Z3 Compact died after going in the pool!

[ryaninc]

Hi folks, I've had my Z3 Compact for exactly one week now. It's been a fantastic little device that I would have recommended to anyone. Not anymore. Yesterday I took it in the pool for the first time. I double and triple checked that the port covers were firmly closed and carefully went underwater to take some pictures of the kids. It was never underwater more than 1 or 2 feet. 

It died in less than 5 minutes. I watched it happening. The screen started flickering on and off, then the buttons stopped working, and now it won't turn on at all. When I got out of the pool and dried it off, I checked under the port covers and sure enough, the lower one where the SIM card goes had visible moisture inside. 

I'm seriously mad...this phone was advertised as being waterproof down to 1.5 meters. Sony's own homepage shows pictures of people swimming with it. And yet mine got water damaged in 1 foot of water after 5 minutes. This is completely unacceptable. I've contacted Sony support as well as the website wher I bought it (Handtec UK). Somebody IS going to replace this or I'll raise **bleep**. I didn't pay $500 for a waterproof phone just to have it die in the water!

So beware, fellow Z3c owners. Your phone may not be as waterproof as you were lead to believe.

[DeGraaff]

I can understand that you're upset, but just because yours has  an unfortunate defect that compromised the water resistance, doesn't mean that all of the phones are defective in that way, because then there would surely be many more water damage reports already.

[ryaninc]

I realize that. But the fact that mine died so quickly after going in the water is definite cause for concern. To be honest, I'm not even sure I want want a new Z3c. This has seriously shaken my opinion of Sony.

[daneber]

Hi.. I bought a Z2.. And had similar experience.. I noticed that Z3 had similar issues.. I had mine repaired but will never bring it near water again.

[alexmartins]

We are having the same issues with xperia z3. You can check the topic in z3 section.
I hope sony admit some issue with our phones. At least we know we are not alone. Lets wait for sony's response.

[RexingtonSteele]

Exactly the same for me ryaninc with my Z3.  Put in water for 10s and died completely.  Only had it 2 days.  All ports were firmly closed, although I didn't check them before sending them off to see if that was the issue or water got in somewhere else.

It seems a lot of these phones aren't watertight. Sony cannot be advertsiing this as a waterproof phone if it isn't.  I am wiating for the reply from the repair centre.....

I would advise anyone with a Z3 or Z3C not to take the phone underwater.

[easy_tiger]

How terrible. My z3c is less then a week old and I really want to test it out under water but I'm too scared! I've seen quite a few complaints of the handset malfunctioning. I realise that perhaps only a  handful of handsets may not be watertight but I really can't risk. I think I will return it under my 14 day cool down period.

[GebErit]

When cars are made, each single one undergoes a water torture test, after which it is checked for any water leaks into the interior or engine compartment. Only the cars that have passed this test are distributed to dealers.

Sony phones are advertised as waterproof. Yet, they are probably not individually tested for waterproofness. They do not put them under water at the end of the production line. Hence, if the gasket designed to stop water penetrating into the phone via a SIM or SD card cover is faulty, Sony releases to distribution a phone that is actually not waterproof, despite claiming otherwise.

This policy will eventually backfire. There will be hundreds of customers whose phones have died despite covers closed properly. Only because a single gasket is not enough in terms of design to hold the water.

If you absolutely must go underwater with your Sony phone, it is definitely recommended that you use some watertight adhesive tape and cover all the ports, speakers and microphone holes with it.

The front and back panels of Sony phones are glued onto the phone body. If there is a gap in that glue layer, the water may enter the phone despite ports covered by tape.

So, I would not put my Sony Z1 Compact under water. There is just too much risk. I take the waterproofness feature as a bonus. Knowing that my phone should survive accidental exposure to water. Nothing more.

[DeGraaff]

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@easy_tiger wrote:

How terrible. My z3c is less then a week old and I really want to test it out under water but I'm too scared! I've seen quite a few complaints of the handset malfunctioning. I realise that perhaps only a  handful of handsets may not be watertight but I really can't risk. I think I will return it under my 14 day cool down period.

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I have tested mine for several minutes in water and no problem here. Just put it to the test. If you are suspicious about it, film it so that you have proof that you closed the flaps and all. While it may seem as if many people are reporting water damage, these are still only a handful of incidents amongst the probably hundreds of thousands that have been sold so far.

A number of devices do have defective flaps that don't stay closed firmly, so check if your flaps do stay closed like they should. If they open by themselves after a while, do not hesitate to bring it in for replacement.

Also note that there should not be coming bubbles from the device when you put it in water. A few bubbles in the first few seconds is normal, but if you keep seeing bubbles emerge, especially from around the flaps, take it out of the water immediately and contact your retailer.

[easy_tiger]

Thanks DeGraaff, yeah you are right, I'll have to take the chance!