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Should you use a Phone or a Tablet for surveying? Here are the pros and cons for each.
Hi, we're The King Brothers.
Our software helps you create high-quality asbestos survey reports in minutes.
Do you want to see how?
Should you use a Smartphone or a Tablet for on-site surveying work?
In this guide, we'll explain the pros and cons for each device type.
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Good quality photographs are crucial for your survey reports, so this will be an important factor for many surveyors.
Phones tend to have better, high-resolution cameras than tablets. The cameras on phones also have a broader perspective. So if you want to take real, top notch photos during your survey, phones are the better choice.
Another thing to consider is that phones, unlike tablets, tend to have a flash; this will come in handy for taking photos in low-light situations.
Our verdict: Phones are better for cameras
As a surveyor, you're likely to work in small, confined spaces. Or you may need to work at heights to get into hard-to-reach loft areas.
In these situations, phones are more convenient than tablets. For example, you can easily pop your phone in your pocket when climbing a ladder. But —unless you have big fat pockets— carrying a tablet in your pocket seems unlikely.
Also when manoeuvring in small spaces, photos have an added bonus —they have handy torches. So you can ward off any creepy crawlies!
Our verdict: Phones are better for portability
Are you working? Or are you playing Angry Birds on your Phone?
If you use a phone for survey data capture, you risk being perceived in the wrong way, especially if you’re dealing with clients who are a bit more 'old school'.
Over a third of surveyors* (36%) think that clients have a negative perception when they use a phone to conduct surveys. These surveyors believe working on a tablet looks more professional or 'official' to clients.
* stats from our Asbestos Industry Tech Review survey.
However, with the increasing dominance of technology on mobile phones, we suspect this is an old-fashioned view that will disappear in time.
Our verdict: Tablets are better for client perception.
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Hey, Squinty,
If you're drawing your floorplans on-site, you'll want a tablet or a phone with a large screen. Phones are generally getting larger but the extra size of a tablet will make things easier, especially if you're surveying a large building.
If you don't draw floorplans on-site, this isn't relevant to you, so forget everything I've just said.
Our verdict: Tablets are better for floorplans
In terms of battery life, how do phones and tablets compare?
So phones will give you more time to carry out your surveys.
This could be a non-issue, though. If you use our app, you can easily switch to another device. Alternatively, you can charge your device while driving between jobs if you have a portable battery charger.
Our verdict: Phones are better in terms of battery life.
Another important consideration is price. Modern smartphones can cost up to a thousand pounds per device, while tablets are much cheaper, at just a few hundred pounds.
However, there's a good chance you can just use the phone in your pocket, which means you won't need to fork out any money at all. Our app, Flow Mobile Surveying, will work on any modern iOS or Android device.
Our verdict: Tablets are better in terms of price
The next thing you may not have considered is your eyesight. So, if you have any issues with your eyesight, consider the device's size and how readable the text is.
Of course, phones and tablets come in all shapes and sizes, so a large phone or a small tablet may be fine for your specific needs.
Our verdict: Tablets are better for your eyesight
Repetitive strains are no joke. Ask any plasterer!
A whopping 40%* of asbestos surveyors have experienced some form of health issue from surveying. Many of you have gone home feeling pain or discomfort, whether postural issues, eye strain, stiffness or cramps.
* stats from our Asbestos Industry Tech Review Survey.
In terms of health impact, the main thing to consider is the weight of the device:
As you can see, tablets weigh 2-3 times as much as a phone, so phones are the better choice. Surveying with a lighter device will cause less damage to your neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists, especially considering the accumulated hours you'll spend holding the device throughout your career.
Also, it's worth noting that modern phones like iPhones are getting heavier. So, it's worth checking the device's weight before buying any new hardware
Our verdict: Phones are better for your health
We've left a nuanced point for last.
If you're a Flow Mobile Surveying user, it's worth considering that we develop, first and foremost, for phones. Although our app will work perfectly well on tablets, our developers test on phones, so the phone experience will probably be better.
Generally speaking, phones are better than tablets for surveying.
However, tablets may be better for you if:
Related guide: Floorplan drawing software for asbestos surveyors.
Schedule a demo of Flow Mobile Surveying today.
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