I break smartphones. I need something indestructible.

February 4, 2015 8:29 AM

I just broke my 2nd smartphone in 6 months. I have always been absent-minded, and can't afford to waste so much money. I'm looking for an off-contract android smartphone that lets me browse the internet + Youtube, without breaking the bank. Bonus points if it's hard to break.

Right now I'm looking at a Moto G, which is $180 off-contract. I'm not sure how durable it is. If there is anything around this price range (or cheaper) that is more durable, please let me know. It has to be Android, since I have many paid-for Google apps.

(I don't need much power, since I don't do much besides surf the web and watch Youtube videos.)

posted by Thanquol180 to Shopping (24 answers total)

I have a similar phone (much older) and have a thick $3 rubber case around it. I drop it fairly often, but the rubber just lets it bounce.
posted by flimflam at 8:33 AM on February 4, 2015

My husband has a Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro. It's older, so isn't super whiz-bang, but it's lasted over a year and a half with a pre-schooler and a toddler trying their darndest to break it and dunk it in every bath ever. As it's older, it should be pretty cheap to pick up off-contract now.
posted by skittlekicks at 8:37 AM on February 4, 2015

I've dropped my Moto G a bunch, and it works fine (though with occasional software glitches that have happened the entire time I've owned it).
posted by ocherdraco at 8:46 AM on February 4, 2015

Yeah, you want a rugged phone. My toddler managed to destroy my Galaxy Rugby Pro, but that was after countless impacts, dunkings, flushings (no, really) and numerous other insults. It was water damage in the end - the little rubber gasket on the charging port cap failed, soaking the phone and killing the display. It's so cheap now that if you go that route, you should just buy two.

But if you use a smartphone for anything smart, you'll be frustrated by its performance right away - yes, even just with websurfing and Youtube. So if you like Samsung (Touchwiz, ugh) then go get a Galaxy 5 Active. Basically the same physical form factor as the Galaxy Rugby Pro but with good performance.

If you don't like Samsung, then I'd suggest a recent Xperia Zn smartphone from Sony.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 8:55 AM on February 4, 2015

Best answer: Have you considered just getting a normal phone and putting it in a crazy indestructible case, i.e. an Otter Box or similar?
posted by The Michael The at 8:56 AM on February 4, 2015 [15 favorites]

Have you considered just getting a normal phone and putting it in a crazy indestructible case, i.e. an Otter Box or similar?

I'd also recommend an Otterbox. They increase the footprint of the phone, but a Defender series case is about as indestructible as smart phones get.
posted by zabuni at 9:00 AM on February 4, 2015 [3 favorites]

Yes, just get a nice case. The Moto E is even cheaper than the G, btw, and I think is still a decent phone.
posted by selfnoise at 9:06 AM on February 4, 2015

The case is where you really can protect it. Get a model year or two old (we picked up like-new Samsung Galaxy S4s for <>
My husband has a Defender case on his and his dog got a hold of it while he was in the shower. She has really powerful jaws and the Defender stopped a crazy number of toothmarks before she finally pierced through into the screen.

He got another Defender for the replacement phone.
posted by bookdragoness at 9:20 AM on February 4, 2015

The only thing I don't like about cases is the hassle getting into the ports. Ms Fanclub has a really nice case on her iPhone, but if I have to plug into the headphone jack I have to unscrew this fiddly little cap. I'd rather have a phone where the jack itself was waterproof, tbqh.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 9:42 AM on February 4, 2015

My daughter has the new Moto G. It's pretty durable but something like the Octane case should make it pretty tough.

How did you break the previous ones? Just dropping them or something more obscure?
posted by GuyZero at 9:47 AM on February 4, 2015

Also note I think the Otterbox cases for the Moto G are for the 1st gen Moto G and not the current one, but I'm not 100% sure. The images on the otterbox site seem like 1st gen devices though.
posted by GuyZero at 9:49 AM on February 4, 2015

Check out swappa.com for used phones. The galaxy note 2 is in that price range, has a big screen like all the current models and is surprisingly drop-proof (owned for 2 years). The processor is still in the 'top notch' range too since it was a flagship when it came out. If you read the listings there is undoubtedly one that comes with a free otter box or other sturdy case.
posted by sexyrobot at 9:51 AM on February 4, 2015

Anything with a glass touchscreen will be breakable, especially on concrete. I would just focus on getting a case. I had a phone I dropped tons of times, but finally, I dropped it on the corner and the glass cracked, breaking half my touchscreen. If I had a case cushioning the impact, it probably would've been fine.

What career do you use? I use Virgin Mobile because it's cheap month-to-month and they have cheap off-contract Android phones too.
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:52 AM on February 4, 2015

(I've just had my note 2 in a rubber 'TPU' case and can attest that they make a phone 'bouncy' instead of 'breaky')
posted by sexyrobot at 9:54 AM on February 4, 2015

I have the Moto X which from the pictures looks like the same body as the Moto G, and if that's the case, I'm going to recommend against it as an "indestructible" phone. I've never had problems with any smartphone I've owned before the Moto X, and while I love the phone itself to pieces, I've dropped it hard around 10 times in less than a year of owning it. (Before this, I could count on one hand the number of times I'd dropped a smartphone over a period of years and years.)

