What cell phone stands up to farm abuse and dust?

[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

[blackpowder]

Good tip.
Just checked out LifeProof and appears they cover the screen on the newer raised, rounded screen Samsungs. 👍

[Marusko]

got the sonim xp8. Fantastic battery life, durability, loudness, bright flashlight, and love the external physical buttons, one I have set up to toggle the flashlight so I don't have to swipe through menu to find it. Cons: a bit oversize, the rear camera sucks, no 3.5mm jack, the interface gets glitchy sometimes (one restart fixes the issue).

I actually wanted the CAT phone but couldn't get it at the time. Thought the thermal camera would be a really handy feature, such as checking for warm bins, hot spots on the combine for bearings about to go...

physical keyboards have gone the way of the dodo. Next best thing is talk-to-text if touch keyboards slow you down. It works pretty good actually, they've improved the voice recognition software over the years, sometimes just takes a bit of adjusting how you say certain things to get it right. there's also the "swype" feature where you slide fingertip over the keyboard, without lifting, to form the word instead of tapping on each individual letter. Takes some getting used to but super fast once you figure it out.

Blaithin makes a good point about common brands for serviceability.

[Marusko]

https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Products/Doro-824C?INT=MOB_mobdevpg_BTN_poplink_Mass_051016_mb_d etails Ah shit, AF5, I found you a phone!

[sawfly1]

3 days ago , driving old Steiger blade tractor across
The yard , hear a clunk , clunk, no AC door was open .
Look out just in time to see my phone going under the outside daul. Oh well overdue for a new one.
Went back ,wiped the dirt off , works fine
Samsung A5, has a case of some kind.
Been dropped on concrete 20 times

[ALBERTAFARMER4]

Lifeproof case and the new carhardt bibs with the zippered front pocket.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Lifeproof case and the new carhardt bibs with the zippered front pocket.

That sounds like the best solution I can think of. Didn't know they now have zippers.

Next I just need to find a solution for Carharts wearing my shoulders raw if I wear them too many days in a row...

[blackpowder]

You either like bibs or hate them.
I'm not a fan.
Either way commando when it's hot.
Some low flam hi viz covies have a velcro front pocket.

[Blaithin]

That sounds like the best solution I can think of. Didn't know they now have zippers.

Next I just need to find a solution for Carharts wearing my shoulders raw if I wear them too many days in a row...

Cross the straps in the back or tie them together in an X. Temple tags work well if you use them in your cows.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Cross the straps in the back or tie them together in an X. Temple tags work well if you use them in your cows.

I know I have acquired a whole new respect for the female gender having to wear straps all day every day, and not 2" wide coverall straps either.

[Blaithin]

Have you aged into wearing a bra?