What cell phone stands up to farm abuse and dust?

[helmsdale]

Best thing you can do is get a phone you like, and then not use it...

But in all seriousness, When trucking I got VERY used to a headset for talking on, and so the phone always sat in the ashtray right next to the wireless booster antenna. You could keep your headset on while loading, shoveling a bin, hooking/unhooking, etc...

It was a learned habit while trucking, that has now become standard for me. Phone sits in a cradle all the time when I'm in a tractor, or on the desk when I'm in the shop. If I'm out and about, it usually gets stuffed into a breast pocket that either buttons up, or has a velcro flap on it like oilpatch coveralls.

In another sense its kind of liberating. If the phone dings with a text message or notification, I'll check it when I have a free moment, and not have to dig it out of my pocket to look when I'm doing something hands on out of the tractor/shop/office. If they REALLY want to get ahold of me they can call and i'll answer it with the headset. New headsets are impressive for comfort as well as noise cancelling ability. You can talk on them while you're mowing the lawn, or standing beside an auger motor at full throttle and everyone wonders why the hell you're yelling!

Samsung S8 thats going on 5 years now.

Before that it was a 4 year old S5 that I loved, but one morning the screen just decided to shit the bed.

Have a brand new (now 3 years old) S9 that's still in the box that I got a decent deal on with the last renewal contract. By the time I need it, maybe it wont even be able to connect anymore?

[blackpowder]

And there's the crux.
Watching someone I'm paying $30 an hour juggle his phone while "working" with both hands. All day. Ah well.

[Dr Tone]

Or smart watch will let you know what’s important enough to dig the phone out.

[GDR]

AF5- Wow guess they were wrong at every phone store I have talked to in recent years. They tell me I am the only one that wants a smaller phone, that bigger is better because it does so much more, and by the way 4 or 6 cameras is much better than 1. Now there is 2 of us!

I want a tough, small, water proof phone, that can text, take pictures, check weather, email and basic internet but most important is I need one with reception. They tell me they are putting poorer antennas in the phones also cause the calling aspect has taken a backseat to the other features. Every phone I have traded to usually because I lost or broke the last has had worse reception. One to fit nicely in your pocket would be nice again, doing too many different tasks around the farm belt clips dont work. It's basically a business and safety necessity to have it with you nowadays. Those sonim ones do look tough but big and heavy and they aren't cheap with mixed reviews.

Anyone see those Canadian made Focal glasses, they are pretty cool too, dont think they work as a phone but they put all your internet usage as a hologram on the lens that only you can see but otherwise are regular prescription glasses. Just like out of Iron Man or a Bond movie. My 9yr old has glasses and wants them.

[burnt]

Is there one?

My Galaxys just keep getting bigger and that's not good. With the otterbox it's almost like stuffing an Ipad in your pocket. 3 1/4: x 6 3/8".

Former one was under 3 x 6. And it had grown over the one before that.

But the otterbox saved it a time or two, so... the screen protector is cracked already within 4 months of getting it, so I guess that just paid itself back very handsomely.

Kind of a love-hate relationship with them. But try going out the door without it...

[Hamloc]

Had a sonim 7 for 21/2 years. Certainly withstands the farming environment. Loud ring and good to hear on. The negative is that it seems to be slow thinking and glitchy. Just got a iPhone SE. a bit smaller, with a life proof case measures 3 x 57/8. Was also more affordable than other iPhones. Thinks about 3 times as fast as the Sonim. Son in law has a Sonim 8, it is no better than the 7, just a bit bigger.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

AF5- Wow guess they were wrong at every phone store I have talked to in recent years. They tell me I am the only one that wants a smaller phone, that bigger is better because it does so much more, and by the way 4 or 6 cameras is much better than 1. Now there is 2 of us!

I want a tough, small, water proof phone, that can text, take pictures, check weather, email and basic internet but most important is I need one with reception. They tell me they are putting poorer antennas in the phones also cause the calling aspect has taken a backseat to the other features. Every phone I have traded to usually because I lost or broke the last has had worse reception. One to fit nicely in your pocket would be nice again, doing too many different tasks around the farm belt clips dont work. It's basically a business and safety necessity to have it with you nowadays. Those sonim ones do look tough but big and heavy and they aren't cheap with mixed reviews.

