Mobile devices need to be more droppable

[thecapsaicinkid]

Carrying a mobile device around with you everywhere, in and out of pockets, the chances of it hitting the deck at some point is pretty high. Manufacturers spend so much making aesthetically pleasing devices when so many are hidden beneath lumps of plastic or leather. It doesn't matter how twinkly the back is on my Nexus 4 or how nice the finish is on the curved screen edges, it looks exactly the same as my last phone, a tpu case with a big piece of glass on the front.

We have devices like the Nexus 7 where the general consensus is, drop it just one and it's probably toast, cracked screen and a repair bill almost as much as a new device. The Nexus 4 has a glass back that will crack if you look at it funny. Sure we have Gorilla Glass (3 just announced) but it's not scratch proof so it's either overpriced screen protectors or scratches on your new shiny shiny.

I'd like to see replaceable phone casings, screens which can survive all but the most severe droppages and glass which doesn't scratch outside of falling into a bucket of diamonds (failing that, factory fitted screen protectors).

Yes, I'm aware everyone on the internet has never dropped anything ever.

 

[luv2liv]

i think we can blame apple on this.
they started the stupid trend of making products super slim by throwing away any protection....and then selling protectors back.
before the era of iphones and ipods, my portable mp3 and phones were fine after many drops. my Nextel phones were virtually indestructable.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I've had my thunderbolt fly up out of my armband while I was doing jumping jacks and hit a solid floor and it came out unscathed.

 

[bamx2]

Very much agree with OP - Mobile devices need to be more droppable


My droid x (use in the field for work) with TPU case and screen protector has survived multiple drops (many times on concrete) . I cannot say the same for my coworkers' iphones and others new and "fancier" phones . My old Motorola and Samsung flip phones were almost indestructable.

 

[Oyeve]

They do make industrial type smartphones but the consumers are the ones to blame. We want our gadgets thin and smooth.

 

[Eug]

We have devices like the Nexus 7 where the general consensus is, drop it just one and it's probably toast, cracked screen and a repair bill almost as much as a new device.

Here's mine after one drop.

Given the cost of repair, I just bought that new one on the left.

The Nexus 4 has a glass back that will crack if you look at it funny. Sure we have Gorilla Glass (3 just announced) but it's not scratch proof so it's either overpriced screen protectors or scratches on your new shiny shiny.

I always just get mine on eBay. I usually get about 3 or 4, for about $2-3 shipped total.

I know the Nexus 4 has a bad reputation for the glass cracking for no apparent reason, but for the iPhone 4, I used it bare (plus the cheapie screen and back protectors) for years. It's still fine, but my wife is using it now, with a case that someone gave to her for free. I've since ordered a $2 eBay bumper for her.

I ordered a case for my RAZR HD, but with its metal sides and Kevlar back, I've been perfectly happy using it without a case. I just have a screen protector on the front, again a couple bux off eBay for 4.

BTW, a colleague of mine has dropped his iPhone 5 several times onto pavement already. (WTF is he doing with it, I don't know. Juggling?) The screen is still perfectly fine, but the black anodization is worn off in several places. Looks quite bad so he's been colouring the scratches black.

 

[ponyo]

No. I like having options. There's nothing stopping you from buying and using those crazy Otterbox like cases with screen protectors. My cousin showed me the case on his iPhone5. He claimed it's supposed to be waterproof so you can get it wet and use it in pools and at the beach. He lost two iPhones to water damage because he dropped it in the water so he decided to buy the $80 waterproof case. I rather phones be waterproof than dropproof.

 

[foghorn67]

Buy a case, I like my phones as thin as possible.

 

[pantsaregood]

My Lumia 920 and my nephew's Lumia 900 have been pretty droppable. He dropped his 900 onto concrete and it only scuffed the corner slightly - not really visible. I dropped my Lumia 920 right onto my foot. It wasn't pleasant.

 

[openwheel]

people want to use cellphones as jewelry and clothing accessories. Thanks to Apple.

 

[WelshBloke]

No. I like having options. There's nothing stopping you from buying and using those crazy Otterbox like cases with screen protectors. My cousin showed me the case on his iPhone5. He claimed it's supposed to be waterproof so you can get it wet and use it in pools and at the beach. He lost two iPhones to water damage because he dropped it in the water so he decided to buy the $80 waterproof case. I rather phones be waterproof than dropproof.

This.

I'd rather be able to armour up my phone when I need to than have it like a brick all the time.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I use my droid x2 without a case. I just use cheap screen protectors I snag off ebay. Yeah the edges are scuffed up pretty good but who cares. The screen is in perfect condition.

