handheld gps for the ice

So I’ve had a lowrance endura for the past five years and it broke last season. I tried to find someone that can fix it, which I couldn’t, lowrance won’t fix them, too old, and then I tried to pull it apart myself, learned that I know absolutely nothing about electronics!

So question is do I spend the $300 for a new handheld unit with micro SD slot for mapping chips, or just stick with navionics on my phone? So far I’ve determined that pros of handheld are: not worrying about draining phone battery or dropping it down the hole or snow, also I do some hike in BWCA trout every March and the handheld will much better fit the bill for those trips. Using phone requires no spendy puchase, but them I risk draining battery and not having ability to call for help should I need it, and I’m on the ice alone quite a bit. Those of you using your phone for mapping on the ice how do you use it? Just to get to spots then shut it off or are you following contours and drilling holes? Also, whats your battery life like all day using it on the ice hopping to a couple different spots?

OK, just checked cabelas and they have Garmin GPSMAP 78S 50% off right now so that only $150. Anyone using this unit? Feedback needed before I pull the trigger.

Buy spare battery source for cell

X2..Batteries are good backups.

I Had the Garmin 78S with lake map chip. I got it because it would float so I would not have to worry about dropping it down the hole. I liked it but it was hard to use compared to a cell phone. We are spoiled with touch screen. The 78S you can only navigate by using the buttons. Mine was stolen out of my truck this summer and I bought the Navonics app for $15 and I already like using it a little more for searching lakes. I did like the 78S for marking weed lines in the summer so I can go back and not have to drill so many holes but its not worth it to me to buy another one.