Choosing a device

Here we cover what to take into account when acquiring devices to use with mWater. Most Android and iOS devices from recent years will work perfeclty fine with our software, but it is useful to keep some key questions in mind. In general, we see slightly more issues with tablets than phones so recommend phones for most use cases.

Note: We have previously maintained a device knowledge base (https://portal.mwater.co/#/resource_center/device_knowledge_base), however the vast majority of devices run mWater very well, and there are a great many different Android device types, so instead of listing them we here focus on what to look for when selecting devices.

If getting Android devices, please ensure they run at least Android version 8 (Oreo) for best compatibility. For iOS, consider devices from late 2017 onwards, so ones that run iOS 11 or newer.

Sometimes, trying our web app at https://app.mwater.co, which runs on a browser, can work on slightly older devices, too.

Make sure your device has enough RAM, at least 3GB. This is not the same as hard drive space, but is the active memory that is used by the operating system and apps that are running. We have seen problems with devices running on only 2GB of RAM because Android can take over 1GB of it, so please aim to get devices with at least 3GB of RAM to be able to run the app smoothly with all its features. (Note that caching data such as tiles and sites will take up RAM. If you cache tens of thousands of sites, it is especially important to have a suitable amount of RAM)
Especially when purchasing a tablet, ensure that it has a camera. Not all tablets come with cameras.
Similarly, ensure that the tablets you may purchase have GPS which is essential for acquiring the location properly. Many cheaper models do not have in-built GPS.
Cellular connectivity is also preferable to allow for real-time syncing where there is a network.
For tablets, a minimum screen size of 8 inches is good for data entry and review.
For good battery life, aim to have at least 3000mAh of battery life for all-day field use.
Also, devices with water and dust resistance (IP67 or IP68 rating) should be considered for outdoor work.