MobilePhones.org.uk is taking a stroll down Memory Lane with this flip phone highlight today, not because there are no newer models but simply because we like this clamshell mobile phone – did then, still do. So we are (re-)introducing the Samsung Rugby II, first released in June 2010.

Note that although this mobile phone is roughly 18 months old, it still compares rather well against newer models.

Overview

The Samsung brand has a loyal following, many of whom first considered mobile phones from this manufacturer because of its high reputation as an electronics giant. Fortunately, for Samsung, they carry the same standard into this still-terrific mobile phone, the Rugby II.

What first caught our eye in the Rugby line was, of course, the line’s name. We’re in England, remember, and anything rugby catches at least a glance or two, despite what we’re otherwise doing.

The smart appearance kept our attention. Digital faces on the exterior display prevent confusion between post-sunset and pre-sunrise, for the digital clock provides that AM/PM designation at a glance, regardless of your immediate environment. The larger print on the date stamp certainly doesn’t injure egos either.

Without going into a three-line specs review, the main attributes of this mobile phone are below.

Features: PTT or Push-to-Talk capability supplements standard inner speaker and microphone. Mobile video. Streaming radio and playlists. SP-MIDI / MIDI / iMelody / XMF / MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / WMA / WAV / AMR / AMR-WB / RA / MP4 audio player (whew! We almost cramped fingers typing all that!), and a whole list of other brilliant features.

Additional comments: High dust, vibration, elevation, rain and humidity resistance; meets military standards to STD-810F guidelines. The sound file options outperform many of the high-tech smartphones of today’s best models.

Overall opinion: Outside the limited network availability, the Samsung Rugby II was a good mobile phone once, and it still is. If you can unlock it, it’s a ‘keeper.’ This mobile phone is so good that it is one of the few older clamshell phones that still earns user reviews worthy of four stars and above! (For comparison, a flip phone reviewed by users these days is considered good if it averages only three stars.)