I don't use a phone hunting. I understand people use the camera and need communications for an emergency. I use a separate camera (film actually) and a radio. Something like Spot or Inreach can also be a good alternative to a phone where there is no signal. Where I hunt, there is no cell signal. So a phone is mostly good for the camera and I have better ones.
I don't take a laser rangefinder. I won't say you "shouldn't" because people work out their own ethic. The guy bowhunting with a LRF isn't doing worse than me without one and a rifle. Just know that you don't need one.
For me, binoculars have been the single biggest aid. I can conceive of going without, but it would drastically reduce the quantity of opportunities. I can see how it might not reduce the best quality opportunities, but even if I'm passing many lesser ones, they're still encouraging me. Bear in mind I'm in the west where I see game out to four, eight, twelve-hundred yards all the time. If I was hunting in a stand or dense woods, I doubt I would glass so much.
For me, better load-bearing is the most needed upgrade. I took a 7-liter pack which held everything I needed to be several miles from the truck, water, snacks, FAK, game bags, knives, extra clothing (down vest or windbreaker). So I didn't need a big pack. I have 30 and 60L packs for hiking and backpacking but didn't need that volume to go for a two or three mile walk from the 4x4. What was killing me was poor loadbearing. To the weight in the little 7L pack, add the rifle, optics, binocular, and my (rather large) camera, my handgun (EDC), flashlight, gloves, mittens... and my loadout ends up being something like 25 pounds. I need to put more of that weight on the loadbearing system of a bigger pack even if I don't need the bigger internal volume. I packed quarters too, which could be a significant factor but the most I packed them this last season was a mile and it didn't really factor compared to all the days carrying a few pieces of heavy gear.