Anyone see those Canadian made Focal glasses, they are pretty cool too, dont think they work as a phone but they put all your internet usage as a hologram on the lens that only you can see but otherwise are regular prescription glasses. Just like out of Iron Man or a Bond movie. My 9yr old has glasses and wants them.

How times change.
I remember when the first Motorola Razr came out, how impressively small and compact it was. And that was its selling feature.

My wife's first smart phone was a tiny little Sony Experia, I'd buy a new one today if they were still that size.

I took for granted that expensive phones had metal frames, all my Blackberry's have a lot of metal in them, but then I discovered that the Samsungs are entirely plastic. No wonder these big phone break screens so easily, with no rigid frame, and a screen that extends right to the edge and corners.

Yet in reading reviews, the reviewers really complain if a phone has a bezel around the edge of the screen, or feels heavy.

I see there is a new Razr folding phone, but unlike the original with half buttons and half screen the screen takes up the entire height when unfolded. That seems like a giant step backwards.

[Blaithin]

First world problems. Our hand held computers/map/phone/GPS/camera are just too big and fragile.

I’m not a fan of the larger smart phones. I’m quite excited to try an iPhone 12 mini because of its return to smaller sizing. However photos make it look about the same size as my current iPhone 8.... Guess we’ll see when this one finally gives up the goat.

My phone usually lives in my back pocket. Fits there fine, not generally likely to fall out, I’ve never noticed a nice curve develop from being sat on. But I do always have it in a case. I’m not terribly rough on phones but the few times I am would be phone lethal.

Honestly I’m not a fan of Otter Boxes. They aren’t dust proof, most of them (maybe all?) have that stupid flexible rubber shell that ALWAYS stretches out. I prefer the LifeProof cases. Much better dust proofing, waterproof in most scenarios, no stretchy rubber. Not really any bulkier than an Otter Box.

Phone wise I do prefer an iPhone but that’s mainly because I have an iMac so the two work together. Once you get sucked into Apple world it is very handy to have them all work with each other. Recently got an Apple Watch and as mentioned, it’s kind of handy to see messages without needing to pull out the phone. Even more common than watches though, are head sets. I’d say over 50% of truckers and farmers at work wear headsets. Sometimes it just helps cancel out noise, lots of times they’re on the phone while dumping their truck or driving. Depending on the style/brand they don’t really pick up background noise so you can be on the phone doing noisy shit. Maybe not working cows... but running an auger and stuff.

It can be expensive, but really, the technology now can be the most convenient ever. Texting with one hand isn’t terribly hard once you get the hang of it (I don’t think I could go back to a hard keypad like a blackberry. Buttons are waaayyy too small). Battery life has improved exponentially in the last few years. iPhone used to really struggle with cold but it’s much better now. Touch screen isn’t too much of a pain. Yeah big gloves won’t work but thinner gloves usually do. Also have adequate talk to text options.

I know a few people who try and go out of the norm and get “tougher” phones. SO currently has a CAT one. Sure it’s tough without a case but the battery shit the bed. Customer service has been absolute crap, no phone stores carry or work with them so it’s totally reliant on mailing. Currently the returned and apparently fixed phone was unable to find the destination so was instead delivered late Friday afternoon of a long weekend to a local post office. Time will tell if it’s actually there or not. There’s a lot to be said to have a common phone brand/model that can be serviced and handled in local stores.

[blackpowder]

Yep, when you go to unlocked phones you may want a spare in the drawer.
My first CAT OS clunky but it lasted.
You can definitely abuse them.
Second one as jerky new as old one when replaced. Go figure.
As yet, I can not find the best of both worlds.
If the phone is your office, ya Apple or Samsung.
Would try an S8 Active if could get hands on an unlocked one new. Getting old now too. Always a crapshoot. Older or replacement batteries hit and miss. Especially Samsung.
Brand new S6 at the time had faulty antenna they wouldn't fix so I gave the bit** away.
Like I said, buy the mid road one if can so you're not so attached to it when you pitch it. Trying to keep my purchase cost < $.70 / day LoL.

[Guest]

just get a life proof case for whatever phone you get
guaranteed for life , just send you a new one for $5 postage
my old iPhone SE , they gave me a new one anytime i asked
first one costs $90
have use mine underwater for snorkelling