Sony changes its waterproof policy, says not to fully submerge phones

11 September, 2015
Sony introduces a few changes to the policy for its waterproof devices, suggesting not to submerge them.

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  • s
  • shazii
  • uQ{
  • 12 Sep 2015

wtf sony go and test xperia z5 series in pool i put my xperia in pool fresh water and its working till now we want to use in pool not in bath

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • PWh
    • 12 Sep 2015

    Anonymous, 12 Sep 2015So do you have a Sony Xperia Z series phone for you to comm... moreI own a Z1C. Tried it under water, making sure that all ports are sealed, up to 4 inch (0.1016 meter) deep, for 15 seconds (after which the phone shut down by itself, the liquid indicators had turned red), at a water amusement park, to test the waterproof feature. And boy did I feel embarrassed! No where in the user guide is it written that it cant be used in chlorinated water and the user guide just mentions "should be used in fresh water (non-saline)"- I have quoted the line in the user guide regarding the waterproof feature. My Xperia Z1C is IP58 rated, that is, the "8" stands for usage in chlorinated water allowed without prolonged use. Tell me something then did I in any way go beyond the stipulated restrictions? In fact Sony did advertise the Z1 series being used in pools and pools are generally chlorinated. Sony later changed the term "waterproof" to "water-resistant" after a lady filed a lawsuit against Sony in South Africa. Below is the link:

    http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/sony-xperia-z1-can-no-longer-be-called-waterproof-in-south-africa-603518

    If people here are calling other people who have got a water damaged phone "morons", "idiot", "stupid" or describing them as "people who don't know how to use their phones underwater", go to the following links, read a couple of opinions and you will understand the scenario:

    https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z-ZL-ZR/Xperia-z-water-damaged/td-p/357468/page/2 - For Xperia Z series

    http://community.sony.com/t5/Customer-Relations/My-Sony-Xperia-Z1-was-damaged-when-I-used-it-under-water/td-p/453036 - For Xperia Z1 series

    https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z2/Sony-xperia-z2-water-damaged/td-p/846053 - For Xperia Z2 series

    https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z3/Z3-water-damage-screen-problem-anyone-else-had-probs/td-p/923964/page/2 - For Xperia Z3 series

    http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2014/10/15/4107561.htm - Warning for water damage in Xperia Z3 series

    To a certain extent I do agree with you - there are some people who can be described as "stupid", "idiot", etc but not the entire lot.

    Luckily for me, I do have technical knowledge regarding laptops and the basic programming of smartphones is based on the programming of laptops, with tweaks here and there for customisation purpose. Thanks to this, I have revived my Xperia Z1C from a water-damage, soft bricked situation to a workable condition. I still need to check if all hardware parts are functional and responding to their respective software drivers. I downgraded from Android 5.0.2 Lollipop (Build number 14.5.A.0.270, Indian version - Stock ROM) to Android 4.4.4 Kitkat (Build number 14.4.A.0.108, Central European version - Stock ROM) via Sony Mobile Flasher (Flashtool v. 0.9.18.1 Latest version 0.9.19.2 ) by Androxyde, when my phone was in a soft bricked situation. This took me 1.5 months in all. It can take even longer to repair a water-damage, soft bricked phone.

      • R
      • Rz
      • 7tP
      • 12 Sep 2015

      AnonD-85136, 11 Sep 2015Mostly People misuse their phone. It's good decision. I hav... moreI have xperia z1 and it's waterproof if there like z5,z5p is not fully submerge then sony socks

        • B
        • BlackholeYoung
        • 7vX
        • 12 Sep 2015

        Now I like to see what Siri will say about waterproof phone 😄

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • Kg{
          • 12 Sep 2015

          ibin, 12 Sep 2015After these years Sony marketed their devices as waterproof... moreSo do you have a Sony Xperia Z series phone for you to comment like that? I have Z1 and Z3 Compact and have been using it for water activity for years already and no problem at all, just not in beaches because the current might break it & absolutely not in pools with "many" people, the force of the movement of water might break it. Just that, people would abuse their phone in water without a second thought. Great move by Sony. You know, you have to think sometimes. Sony phones are great, just don't buy the cheaper fake one (Counterfeit phones).

            • D
            • AnonD-418999
            • vMh
            • 12 Sep 2015

            Well hopefully another company steps up with a quality phone that's waterproof and puts sony to shame...

              Then, the solutions for the next Sony waterproof phone:

              1. Make a phone with e-SIM card
              2. Don't make a micro sd slot, just using more internal storage
              3. Make a phone with Wireless charging

                • D
                • AnonD-434597
                • tDx
                • 12 Sep 2015

                Where is tannhauser?

                  • D
                  • AnonD-79590
                  • 7Xm
                  • 12 Sep 2015

                  Have been submerging mine everywhere. Sea, lakes, pools and been washing it with tap water everytime its covered with fingerprints. Still working fine after 1 1/2 year. It served me quite well and if after 2yrs it breaks. So be it.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • HC2
                    • 12 Sep 2015

                    So for those who bought those phones on the grounds of that it could do better underwater than what the updated T&C says, are they eligible for some sort of claim?

                      • i
                      • ibin
                      • tA$
                      • 12 Sep 2015

                      After these years Sony marketed their devices as waterproof with lot of ads featuring fully submerged phone, now they take back what they claim.
                      Wow.
                      What's the point of having waterproof phone if you can't submerge it? :)

                        • M
                        • Marco
                        • L@n
                        • 12 Sep 2015

                        I have a Z3 Compact and, despite never having submerged it in pools or in salt water, I usually wash it under the tap or shower. I realized that the speakers sound volume is much lower now than when I bought it.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 4$g
                          • 12 Sep 2015

                          pt020, 12 Sep 2015My Z3 compact gets a showe revery day,no problem.Cool story?

                            • C
                            • Carlos
                            • M@{
                            • 12 Sep 2015

                            They should change price, cut it 30%.

                              I wonder what kind of real world useage they are trying to simulate by carefully submerging a phone for 30 mins in tap water. It feels like the old wrist watch phenomena over again in that you're promising too much. If it said water resist 50m you could barely use it for fun at the beach and only if it said water resist 200m could you use it for a proper swim with some light diving.

                                • a
                                • angel
                                • B2@
                                • 12 Sep 2015

                                My xperia z2 had a problem when i took pictures under water, the touchscreen stopped working and after a while when i connected my phone it was restarting over and over, but i sent it to sony and they fixed it perfectly, they even fixed some scratches, i love sony for that !!!

                                  • S
                                  • Smart user
                                  • ibj
                                  • 12 Sep 2015

                                  Pluto, 12 Sep 2015I've been waiting for a long time for sony to stop the wate... moreA lot user misuse the feature, they should check the cap is close tightly or not, because my one is perfectly no problem.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • t7W
                                    • 12 Sep 2015

                                    They should rather accurately advertise/describe their phones as just 'water-resistant'. But I rather they drop proofing, resistance-ing, or IP rating altogether so then they could possibly drop the prices on their phones too

                                      • Z
                                      • Z ultra user
                                      • PA7
                                      • 12 Sep 2015

                                      Wanna submerge, use motorola defy. I never have gut submerge my z ultra

                                        • j
                                        • jimy
                                        • PxV
                                        • 12 Sep 2015

                                        i also submerge my Z1 to swimming pool and capture a photo.. and it's waterproof.