too. It's even better the the Rugby II, because the Push-To-Talk button on the side is less obtrusive on the original Rugby. BTW, you can only disable the Push-To-Talk button by cutting a pin under the button. That is something Samsung needs to improve. The Rugby is a military spec certified phone. It can be ran over by a truck and still work, but I would only recommend getting Zagg invisibleSHIELD's to protect the screens from getting scratched or cracked. Also I would recommend buying a separate GPS device for that service. I honestly do not want to pay a monthly fee for a service that can be provided for free. If you want a reliable no-frills phone that will last you a few years then consider this one. Check out YouTube for clips of all the torture tests the Samsung Rugby can take!Read full review...

Samsung Rugby III SGH-A997 AT&T model

This review is for Samsung Rugby III SGH-A997 AT&T model. Overall, great flip phone. Two problems are the battery cover comes loose if you ever drop it. I guess that is why it has the extra latch, but this latch does not really help.

Second problem is the Main 4 way selector. The activated button zones are too small and recessed slightly for some reason. Something about it makes it difficult to make selections accurately, so a lot of miss-hits and going back to correct where you actually wanted to go.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: rad_comics_and_...

Great rugged phone, good features

My wife isn't very gentle with electronics, so after breaking a series of cellphones such as the Motorola EM330, I got her this one, as it's certified to military specs and should be hard to break! It was a choice between this and the Motorola Tundra, and we went for this as its size and shape seemed more manageable. First of all, if you're looking for a slim phone for tight jeans, this isn't it! It's rugged, so its chunky! But, features are great - call quality is good, photo quality is surprisingly good, bluetooth is seamless, bluetooth supports stereo music streaming, built-in music player is good and supports lots of formats, screen is a little small but very bright and clear, the text size of numbers being dialed is adjustable (if you are long-sighted). Overall a good buy, if perhaps slightly expensive.Read full review...

Samsung Rugby SGH-A837 AT&T

This is an all around good phone. Love all the features and the way the phone feels on the outside of it. I have no problems with none of the functions or how it uses nor it's services. It sure could be louder cause I love loud and VERY durable phones!!!!! I don't care for the PTT button at all though. It's plum aggravating. It is a durable phone but this is my second one because it DID break like my Motorola 375V, in which I loved to, right in the HINGE! I had a case that fit over it but it didn't fit over the hinge. So don't drop it cause that's what happened to mine. It's not as tuff as everyone thinks or how it's been advertised, because if caught just right, the hinge will crack or break like mine. I still highly recommend the phone cause it is more durable than most phones but it is possible for it to BREAK in the HINGE. So don't be so rough with it like everyone suggest. Just take care of it cause that's what I plan to do with my second Rugby. With flip phones you have to open and close it like a laptop, very gently. And, don't drop it or let anyone throw it. It is waterproof and gets great reception. Just don't drop it.Read full review...

Rugged, functional, with only a couple annoyances.

Rugged and durable, the phone's ports are sealed from weather.
It's possible that this phone could be dropped in water and survive quite well.
It includes some organizational programs, but their functionality is limited; one cannot enter a note without also typing in a title for it; changing ringer settings requires several clicks through settings; the Push To Talk (PTT) button, as well as the speakerphone buttons often accidentally get pressed; the keys are small.
Not requiring a data plan, this phone is an affordable and functional option for those wishing to save money from smartphones, and also for those needing a phone for heavy use and weather.Read full review...

tough phone

I bought the Samsung A837 Rugby off of Ebay my AT&T phone broke and I wanted to upgrade. Of course if your not due an upgrade the phones are astrinomical. I was happy with my purchase. I'm a little disappointed that all the features such as push to talk are an extra on the plan as is GPS which are all the features you want to buy this phone for in the first place.
The sound has been clear and it takes pretty good pictures, . I tried going on the internet for a manuel but haven't had much luck.Read full review...