Been running FieldPulse on both tablets (iPad Pro) and phones (iPhone 14) out in the field for about 6 months now. Starting to notice some gaps between the two experiences and wanted to flag them for folks making device decisions.
Here's what I've tracked so far:
Works on both, no issues:
- Work order viewing and updating
- Photo capture and annotation
- Signature capture
- Offline mode sync
- GPS check-in/check-out
Tablet-only or tablet-works-better:
- Split-screen view on iPad — can have work order open alongside maps or PDF manual. Huge time-saver.
- Photo annotation precision — drawing boxes/arrows with Apple Pencil vs finger on phone is night and day
- Checklist form layout — longer forms don't require as much scrolling, can see full sections at once
Phone-only or phone-works-better:
- Barcode scanning via camera — feels faster and more natural on phone, less awkward positioning
- One-handed operation — obvious, but updating status while carrying gear matters
- Pocket-friendly quick checks — pulling phone to confirm next job vs unzipping tablet case
Actual gaps (phone missing entirely):
- Landscape orientation lock on iPhone — app forces portrait, which is annoying when mounted in vehicle
- External keyboard support — Bluetooth keyboard pairs but shortcuts don't work on phone app
Unclear if it's missing or I'm missing something:
- Customer portal preview — thought I saw this mentioned for tablet but can't find it
Anyone else doing the dual-device dance? What am I missing? Especially curious if Android tablets have different gaps than iPad.
Confirmed on Android tablet side:
- No split-screen support on FieldPulse app specifically — Android allows it system-wide but app doesn't resize properly, just letterboxes
- Stylus support varies by device — works on Galaxy Tab S series, generic styluses on budget tablets are hit-or-miss
Pro tip: If your team mixes devices, standardize on one form factor per role. Dispatchers get tablets for the screen real estate, field techs get phones for mobility. The "both" model creates more support tickets than it solves.
Confirmed on Android tablet side:
- No split-screen support on FieldPulse app specifically — Android allows it system-wide but app doesn't resize properly, just letterboxes
- Stylus support varies by device — works on Galaxy Tab S series, generic styluses on budget tablets are hit-or-miss
Pro tip: If your team mixes devices, standardize on one form factor per role. Dispatchers get tablets for the screen real estate, field techs get phones for mobility. The "both" model creates more support tickets than it solves.
Sylvia that's exactly the conclusion I'm coming to. Was trying to be flexible but it's creating this weird tier where some techs can do things others can't, and I'm the one fielding "why doesn't mine do that" questions.
What's your device standardization? iPad + iPhone or Android across the board?
iPhone SE for field, iPad Air for dispatch leads who do field visits occasionally. Kept it simple, bulk purchasing through Apple Business Manager. Not the cheapest but support overhead dropped maybe 60%.
