I was having an interesting discussion on other boards about smartphone warranties, some users were kinda upset as these devices are not always so easy to repair if they broke, especially if they suffered an shock and they have visible marks.

Call me crazy, but i really want to hear what are you guys thinking about phones being so fragile. I personally find it as an big fault that's ignored by too many users and producers should improve their product. .

We are talking about an device that, by it's nature, it's meant to be used every single day, in different environments. Being one-drop-it's-dead kinda product contradicts it's nature. I think that a big quality of this kind of product should be how durable and shock-resistant it is. But i rarely see producers giving a damn about it. Gorilla glass it's great, as it does not scratch so easy. But this quality it's kinda useless, as it breaks so easily. And i bet it's a problem of looks vs functionality. As they are trying to make the phones as thin and tight as possible.

I find smartphone producers in doing borderline false advertising, if that's even a term. While they don't present durability as an quality, they don't present their product as fragile either, and it kinda is.

If we know it'll easily break, the more zealous we are to protect it. Ask any soccer player.

I've dropped my phone several times. No issues.

I think they should drop that stupid touch screen shit and go back to proper hard covered phones with buttons. Why? Because after nearly 20 years of abuse, my one still works perfectly. Buying a smart phone is a waste of money. Absolute bollocks.

Well, i don't think that's an waste of money. There are some useful features. But i think that there should be alternatives. I used Blackberry before going into full touchscreen smartphones, and i still hate the touchscreen and i would prefer tactile keys, but i also like the apps.
Most phones that use keyboard these days do not have Android, so i would not like them. I need features like mail, Dropbox, being able to read PDF/doc/excel documents and being able to surf the web. I was doing these things fine on my old Blackberry. I was even using the organizer on that one, as it was much better than any app i can't find. But these days Blackberries kinda moved away from the old ones, so they feel like overpriced Samsungs.

I miss my old Blackberry, that was a great phone. Sturdy wee bugger too. Much better then a flimsy piece of glass that is for sure.

All I know is that I'm going to look for a waterproof phone next time I upgrade. I've lost two phones that way, once due to a leaking water container in my ruck sack, and the other because I walked into a pool with it :P

Actually you have a big specter of smartphones available on the market. One of them are so called rugged smartphones that don't break easily. That's why I bought my old Galaxy Xcover cause I drop it constantly. Probably once a day. I even dropped it the first day I bought it and no have it for more then 3 years and no issues besides it being slow as hell :) This one should be good enough for that: http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/smartphones/others/SM-G388FDSABTU/

Cool thanks :) I was looking at going from nokia to samsung, or perhaps htc.

I wrapped my Galaxy S3 in a somewhat durable silicone case that makes it a bit more bulky. And obviously I overspent on the screen protector. Had the phone for nearly four years now, dropped it quite a few times and had it with me while on construction sites and such. Apart from a bit of friction wear on the outer case, it's like new.

Yeah, at the moment there are only Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 (cca. 300 USD) and Cat S50 (cca. 500 USD) that are available as more updated rugged phones. There is also some talk about Samsung Galaxy S6 Active (a bit rugged S6).

I have a very old HTC Wildfire who dropped million times with no cover and it's still working.

They now have Blackberry Classic. I was actually looking towards it, but i don't know. Had 9900 before. I actually still have it. Some problems on keyboard, but it was ok enough. But the touchscreen implementation was kinda bad. I mean, you had some actions where you needed to use the touchscreen and i didn't liked that too much. I would have preferred if they would have adjusted the OS on these ones in order to be used strictly with trackpad. But i think i'll end up with Classic one after all. Pretty cheap too, can get it at around $150 with a similar plan with what i have now.

These were sturdy. As well as Samsung ones, but as they get bigger, their durability starts to decrease rapidly. Bigger surface to contact rough edges, bigger chance that it will happen.

Covers are an alternative. But let's be honest, if i buy an 1 inch thick phone, i don't look forward in making it 2 inch thick with a cover.

I got my iphone 6+ a Otterbox Defender and a $37 screen protector. Both carried over to when I upgraded the following month (was a on-demand upgrade program, locking in a cheaper monthly payment). What isn't mention is how EXPENSIVE some models can be. If you opt to pay 100% up-front, it can be 500+ USD. For my phone, because I traded in a iphone 5 that was paid off AND upgraded from the 16 GB tier to the 64 GB, the down payment was $107 with taxes (and monthly payment went from like $38 to $18). For the 6+s, I paid nothing but had to return the 6+ to the store within 2 weeks or end up with a $749 addition to the bill. I would imagine that Samsung also has expensive models. A intestering fact: I know there are waterproof cases out there-my dad got my mom one for her new phone that is water proof up to 200 ft. Also, like how some phones have payment plans, the cases/covers may have a payment plan.

Hear hear. They are neither smart, nor phones. I have a Windows phone, well at least until I get so pissed off with it I smash it. Just the other day I was phoning messages and the screen cuts out, even though the call is still going through. Utter rubbish. The only downside for the blackberry was the browser software never worked.
I do however like the GPS/maps on phones now.