I've been pleasantly surprised with how little damage the phone has sustained from all of this dropping--I was certain I had killed it every time it skittered out of my hand and slide face-down across the pavement or landed on an edge on a tiled floor--but the last time I dropped it, I did finally manage to crack the screen. As far as I can tell, nothing about my grip has changed, but this awesomely cute and functional little phone is more slippery than any previous phone I've ever owned, and the nice rounded edges that look so cool from a design perspective just let it sliiiiiide right out of palms and pant pockets and off the edges of tables and sofa cushions.

A case would totally solve this problem, I admit, so if you're open to a case it might be a great phone for you.
posted by iminurmefi at 10:54 AM on February 4, 2015

I love my current Moto G, but I gave my old one to my sister, who broke it within a month. She dropped it on the corner, and it shattered the screen. It still works just fine, but it's difficult to see the screen now.

If you're even slightly handy, you can add some Sugru to your phone.
posted by Solomon at 10:57 AM on February 4, 2015

I (accidentally!) dropped my Samsung Galaxy out a window from 2 storeys up onto concrete. It survived unscathed in its Otterbox Defender case.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 11:03 AM on February 4, 2015

My friend, who doesn't particularly break things often, is on I think her third Moro g. By itself it's not a very tough device.

I'm going to second some phone and a rugged case. Don't bother with silly $50+ brand name cases though. Get a spigen or other cheapie rugged case.

Basically any decent phone with a case like that will do fine. Buy something a generation back, but top of the line then. Like a galaxy s4, htc one m7(recently $150 at best buy yesterday! Might restock), used iPhone 5c from that secret apple eBay store, that kind of thing. An lg g2 would also be a good choice.

Last years fancy phones are better phones than this year(or 2014s) cheap phones. They have more ram, better CPUs, better displays, and are generally made out of better material. Especially the htc m7, which is a very durable phone. I know a bike messenger and polo player who rocked one with no case until recently. Smashed the CRAP out of the metal part, but the actual screen and functionality of the thing held up.

Any older flagship phone plus a nice case would be a solid choice. Basically just look for $20 fakes of otter boxes and lifeproofs.
posted by emptythought at 11:56 AM on February 4, 2015 [3 favorites]

Well, a case will definitely help but I also suck at taking care of and not losing phones, so I just buy used ones on what works out to a yearly basis. Last week I dropped my galaxy nexus for the last time, this week I bought a lightly used moto x for $130 bucks on swappa and it came and looks and functions like it is new and i am happy. Used smartphones all the way.
posted by geegollygosh at 2:46 PM on February 4, 2015

The Rugby seems to be the go to phone for folks needing a rugged phone. I see a fair few of them getting good use in the field. You won't need or want a case with one.

Blackberries, the Bolds in particular, were/are also incredibly tough beasts, but I can't really recommend one right now.
posted by bonehead at 2:58 PM on February 4, 2015

Just another voice here to tell you that it's not about the phone, it's about the case. (Especially since we are all humans and we don't change our habits easily... you're likely to drop this new phone too once you get it.)

Very few phones these days would survive the wrong kind of drop on their own (landing on the screen, landing on a corner, etc). Even a small 4-5 foot drop onto linoleum or a softer surface like that can cause things to break. I've seen screens break even when dropped onto office carpet, if they hit at the wrong angle.

Also, many phones advertised as "rugged" aren't... to be honest. It's often an advertising gimmick. They're often still built with the same kinds of materials and they are still sensitive electronics in a small plastic, metal, and glass package.

What you really need if you want durability is a heavy duty case. And like others, I'd suggest an Otterbox case (if it's made for the phone you end up buying). Or, if you want something a little more slim-lined, look for a TPU case. Less protection, but still a lot better than just the phone on its own.

One last thing- if you want protection don't buy cases that are made of plastic alone. They will do almost nothing to protect the phone... they're just for style. (I've had friends and family members dismayed that their clear plastic case didn't do anything to protect against a drop... well, what do you expect, there's almost no shock absorption or diffusion.)
posted by Old Man McKay at 3:52 PM on February 4, 2015

We deployed an audio/video meeting app at work at work which was supposed to have very low bandwidth requirements. I confirmed it worked from Jamaica. In the pool. Underwater. That was a Galaxy Rugby Pro that I still use. Though to be fair, the wifi knocked out when I got more than an inch underwater. Great phone though.

I've been eyeing the S5 active for a bit now. The touchscreen apparently works under water. Might need another trip to Jamaica to confirm that...
posted by jwells at 5:34 PM on February 4, 2015

If you have Verizon, there's the Kyocera Brigadier which is supposed to be more durable than the Rugby Pro and S5 Active . I've only held it in the store. It is pretty heavy, but I watched the salesperson throw it against the wall with nary a scratch.
posted by bluefly at 6:11 PM on February 4, 2015

For what it's worth, I have a Nexus 5. By itself, I'd have destroyed it within a couple of months. I have an I Blason case and a tempered glass screen protector.

I Blason appears to have several cases for many different models of phone. All my ports are easy to get to and plug in. My speakers aren't blocked at all. Mine has a hip holster and a kickstand. It is not water proof, however.

The tempered glass screen protector is a thing of wonder. My husband and I have some by Zerolemon, but there are different brands and they should be available for most phones. They're a little pricey, but a hell of a lot cheaper than a new phone, and much more convenient than replacing a screen. I'm a clumsy droppy person and I have not had to replace my tempered glass screen protector for a year and counting.

It's not water-proof, but my phone is otherwise indestructible. Get the phone you want and then invest in protecting it. You'll be so much happier than with a phone marketed as indestructible.
posted by MuChao at 9:38 AM on February 5, 2015