Features:
- Contoured, rubberized case
- Built-in speakerphone
- SMS support
- Changeable 2-color screen (green or amber)
- Up to 4 hours' digital talk time, 16 days' standby time; includes Lithium-ion battery and charger
Description:
Durability, style, and function are keywords that define the Panasonic DuraMax. If you're a contractor or if you just can't keep your phone from hitting the floor, you will appreciate this phone's durable impact-resistant case, lightweight, compact styling, and ease of use. A few extras like a built-in speakerphone, two-way messaging capabilities, and an entry-level price make this phone attractive to anyone. The DuraMax is small enough to fit into a pocket without being cumbersome but large enough that you won't lose it on a cluttered desktop or job-site workstation. The display is brightly backlit in a pleasant green, and display icons are clearly readable, day or night. Menus are easily navigated with a large directional button in the center of the phone and two closely placed menu soft keys. Dialing generally requires more attention than with other phones due the keypad design; all the keys have the same slightly raised glossy-smooth texture, which makes it difficult to tell what key we were hitting. Not a major flaw, but definitely a design that could be improved. Working hard is what the DuraMax is designed to do. Its 400-item phone book, two-way text messaging with T9 text entry, and built-in speakerphone give you tools that help maximize your efficiency. Other useful amenities include a vibrating ringer, alarm clock, and a slew of ring and alert options. This phone is not Web enabled, but with two-way messaging you can receive news, stock, or sports alerts from many online services. When you touch the DuraMax rubberized case, you'll instantly notice how durable it is. This impact-resistant case surrounds the face, display, and entire backside. Plus, an innovative battery-locking system keeps the battery in place even if the battery cover gets knocked off. We dropped the DuraMax by accident while on a call, and it fell about four feet onto the corner of a table where it bounced to a cement floor. The DuraMax, however, didn't drop the call or suffer any visible damage. Call and phone security are achieved through a simple keypad lock to prevent accidental calls and a security lock to block unauthorized usage. Both features were simple to activate and deactivate using the intuitive menu system. The DuraMax comes with a lithium-ion battery and boasts an outstanding 240 minutes' talk time and up to 400 hours' standby time. These numbers are for digital usage--analog usage is approximately half, but they are outstanding numbers in either case. If you want a phone that stands out for its durability and delivers functional features in a stylish compact package, the DuraMax won't let you down. --John Schommer, edited by Steve O'Neil Pros:
- Tough, durable design
- Built-in speakerphone
- Lightweight and compact
- Amazing talk and standby times
Cons:
- Keypad design
- Not Web enabled
How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode. Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings. To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.
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