I do not understand why they don't make a simple lanyard hole for some smartphones. One this large especially, as it is not the most comfortable grip in the world.

Here's how I modified the Galaxy Note to accommodate a lanyard. No worries about dropping it. Enjoy!

Tien

p.s. I did try the tip about looping th lanyard through the speaker opening on the backplate, but it eventually broke (luckily it landed in the snow). This one will definitely not come off.

Here's how it looks:

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Here's how I made it:

1) Followed the first steps of removing the back plate. It's quite easy - only a handful of screws. I used the link below as tutorial.

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Galaxy Note N7000 Teardown?Galaxy Note ??? - YouTube

2) Then, I noticed there was a space to the left (with screen facing down).
I figured that was a good spot to place the lanyard holes since I'm right-handed.
I made sure to choose a spot on the back plate (not the back cover) that was not directly on where the tabs to the back cover click in. I chose a spot just between the two tabs.

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3) I used an Exacto blade to make the holes. I tried heating a pointy tool but that took forever to even make a dent in the plastic. Just twisting the blade point back and forth made a hole in a few seconds.

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That's the second hole I am making.

4) Using a piece of strong thread (or in my case, clear plastic thread), I looped it through the lanyard which I then fed through the holes and pulled. This isn't necessary if you made your holes big enough, but I wanted to make mine as small as possible. Any how, it's just a hint on how to feed things through a small hole and not necessarily a must.

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5) Reassemble the phone and the notch the back cover to make room for the lanyard. I used an Exacto and just sliced through it and snapped off a bit. I cleaned it up by twisting the blade around the edges, similar to making a hole.
You need to make sure to cut off enough to clear the entire lanyard rope - otherwise the cover won't lay flat.

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Sadly, I found out the answer to your question. It does NOT pop out if dropped. I had placed my phone in my sweatshirt pocket which I normally don't do. I bent down to pick something up and it slipped out. The back cover stayed on just fine.

I normally don't use cases. The beauty of a smartphone is in its lightness and thinness. A bulky case is not something that adds to its appeal, especially a phone as large as the Note. True, a lanyard isn't that beautiful either, but it is more practical to me than a case. Besides which, I do have insurance on my phone which means I get a replacement relatively easily.

I wish, though, I could find a short elastic lanyard. Where I live, I literally have been able to only find ONE type of lanyard. It seems the iPhone has killed off any market for them.

Tien

 

Yeah, I was kind of hopeful when I saw the lanyard on the S2, but was sorely disappointed that it didn't come standard with the note.