4 Best Smartphones for Nurse Communication

Smartphones have the potential to transform workflows for nurses and other hospital caregivers.

Rather than carrying around multiple devices, smartphones give clinicians mobile access to the EHR, integration with nurse call and telemetry, and secure clinical collaboration from any location.

Many leading hospitals and health systems have enlisted PerfectServe as a partner in their transition to smartphones for nurse communication and mobility. Here are some key insights on how the right mobile devices can improve care team communication for nurses.

The Best Mobile Devices in Healthcare for Nurses

1) Apple iPhone SE (Third Generation)

As a consumer-grade device, the iPhone delivers leading-edge hardware and software wrapped in a small, sleek package. Compared to most enterprise-specific devices, the third generation of the iPhone SE is a desirable and low-cost option. It offers: 

• Liquid resistance
• Lower cost range
• Friendly form factor
• Familiar UI for most cellular device users

As a consumer phone, the Apple device will not offer the ruggedness, battery capabilities, native IP telephony, and other enterprise-grade features desired for a healthcare setting. But, third-party protective sleds and charging solutions are available to make the device hospital-ready. It’s worth mentioning that Apple has a dedicated website outlining how its products can be used in healthcare settings.

Why Choose It: Performance, Cost, Features, Quality, and iOS

If your organization prefers Apple’s mobile operating system, your device choice is clear. Additionally, although the three Android devices listed below meet the “industrial/medical” classification, from a performance, total cost of ownership, quality, and feature availability (like Siri) standpoint, sticking with iOS may be a better choice for many health systems.

The third generation of the iPhone SE is the most cost-effective current Apple phone, providing all of the functionality of its bigger and more expensive iPhone counterparts.

Bonus: Hands-Free Siri and CarPlay Functionality with PerfectServe

As a bonus for PerfectServe customers who choose the iPhone, our Clinical Collaboration solution now supports hands-free functionality with iOS via Siri and CarPlay:

• With these workflows, Siri announces incoming PerfectServe calls and messages, allowing users to answer calls and compose responses (or entirely new text messages) with voice prompts.
• This hands-free calling and messaging support carries over to CarPlay. With this setup, new PerfectServe messages appear in the CarPlay thread list based on criticality.

2) Zebra Technologies TC52x-HC1

Zebra has been in the healthcare space for years, with its MC40 mobile computers and wide range of solutions like printers, scanners, and kiosks. A few years ago, it introduced the TC51-HC and quickly followed it up with the evolved TC52x-HC.

The TC52x-HC Series is a healthcare-focused unit that offers strong hardware performance and support for modern versions of Android. The enterprise device is built with many patient care-centered components, offering: 

• Built-in telephony
• Barcode scanning
• Robust battery capabilities
• Rugged, liquid-resistant exterior

Like the other purpose-built Android devices on our list, the TC52-HC is a hardened device that can withstand repeated drops, exposure to liquids, and frequent exposure to healthcare disinfectants.

Improving upon the TC51-HC, the TC52x-HC offers an additional microphone, advanced noise cancellation, and a louder speaker for hearing and being heard in noisy environments. Its battery is on the larger side among our recommended devices, and Zebra includes software tools that ensure the battery will last through an entire 12-hour shift.

The TC52x-HC also has a large full HD display for improved patient engagements, optimized voice capabilities, a disinfectant-ready design, and a full suite of Mobility DNA solutions.

Why Choose It: Long-Term Quality

Zebra and its partner network are well-established in healthcare, offering plenty of resources to help your project succeed. Zebra made sure the TC52x-HC is backward compatible with TC51-HC accessories and future-proofed the device through Android 10 and later.

Honorable Mention

TC21-HC

Zebra also offers the TC21-HC device, targeted at ancillary healthcare workers like environmental services, transport, and food service staff. The TC21-HC offers most of the same features as the TC52x-HC in a slightly smaller, more cost-effective package.

3) Spectralink Versity 97 Series

Spectralink has years of experience providing voice handsets that run on hospital wireless networks. Spectralink rolled out the Versity Series to customers in late 2018.

Looking at the spec sheet, the Versity 97 Series, which was introduced in January of 2024, checks all the boxes for a nurse-friendly device. Its hardware and Android 13 operating system have raised the bar in the enterprise device market, offering: 

• A powerful processor
• A slim, rugged, and lightweight design
• Telephony
• Long battery life
• A hot-swappable battery
• AI noise suppression for clearer calls
• Integration with top EHR vendors
• Large display with an antimicrobial coating
• Six programmable buttons
• The latest camera and scanner technology
• A BLE location beacon

Spectralink emphasizes voice quality with the Versity 97, leveraging years of wireless handset experience and advanced audio processing software. This model also makes it easy to locate staff or missing devices with a BLE location beacon and built-in RTLS capabilities, and it allows users to summon help quickly and quietly with a dedicated alarm button.

The device is available with a scanner or without for a sleeker, lower-cost option.

Why Choose It: Form Factor

The Versity 97 Series offers the same user-preferred, durable form factor as previous Versity models with all-new, more powerful technology inside. It’s slim and light—the closest thing you’ll find to a consumer phone in a rugged package.

4) Ascom Myco 4

Another company with deep healthcare experience, Ascom offers the Myco 4 smartphone alongside its wireless telephone and nurse call products. It’s recently validated by Google as an Android enterprise-recommended device. 

It offers many features beneficial to nursing workflows, including: 

• Rugged design
• Five-inch screen
• Long battery life
• Hot-swappable battery
• Room-level location accuracy
• Intelligent operating system with many nurse call, alert management, and PBX system integrations

The Myco 4 includes a removable clip to attach to a waistband or pocket like the Myco 3. When worn clipped to scrubs, the top edge features multi-color LEDs that supported apps can use to signal informative notifications. The dedicated barcode scanner is on the rear, rather than the top, so users can see the screen easily while they point the scanner.

Why Choose It: The Ascom Touch

Health systems already using Ascom nurse call and wireless phones should certainly consider the Myco 4 mobile device, along with any other team that could benefit from its unique ergonomic design.

Effective Communication in Nursing

Now is an exciting time as manufacturers continue to bring improved smartphones to the market. PerfectServe is here to share our deep experience and help you achieve your ambitious goals for clinical communication.

For more information about deploying smartphones, check out our comprehensive nurse mobility guide or see our 10-point checklist for deploying shared devices for nurses. You can also check out our complete guide on clinical collaboration systems for hospitals.