Mobile devices need to be more droppable

[SandEagle]

my old htc sensation took a beating. dropped it dozens of times, on concrete too, and screen never broke. scratched the hell outta the body though

 

[saratoga172]

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.

I wouldn't say I'm clumsy but I've had my phone catch on my pocket when pulling it out or actually not pay attention and miss my pocket dropping it on the ground. The other reason I like a case is for putting it on my desk at home and work. I don't have to be quite as delicate. I can toss/drop it on the desk (only from a couple of inches but I'm afraid a bare ip5 might scratch) and not worry about it.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

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.

That was very clumsy of you, see what I did there? Like you say, shit happens, hell, I've had other people drop my phone/knock it off the table. I am OCD levels of careful with my stuff, probably to the point where I'm more likely to drop it because I'm so paranoid. If you've never dropped a phone you're either lying or just plain lucky.

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.

But devices that are completely written off with a single drop are OK with you? The Nexus 7 isn't just not droppable, it's not repairable either, cracked screen, in the bin it goes. A 2' drop onto carpet will do it, or even pressing too hard on the screen with your thumb.

Manufacturers know protection costs money, adds bulk and isn't on people's checklist when buying a device so why bother. These devices are mobile, exploding into shiny, expensive pieces when dropped is not good. Doesn't help the Nexus 4 is like holding a wet fish.

 

[Demo24]

Pretty sure my og droid was indestructible, thing survived a lot including really high temps. I used to use a rubber case on my gnex, then as I was pulling it out of my bike holder it fell 5ft onto concrete. A couple nicks in the plastic but otherwise fine, I no longer worry about it.

 

[notposting]

I think phones are obviously very droppable as is, it seems everyone has dropped one. I suppose they could coat them with Teflon and shape them to slip even easier from one's hands though.

Now, as far as durability goes, yes, that could be better.
Another vote for the OG Droid. Mine lives a comfortable life as a bedside clock now...

 

[ponyo]

But devices that are completely written off with a single drop are OK with you? The Nexus 7 isn't just not droppable, it's not repairable either, cracked screen, in the bin it goes. A 2' drop onto carpet will do it, or even pressing too hard on the screen with your thumb.

Manufacturers know protection costs money, adds bulk and isn't on people's checklist when buying a device so why bother. These devices are mobile, exploding into shiny, expensive pieces when dropped is not good. Doesn't help the Nexus 4 is like holding a wet fish.

So are you saying these devices explode and break on a single drop every time and become completely unusable?

 

[BenSkywalker]

I'd love a waterproof phone.

Readily available from Sony or Panasonic-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIoUNEbYtU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwT8gfgcR2w

 

[Red Storm]

The more "safety features" you add to phones, the more people will be careless and drop them. Works the same way with cars, as manufacturers continue to add and boast increased safety features people think they're more and more invincible in them and become more risky.

 

[deputc26]

Totally agree, really wish phones were more droppable and waterproof, as as someone makes an at least somewhat rugged used flagship I'm buying it.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

people think if they get a monster case like otterbox they are safe and it just isnt true. i dropped my old droid x and the screen didnt break but big black "motoroil" droplets formed on the screen, the mobile gods can wipe the smirk of invincibility off your face in an instant...

 

[WelshBloke]

Readily available from Sony or Panasonic...

Maybe I should have said a decent waterproof phone.

 

[dguy6789]

Totally agree, really wish phones were more droppable and waterproof, as as someone makes an at least somewhat rugged used flagship I'm buying it.

Motorola has been making extremely durable flagship phones for a while. The Droid Razr HD and Maxx HD also are very water resistant on top of taking drops extremely well.

 

[amandaK]

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.

To be fair there are plenty of Android phones that can survive a serious drop. I had a Droid X2 before my iPhone and it took a spill down a flight of stairs (without a screen protector) and didn't get a scratch. If i had dropped my iPhone without a case it would be toast. I think you can blame it on the fact the Apple wants ALL of your money.

 

[Red Storm]

Doesn't help the Nexus 4 is like holding a wet fish.

Curious, do you only hold your phone from the front and back? How do you make calls or use the device doing that? I ask because the sides of the Nexus 4 are not at all slippery.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

The more "safety features" you add to phones, the more people will be careless and drop them. Works the same way with cars, as manufacturers continue to add and boast increased safety features people think they're more and more invincible in them and become more risky.

What nonsense. Cars have individually replaceable panels, how thrilled would you be if you dented the wing of your car and had to replace the entire shell. That's what modern smartphones are like.

 

[Red Storm]

What nonsense. Cars have individually replaceable panels, how thrilled would you be if you dented the wing of your car and had to replace the entire shell. That's what modern smartphones are like.

