Zwift & Cell Phones: Your recommendation

Getting close to replacing my Samsung Galaxy S-8 Plus. It runs Zwift pretty well, unlike my new Windows laptop.

My main beef is battery power, I am limited to about 2.5-3 hours on Zwift.

What would be some solid phone choices (non-Apple) for Zwifting.

Thank you.

Why can’t you just plug in your device?

I’ve used it a couple times with my S10e which seems to run smoothly.

However I also don’t understand why you wouldn’t use your “new” windows laptop??
I’m using an outdated Dell latitude (5years old, onboard graphics) which seems perfectly capable at medium resolution … definitely a better experience than on my phone.
tbd I don’t really notice the mediocre graphics after a while (esp. in races)

Why would your phone run zwift better than a pc? That seems quite curious

Why would your phone run zwift better than a pc? That seems quite curious
I switched from a Windows PC to old iPhone (6s). I was getting a lot of dropouts using ant and the Bluetooth works great. I use a “dongle” for power and monitor.
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Why can’t you just plug in your device?

We’ve got a winner!!

Because that port is used to output to my big screen.

can you get a new phone with wireless charging? leave the phone on a wireless charging pad, which will free up the port for running to your display

Because that port is used to output to my big screen.

How about something like this:

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These both look like excellent suggestions. Thank-you v. much. Any specific phone recommendations?

I have ran zwift for a while now thru a google pixel 4, it works well.

These both look like excellent suggestions. Thank-you v. much. Any specific phone recommendations?

I am an iOs guy but in general, make sure whatever android phone you go with meets the Zwift device spec:

https://support.zwift.com/en_us/supported-devices-to-run-zwift-H1Cj9QbeB

The big issue with a smart phone is screen size and BT drop-outs. now if you have a splitter and can output to a TV (or airplay, or whatever non iDevices call screen mirroring), and can use an Ant+ Dongle, then you’re in business. I have only tried riding on Zwift once with my phone, but I’ve Zwift run through my phone numerous times (both at the gym, and at home, when my PC is too bloody slow to load, and I am just doing a quick run off the bike on the TM) and it’s been decent, other than the small screen. I have a cable set-up in my paincave to charge my phone with, so I had no battery issues, and at the gym while running, the policy was max 60min on a piece of equipment, so I never tested the bounds on battery life…

Get an iPad. I use android and the iPad runs zwift much better than my phone even though the ipad is using a 4 generation old chip- A10.

Get an iPad. I use android and the iPad runs zwift much better than my phone even though the ipad is using a 4 generation old chip- A10.

This. IPad 7th gen are pretty cheap. My Zwift runs amazing on one. I am an Android phone user.

Didn’t some say here that an Apple TV box is the easiest and cheapest way to run Zwift?

Get an iPad. I use android and the iPad runs zwift much better than my phone even though the ipad is using a 4 generation old chip- A10.

This. IPad 7th gen are pretty cheap. My Zwift runs amazing on one. I am an Android phone user.

Didn’t some say here that an Apple TV box is the easiest and cheapest way to run Zwift?

Sounded like the OP was going to get a new phone regardless. If it were me, and the old phone ran Zwift with no issues, I’d probably get a usb/hdmi/power adapter and relegate that phone to permanent Zwift service on wifi, get the new phone and use that to run the companion app while Zwifting…

Get an iPad. I use android and the iPad runs zwift much better than my phone even though the ipad is using a 4 generation old chip- A10.

This. IPad 7th gen are pretty cheap. My Zwift runs amazing on one. I am an Android phone user.

Didn’t some say here that an Apple TV box is the easiest and cheapest way to run Zwift?

Only issue with the Apple TV is the 2 BT connection limit AFAIK. I just watch on my iPad.

Getting close to replacing my Samsung Galaxy S-8 Plus. It runs Zwift pretty well, unlike my new Windows laptop.

My main beef is battery power, I am limited to about 2.5-3 hours on Zwift.

What would be some solid phone choices (non-Apple) for Zwifting.

Thank you.

Keep your Samsung S8 for zwift and delete all other apps. Buy an extension chord to keep plugged in while you ride. Or just get a tablet that can run it

Because that port is used to output to my big screen.

How about something like this:

I use that adapter on my iPhone 8S. Lightning/hdmi adapter. Although the lighting bolt displays that the phone is charging, the battery is still draining. I was at 85% on tonight’s Zwift ride, about 70 minutes the phone was down to about 40%

Because that port is used to output to my big screen.

How about something like this:

I use that adapter on my iPhone 8S. Lightning/hdmi adapter. Although the lighting bolt displays that the phone is charging, the battery is still draining. I was at 85% on tonight’s Zwift ride, about 70 minutes the phone was down to about 40%

I use the Apple adapter with my iPad for Zwift. The first one I had did the same thing, battery level would drop during use. When I took it back, I was told it shouldn’t be happening, and was given a new one. That one has worked perfectly for the last year, and will bring the charge up to 100% during a ride. I’ve seen several reviews that the Apple adapter can be hit or miss, like my experience, and that the knockoffs are usually worse.