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.
so basically what i did was i started with just my phone right, and then i got a tablet because everyone was saying it was better for the checklists and stuff, but tbh i ended up back on phone only after like three weeks because i kept leaving the tablet in the van or forgetting to charge it and basically it was just one more thing to manage
pro tip tho: if you do the tablet thing get a case with a hand strap, the one i had was slippery and i almost dropped it like five times on concrete
so basically what i did was i started with just my phone right, and then i got a tablet because everyone was saying it was better for the checklists and stuff, but tbh i ended up back on phone only after like three weeks because i kept leaving the tablet in the van or forgetting to charge it and basically it was just one more thing to manage
pro tip tho: if you do the tablet thing get a case with a hand strap, the one i had was slippery and i almost dropped it like five times on concrete