 

[Eug]

No. I like having options. There's nothing stopping you from buying and using those crazy Otterbox like cases with screen protectors. My cousin showed me the case on his iPhone5. He claimed it's supposed to be waterproof so you can get it wet and use it in pools and at the beach. He lost two iPhones to water damage because he dropped it in the water so he decided to buy the $80 waterproof case. I rather phones be waterproof than dropproof.

Hmm... Why does he need his iPhone in the pool or in the ocean?

If for pictures he'd be better off just getting a dedicated submersible and sand-proof camera. They take better pictures than the iPhone, and cost about $200.

 

[WelshBloke]

Hmm... Why does he need his iPhone in the pool or in the ocean?

If for pictures he'd be better off just getting a dedicated submersible and sand-proof camera. They take better pictures than the iPhone, and cost about $200.

I'd love a waterproof phone.

Or maybe a beerproof one.

 

[MrX8503]

Just buy an otter box if you want it to be more droppable. Leave my sleek phone alone.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

I'd say the majority of people use a case on their smartphone and most of those would rather have a more durable phone without the ugliness of a case. I don't think it's excessive to think a device could be manufactured that was more drop friendly and didn't suffer too much extra bulk/expense.

 

[Zaap]

I agree with the 'buy a case' crowd.

My Droid X was built like a tank- best design ever for both sleekness, strength and yet still a decent sized screen. Dropped that thing dozens of times and there's not a scratch on it still. The SGS3 though I have to be super-careful with, but I still don't want it in some fugly brick case.

It's kind of funny to me some people bitch endlessly about .3 inches when it comes to phone size, but then encase their phone inside a brick that makes it bulkier than the 'larger' phones they bellyache about.

 

[Eug]

I saw a couple of those big cases for the Galaxy S III when I went to pick up my phone a few weeks back. Heh. You may as well be using a Note II.

 

[Red Storm]

Then buy and use cases. Those of us who don't can continue to enjoy our sleek, slim phones.

 

[Anonemous]

Waterproofing devices Liquipel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnyc3wHxHLs&feature=player_embedded

Nevermind, their coating doesn't work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z16TTmQicr8

 

[Eug]

Waterproofing devices Liquipel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnyc3wHxHLs&feature=player_embedded

Nevermind, their coating doesn't work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z16TTmQicr8

Uh, the point of that is not so that you can use your phone underwater. It is just to give extra resistance to water exposure. ie. Do not use the phone in the pool, but if you happen to splash a bit of tea on it, it might do better than an unprotected phone.

BTW, my Motorola smartphone already comes with some sort of water-repellent coating.

http://www.motorola.com/us/consumers/DROID-RAZR-HD-BY-MOTOROLA/m-DROID-RAZR-HD,en_US,pd.html

However, that does not mean I would be foolish enough to drown it in the sink just to see what would happen.

 

[s44]

I drop my GNex every other day.

TPU case = safety

 

[dagamer34]

How about you don't drop your phone? Phone manufacturers cannot protect people from themselves.

 

[you2]

Supposedly that will be the next big thing this year; flexible glass for the screen. Actually the two trends I expect are HD screens (1080p seems a bit outlandish on a 4.7 or 5.0 inch device but that is the current trend) and flexible glass (not sure how well it will work or how resistance to scratching; bending and scratch resistance seems an interesting conflict). Anyways I fully expect the galaxy s iv to have this sort of screen and perhaps two or three other devices. The trend I would like to see is more devices with 3000mh> batteries (currently note 2 and razr hd).
-
Having said this I've dropped my razr twice on concrete (one was rather nasty at a bus stop) but it survived both drops; then again I know folks have dropped this phone 2 feet and have had it shatter (it has rather thin glass).

Carrying a mobile device around with you everywhere, in and out of pockets, the chances of it hitting the deck at some point is pretty high. Manufacturers spend so much making aesthetically pleasing devices when so many are hidden beneath lumps of plastic or leather. It doesn't matter how twinkly the back is on my Nexus 4 or how nice the finish is on the curved screen edges, it looks exactly the same as my last phone, a tpu case with a big piece of glass on the front.

We have devices like the Nexus 7 where the general consensus is, drop it just one and it's probably toast, cracked screen and a repair bill almost as much as a new device. The Nexus 4 has a glass back that will crack if you look at it funny. Sure we have Gorilla Glass (3 just announced) but it's not scratch proof so it's either overpriced screen protectors or scratches on your new shiny shiny.

I'd like to see replaceable phone casings, screens which can survive all but the most severe droppages and glass which doesn't scratch outside of falling into a bucket of diamonds (failing that, factory fitted screen protectors).

Yes, I'm aware everyone on the internet has never dropped anything ever.

 

[Bateluer]

Are you all just clumsy? I mean, shit happens, but I've dropped 1 phone once since my first in 2009. Droid 1 . . . scrapped the paint of the corner and that was it.