Smartphone advice

It's probably getting to the point now where I should jump on the bandwagon and get a smartphone. I still don't really have an interest in one but more and more places now seem to expect that everyone has one as standard and so I'm starting to be at a disadvantage.

However, because of my Raynaud's (circulation problems in extremities) I really need a phone with mechanical buttons and smartphones tend to not offer this feature. I know that there are gloves that are designed to use with touchscreens but these are not an option for me as they won't keep my hands warm enough to physically use a phone (or not be in terrible pain). This obviously leaves me with a very limited choice. Luckily, I'm not bothered about having the coolest looking phone, just one that is half decent and worth me bothering with. I've had a google and the Blackberry Priv looks like something I could live with, has anyone on here had experience with one, or any advice to offer on other smartphones with buttons? Another option is using a stylus but I think I may struggle to hold it when cold and it's also just a bit of a faff having to carry one around.

 

Marks and Spencer's do gloves you can wear and still do screen wiping.

 

I know but they are no good for my Raynaud's unfortunately. I have to wear mittens rather than gloves as I need to not have my fingers separated which causes them to be colder. Even then, mittens limit the pain greatly but I am still unable to use my fingers properly. The best way to explain it is when your hand or foot goes completely numb from pins and needles and although you know it is still there because you see it on the end of your arm/leg it just feels like a giant piece of uncooperative rubbery jelly which doesn't take any weight or hold anything. Anything other than mittens and I'm in constant agony too.

 

Blackberry is only real option I think for smartphone with buttons.

Priv not cheap though, might be worth waiting until their next keyboard Android phone is out & price of that one drops.

 

https://healthunlocked.com/sruk/posts/69461/gloves-that-work-with-the-iphone

Not being patronising. Hope you find something

 

This is the cheaper option, a foldable Bluetooth keyboard you can use with any smartphone and carry with you:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/1byone-Foldable-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Smartphone/dp/B00VRCKF5K

 

Thanks. I've tried the special silver gloves and everything but mittens are the only things that work for me.I know that there are lots of gloves that work with iphones, it's just that there aren't any gloves that work with my hands

 

Thanks for that, I've not seen one of those before. I'm not sure how practical it is for general every day carrying around use but it's certainly worth looking it!

 

I note what you say about gloves not keeping your hands warm enough, but maybe try cycling gloves? (With apologies if I'm repeating what you've already tried or know doesn't work). They may insulate your hands and work on a phone too. I've got a pair of Decathlon own brand "BTwin" full gloves that work brilliantly.

 

I only have a smartphone because work give me one, if they didn't I'm not sure I'd be that bothered. I've currently got a Samsung Galaxy 4 but before that I had a Blackberry and it was great.

I really miss it and would have it back if it was an option. The proper button keyboard was a positive in my opinion.

 

Not really related to smartphones but have you ever tried proper EN511 rated gloves? Or ever noticed if the gloves you have tried have had that on them?

 

You've let me down ST. When I saw your name I really thought you were going to do a joking '...ahhh but have you considered gloves? I bet you didn't think of that now did you?' type post but instead you jumped on the gloves bandwagon To be honest though, no I haven't as I'd never heard of them. Apart from being a bit embarrassed by them, I'm quite happy with my mittens as it was such a relief to finally find something after 20 odd years that stops the pain and I feel like I've tried literally hundreds of pairs of gloves in various shapes and sizes. I was more looking for advice on smartphones with buttons rather than types of gloves but I do appreciate people's kindness in trying to help and I guess it would make the search a bit easier (although I'm not sure proper industry standard gloves would also be smartphone friendly). It's just hard to remain hopeful on that front as it's been a lot of wasted money and a lot of pain.

 

Not exactly new or top spec but can be upgraded to Android 4.0, think this was the last non-Blackberry Android phone with a keyboard:

See link in other post.

 

http://thedroidguy.com/2017/06/top-7-android-smartphones-physical-qwerty-keyboards-87556

 

Sorry can't edit for some reason but posted wrong link, this is right one:

https://www.refurb-phone.com/sony-e...MI29b4iPOi1QIVRp8bCh2DXAVkEAkYAiABEgIXevD_BwE

 

Might be being daft but can't see keyboard buttons on that one. I do like the physical home button though.

 

Very interesting, thank you!! I really like that it's 'mini' too as my phone at the moment is tiny and I hate how big phones are now.

 

This is my current little beauty, the Nokia 6600 slide: (image from Google)



It's so old that kids don't recognise it and think it's a diddy smartphone and are amazed at the tiny screen.

 

Blackberry for the keypad

 

My wife has a Motorola Droid 4, she hates and detests touchscreens.. She swears by this phone, it is a couple of years old now but still very good.She loved her Blackberry and would still be using it if it hadnt committed suicide by falling in the canal !