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Mobility

Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

By Sonja Thompson October 31, 2013, 10:08 AM PDT

Image
1
of 11

Horrified
Horrified
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic article.

Earlier this year, we published an infographic by Protect Your Bubble that broke down smartphone incidents by gender and age group. Now, in the spirit of Halloween and all things spooky, we thought we’d take a look at some of the uncommon but true horror stories of smartphone damage, loss, or theft from real Protect Your Bubble claims. Here are 10 of the most nightmarish ways that users have ended up phoneless.

Rain drain
Rain drain
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

Rain drain demise

fallsroad via Flickr

Rain drain demise

An iPhone 5 met its match when it was dropped outside and quickly slipped down a rain drain in the street.

fallsroad via Flickr
Stranger danger
Stranger danger
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

Stranger danger

TONO BALAGUER, iStockPhoto

Stranger danger

It’s not uncommon to ask a passerby to take a photo of you with your sweetie or friends. However, unsuspecting people beware, because an iPhone 4 went missing when a stranger ran away with the device!

TONO BALAGUER, iStockPhoto
Baby slobber
Baby slobber
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

Baby slobber

xopherlance via Flickr

Baby slobber

In an ideal world, parents have teething rings and pacifiers at the ready. However, that’s not always the case. All it takes is a few seconds of distraction before damage is done. Let’s face it… sometimes, spit happens. 

xopherlance via Flickr
White water rafting
White water rafting
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

White water rafting

White water rafting

An adventurous Samsung Galaxy S III met its match with the rocks of some white water rapids and is now waterlogged and drowned at the bottom of a river.

Dog with phone
Dog with phone
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

Attack dog

DaniJace via Flickr

Attack dog

Maybe Fido mistook a Samsung Galaxy S4 as a chew toy? Or maybe the owner was paying more attention to the phone than his or her furry friend? Whatever the reason, the dog came away victorious in this battle of animal vs. technology.

DaniJace via Flickr
Beware of teeth
Beware of teeth
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

The multi-tasker

iStockPhoto

The multi-tasker

One Focus Flash phone owner, whose hands were full, bit the phone to hold it by mouth and accidentally cracked the screen in the process.

iStockPhoto
Pool party plunge
Pool party plunge
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

Party animal

Robert Josiah Bingaman, Flickr

Party animal

What happens in Vegas sometimes stays there. One iPhone 5 was tossed in the pool at a pool party with its owner.

Robert Josiah Bingaman, Flickr
Silent death
Silent death
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

Silent death

idontkaren via Flickr

Silent death

The most important rule in a library is to be quiet, but the silent function wasn’t helpful when a bookworm couldn’t locate the phone he had set down in the stacks.

idontkaren via Flickr
Butter fingers
Butter fingers
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

Butter fingers

Stephen Little, Flickr

Butter fingers

Just taking a photo of the view, one Samsung Galaxy Note II was dropped off a 7th floor balcony. Watch out beloooooooooooooooow!

Stephen Little, Flickr
Forget-me-not
Forget-me-not
Photos: 10 nightmarish ways to end up phoneless

Forget-me-not

Forget-me-not

Finally, one Samsung Galaxy S III was left on top of a car while the owner put her baby in a car seat, and she forgot the phone was there. When she backed out of her driveway, the phone got smashed. At least the baby was safe!


What nightmarish or unusual way have you lost your smartphone? Share your horror stories in the discussion thread below.
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By Sonja Thompson
My name is Sonja Thompson. I've worked for TechRepublic since October of 1999, starting with the enewsletter team, then with the Premium Products group (creating books and CDs), as well as programming some of the elements on the site. After leading t
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