You and I are talking about two different things. I'm saying that adding more and more "drop protection" into phones is only going to make people more likely to drop them. Right now there is choice, those who drop their phones a lot can buy cases to help with that, and those of us who don't can continue to enjoy using our slim, sleek phones.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

You and I are talking about two different things. I'm saying that adding more and more "drop protection" into phones is only going to make people more likely to drop them. Right now there is choice, those who drop their phones a lot can buy cases to help with that, and those of us who don't can continue to enjoy using our slim, sleek phones.

the thing is these two things don't need to be mutually exclusive. i'm not saying every phone needs an otterbox defender type of protection. if you take fragile phones like the iPhone 4/4S and the Nexus 4, there are clearly choices in construction that can be changed to make it more durable. Users here have pointed out Moto phones are durable. They're still slim and sleek no?

Lets not forget the Nexus 4's 9.1 mm thickness isn't even that thin at all. Yet it's fragile as hell.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

You and I are talking about two different things. I'm saying that adding more and more "drop protection" into phones is only going to make people more likely to drop them. Right now there is choice, those who drop their phones a lot can buy cases to help with that, and those of us who don't can continue to enjoy using our slim, sleek phones.

Who said anything about dropping their phones a lot?? Dropping it once is enough. Pretty much every smartphone in my office has a case on it, doesn't that tell you something? If you're willing to take the risk without one, you're very much in the minority.

 

[Red Storm]

the thing is these two things don't need to be mutually exclusive. i'm not saying every phone needs an otterbox defender type of protection. if you take fragile phones like the iPhone 4/4S and the Nexus 4, there are clearly choices in construction that can be changed to make it more durable. Users here have pointed out Moto phones are durable. They're still slim and sleek no?

Lets not forget the Nexus 4's 9.1 mm thickness isn't even that thin at all. Yet it's fragile as hell.

So every phone should look the same? Sorry the iOS mentality doesn't translate well to Android. I like having a variety of choices, as do many others.

Who said anything about dropping their phones a lot?? Dropping it once is enough. Pretty much every smartphone in my office has a case on it, doesn't that tell you something? If you're willing to take the risk without one, you're very much in the minority.

Nobody said anything about dropping phones a lot, all I'm saying is that adding more safety features will cause people to be less careful with their phones. That's just how we are. If you really wanted to avoid accidents, you would actually make them even more fragile, as the fear of breaking will cause people to be more careful.

Those who have cases are exercising their right to choose, as are those who don't.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Maybe I should have said a decent waterproof phone.

Odin looks pretty sweet, better specs then the GS3 or N4, supposed to also be waterproof.

 

[Fire&Blood]

Shattering doesn't need to happen but it's unrealistic to expect scratches, especially the ones from falling to magically stop happening. I think glass officially died and no phone will be made out of glass as we know it, I would bet the house on the next Nexus being made out of anything but glass.

The problem is that if you want more protection, OEM's that are doing well will point you to their $$$ accessories and the desperate OEM's that would go for Gorilla Glass, kevlar or duranium, simply aren't able to produce the all around package or worse, the consumer won't give the brand a chance.

 

[lothar]

I've dropped my Galaxy S II plenty of times on concrete. Not a single crack anywhere on the screen or back thanks to the flexible back cover that everyone else seems to hate and call "cheap" because it's not some shiny metal or glass back.
I stopped using the TPU case 3 months after I bought the phone and I've been going case free for almost a year now coming February.
Motorola phones are supposedly very durable.

The number one reason I find for me dropping my phone(frequency wise) is that I forgot that I put it in my front shirt pocket and when I bend down to pick up something(the thing I pick up doesn't have to be on the floor either) ... Bang!

 

[Eug]

Readily available from Sony or Panasonic-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIoUNEbYtU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwT8gfgcR2w

Speaking of which, Sony just announced its 5" 1080p quad-core S4 Pro microSD-endowed Xperia Z phone with 2 GB RAM and an IP55/57 waterproof rating, which means it can be submerged under 1 metre of water for half an hour.

http://www.howardforums.com/content...-Z-5-1080P-Quad-core-dust-and-water-resistant

 

[WelshBloke]

Odin looks pretty sweet, better specs then the GS3 or N4, supposed to also be waterproof.

Buy the time Sony release it in any quantity it will be competing with the SGS5 no doubt. ;-)

Seriously Sony could do well they just need to tighten up on the time to market thing.

 

[Ashenor]

No thanks, just care for your phone and have insurance on it. My last 10 plus phones i have not used a case or screen protector and have had zero issues. I have sold all of them up to my Current Note 2 like they were still in new condition when sold.

Just take care to keep it in your pocket, when you get out of the car don't have it sitting on your lap, or in a loose hoody pocket or something it can fall out of easy. Taking a extra 1/2 a second to realize where your $500 plus phone can do wonders on keeping it safe and looking like new.

That said i am sure my Note 2 will get smashed soon after this post.