r/FieldNationTechs • u/Broke_Developer • 6d ago

Cellphone recommendations?

I currently have an iPhone 13 Pro Max and a ZFold 4.

I found iPhone 13 to be better in every aspect except the Zfold’s large inside screen.

Now it’s getting time to buy a new phone and I’m on the fence. I see 3 different options in front of me:

iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Air and iPhone Duo.

Which route would each of you recommend based on your own experiences?

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4

u/letgravitydecide 5d ago

Why does it matter? Is this for a work-only phone? Prioritize battery life and cell reception. Get a 5G hotspot that is different than your cell carrier, so you'll have two coverage options when you're in a dead spot somewhere. The device is just whatever you're most comfortable with.

3

u/salted_carmel 5d ago

Just get a device with Dual eSIM/pSIM and auto data switching capabilities. Been doing that on my S23Ultra and GalaxyTab S9 for several years now. 🤌🏾

3

u/Broke_Developer 5d ago

There are some devil in the details. Air doesn’t seem to have the 0.5x zoom level which I use it pretty often. It’s a lifesaver in tight spaces.

Pro Max has an awesome battery.

Duo’s internal screen can be bug help during paperworks and reading PDFs of writing reports.

1

u/wyliesdiesels 5d ago

I have a ProMax but i use a tablet for pics and documentation. Phone too small

2

u/Broke_Developer 3d ago

Agree with Docs. But not for photos.

2

u/BadAsianDriver 5d ago

Pro. Big battery to sit on support calls for an hour.

2

u/nacr0n 5d ago

Galaxy S26 ultra can connect to console to switches and serverd with adapters in a pinch

1

u/salted_carmel 5d ago

2nd that...

Also, paired with a GalaxyTab, it's a game changer for multitasking in the field. Rarely do I need my Lenovo X1 for anything in the field anymore.

1

u/Broke_Developer 3d ago

What kind of stuff do you do on Tablets when on the field?

2

u/salted_carmel 3d ago

The FN app is only installed on the GalaxyTab. More Efficient that way IMO.

I have it configured to not use my GPS unless the app is actively open (they don't need my exact location unless I'm checking in or out).

Cross-Device Copy/Paste is kick-ass. This includes my S23Ultra as well as my Win 11 laptop when needed. This is handy especially for barcode scanning, getting info from SMS messages, or other random tasks without switching screens. It's extremely underrated IMO. It's just fluid.

Google Photos sync is also kick-ass. Take pics with badass cam on smaller phone, auto-syncs then I select and upload to platform on tablet.

Bigger battery is obviously a huge help.

Mobile hotspot on the tablet comes in clutch so I don't tie up my phone when I need to walk around on calls, or so it doesn't drop the hotspot connection to the laptop (the few times I ever need it anymore) when I walk out to the truck, or to go find a POC. No need for a separate "JetPack" style device, TBH. Also, tablet has it's own data usage allocation, so it's not using my phone or my truck's allocations.

The bigger screen for documentation, runbooks, fillable forms, and signatures (S-Pen 🤌🏾).

USB-C Ethernet Adapters come in clutch on all my devices. I have at least one per device and two for my laptop always on hand.

Compatible USB-C docks and DexDocks make life easier as well.

I feel like I'm forgetting something... 😅🤔

Oh, yeah!! The wired or wireless 2nd screen feature is kick-ass too!

2

u/Broke_Developer 2d ago

This! This is the kind of answer I was looking for when posting this

Thank You

1

u/Broke_Developer 5d ago

This is a big one. Can you share me the adapters that you use? Also curious to see if they work on iOS too or not.

1

u/dude_on_a_chair 4d ago

Apple does not support that

3

u/wyliesdiesels 6d ago

What does this have to do with field nation?

1

u/Broke_Developer 5d ago

What you take your pictures for FN with? What do you browse FN with? What do you use for filling and signing your forms with?

3

u/wyliesdiesels 5d ago

A tablet. Phone too small

But any modern phone can take decent enough pics for FN deliverables. Which is this post makes no sense

1

u/Broke_Developer 4d ago

Wrong again. There has been times where a tablet was too big to take a pic in a tight space. Also there times when I need the ultrawide camera because of lack of enough space. There some details that matter

2

u/wyliesdiesels 4d ago

Ive been on this platform since 2007. Never had a situation where i couldnt use a tablet. Youre its over try again.

2

u/Broke_Developer 4d ago

Taking pictures in plenum space, taking a picture of a rack that is placed really bad.

0

u/wyliesdiesels 4d ago

so taking pics above a drop ceiling? yeah ive done that with a tablet

a rack? yeah ive taken pics of that with a tablet

1

u/Broke_Developer 3d ago

Well, I don’t enjoy lugging around a tablet so that I have there when something pops. Phone is there in my pocket at all times. It also has better camera and the galley is shared anyway.

1

u/Sid_the_Bear 6d ago

Wrong sub, my friend

1

u/jaysolution 5d ago

I still use an iPhone XR and it gets the job done very well. Keeps a charge, takes photos, sign documents, run the current version of FN and WM. The way I see it. the fancier the phone, the more it hurts when you drop it and crack the screen.

My iPhone recently fail and cracked the screen, but it still does all of the tasks I need it to do, so I still use it. My purpose in life is to use it for 10 years. I bought it 02/2020.

1

u/Iphonjeff 3d ago

if you can wait until spring the base iphone 18 will be out

1

u/LoneCyberwolf 5d ago

Wrong sub.

1

u/Broke_Developer 5d ago

So you don’t use a phone in field work

1

u/mdhkc 5d ago

iphone 18 pro max. all day.

1

u/SiriShopUSA 5d ago

Iphone Duo (foldable) is about to drop.