Casio Brigade G’zOne
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Out of all the PTT phones that have been released by Verizon, the Casio G’zOne Brigade C741 is by far the best device overall. It has a lot of features going for it, including good call quality and reception, excellent build quality with military specs, large internal display with full QWERTY keyboard, and a 3.2MP autofocus camera. Plus don’t forget about the loud stereo speakers on the front that are used for PTT calls, as well as for music playback and speakerphone. We just wish the device wasn’t as bulky. At almost 1” thick and 4.5” tall, it’s currently the largest PTT phone available for Verizon.”
“The militaristic and pragmatic Brigade is absolutely not about frills. In fact, cubicle dwellers will probably want to stick to their comprehensively capable, push-notifying smartleashes. However, if the goal to traverse the great unknown (or play hooky while remaining conscientiously in contact), it’s worth bringing a Brigade for backup.”
“The Casio G’zOne Brigade is the only phone available from a major U.S. carrier that gives you a full QWERTY keyboard to send text message from the beach . . . while surfing. It’s built like a tank, and almost as large. Because it’s so durable, and practically alone in its class, it’s easy to forgive some shortcomings.”
“I've never enjoyed using a rugged mobile phone as much as I did the Brigade. The device has a solid QWERTY keyboard that makes messaging easy, a decent camera, good call quality, and solid push-to-talk functionality. It even has a few bonus features like an over-the-air music store. It was able to stand up to a few drops, as well as being dunked into water. Sure, its web browser could use a total revamping, but at least it serves up the basics. If you're in need of a rugged device and still want to stay in touch with friends or the kids using a QWERTY keyboard, the Brigade is certainly a solid choice. Overall, I give it a Highly Recommend rating.”
In Depth
Casio’s G’zOne line has long been a respected franchisee known for rugged durability and the ability to withstand unpleasant conditions. The G’zOne line has been characterized by tough, rubberized exteriors, build materials that meet or exceed even military specifications, and the ability to execute simple tasks, well, simply. This phone franchisee is about getting business done in inclement weather, pure and simple.
The Casio Brigade follows in its predecessors footsteps with pride and competence. You can actually make a call during a sandstorm with this phone, provided you have a signal. And when the sandstorm is over, your phone will be no worse for wear, due to a quality design that goes to great lengths to protect the vulnerable parts of this device.
But unlike previous G’zOne iterations, the Brigade opens lengthwise to reveal a full QWERTY keypad and a 2.9 inch 400 x 240 pixel resolution display. That’s an important move forward for this “all-business” phone. When closed, the exterior display is a circular, also all-business black and white 128 x 96 pixel resolution display.
The advent of this new, horizontal design is exciting. It means that people working in the field have a much easier time sending messages, “reading the screen”, without having to squint the least bit.
The Casio Brigade offers a rated 6 hours of talk time, 760 hours of standby time, expandable memory via microSD, a 3.2MP camera with video, featuring flash, auto focus, face detection, digital zoom and more. This is a phone Jack Bauer would appreciate!
And yes, the staple feature of Casio’s tough line is still there: Push-to-Talk, which allows you instant, one-touch access to anyone in your phonebook.
I applaud this new addition to the Casio G’zOne line. For folks working in the field, be it construction, first responders, search and rescue, whatever, this phone is powerful and even fun in the manner in which it combines genuine durability with thoughtful protection.
Please not that this phone is not focused on searching the internet, nor does it offer clever home page customization. This phone is all business, all the time.
Great job Casio. They take their line of G’zOne phones seriously, and the Brigade moves the franchisee forward.
What people actually want to know
When was the Casio Brigade G’zOne released?
The Casio Brigade G’zOne was released on April 19, 2010.
How long does the battery last on the Casio Brigade G’zOne?
The Casio Brigade G’zOne has a 1,440 mAh battery.
Does the Casio Brigade G’zOne have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Casio Brigade G’zOne has a 2.5mm headphone jack.
Where can I download the Casio Brigade G’zOne manual?
You can view and download the Casio Brigade G’zOne manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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