People who work in the field day in and out, often have a unique set of requirements and demands to effectively perform their jobs. One such requirement is a smartphone that can best deal with extreme conditions, along with the rough and tumble nature of their work.
With a plethora of brands, models, and features, there are surely a few that best align with the requirements of construction workers, loggers, drivers, and other field workers who deal with tough conditions throughout their work day.
Ruggedness isn’t restricted to feature phones of a bygone era, there are plenty of smartphones, with the latest state of the art features that offer plenty in terms of toughness. In this article, we cover a few key factors to consider when selecting smartphones for field work, as even the best outright mobile phones on the planet, may at times, not work out for the tough world of blue collar field jobs.
1. Durability
Field work often involves working in harsh environments, involving high temperatures, humidity, dust, and even chemicals, which aren’t that ideal when it comes to the longevity of phones.
A rugged phone should be well built to withstand these conditions, and as such durability remains at the top of the list of factors to consider before splurging on a new smartphone.
While the latest generation of smartphones focus extensively on sturdiness and build-quality, there are some that are considerably better than the others, and more suited to heavy and rough usage in harsh work conditions, as opposed to air-conditioned office spaces.
Beyond this, consumers should focus on certain standards and ratings awarded to smartphone models, such as IP68 for dust and water resistance, which is highly recommended for field work. If you are a delivery driver you need a sturdy phone to withstand any falls while you are running deliveries. You don’t need the latest generation phone but if you are using software like MyFlexBot to run all day, you might need a mid range phone so it can handle the pressure. It will certainly benefit you in the end since it will help you organize your deliveries and earn more blocks.”
2. Battery-Life
Long hours on the field, with no ports for a quick recharge can be quite the challenge. Fortunately, smartphone battery-life has consistently improved over the past few years, allowing for at least 5 to 8 hours of usage on a full charge, and high usage frequency.
Many phones are consistently expanding beyond this limit on an incremental basis, with the criminally underrated ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro leading the way with 15 hours and 30 minutes of battery life on a full-charge, even with continuous usage.
3. Water Resistance
FIeld work often involves the risk of getting caught in the rain, or other water-related hazards which can be detrimental to a smartphone. This makes water resistance a key feature and factor to consider when deciding on the perfect smartphone for field workers.
Almost all smartphones claim to be water resistant, and most are, at least up to a certain extent, but there are a few that can prove their worth by taking a dip, a couple feet under water, and come out unscathed.
Leading models such as the Samsung Galaxy S22, and the Google Pixel Pro 2 can even withstand a dunk in the deep end of a swimming pool, and emerge absolutely unharmed. Such levels of ruggedness should do the trick for the most part, as there are few instances that beat being dunked into a swimming pool.
4. Connectivity
When on the field, it is crucial to have robust connectivity, not just for making and receiving calls, or surfing the web, but also to track locations and use GPS effectively.
While this goes beyond the purview of just a smartphone, and includes the carrier and its coverage in different locations, the phone still plays a role in ensuring quality services and connectivity. There are certain models that go above and beyond in this regard, and a few others that consistently fall short.
As a result, it is good to review the connectivity and performance of a smartphone by going through reviews and testimonials for existing users, to ensure it perfectly matches your requirements.
Final Words
There have been substantial advances in terms of ruggedness in smartphones over the years, and people who work in fields or harsh environments need not be too overly concerned with the impact this has on their phones. Just minimal care should often be sufficient, and help a phone last long even with rough usage, involving dust, water, and multiple falls.