I've owned an XPERIA Z for about a year now. Its seen all sorts of action and has been subjected to less than ideal situations many times over. From the frigged air of a Colorado winter to the dreadful summer heat in Texas. I've taken this phone into the shower (because I like music) practically every time Ive done so. The phone is around water more often than most people are comfortable with, but then again, I purchased a water resistant product and looked forward to using it when others are running for cover. I have filmed concerts while raining, rode my bicycle in downpours with it practically exposed to the elements through my camalbak and have dropped it into pitchers of whatever just to prove a point and it has just kept on ticking ...that is until yesterday. I hadn't read the manual on warranty or regular operating conditions, but apparently its not supposed to be subjected to chlorinated water which is found in practically every pool in the world. (that I've seen)
The commercial clearly shows a person jumping into a pool and the T Mobile advertisement has a person underwater (in a pool) taking a video of a swimming child. SO OF COURSE I TOOK IT INTO A POOL!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday I visited a local amusement park and was in a wading pool in not more than 3 ft of water, with it in the pocket of my trunks. I'm 6' in height and that would put my trunks pockets to be around 2.5 -3' up from the ground. Id say about 2 minutes had passed before i had a picture moment arise. I pulled it from my pocket, woke it up and entered my unlock code. I opened the camera app and then the phone died. No, it wasn't the battery and YES, i had ensured that all the ports were closed as I have done EVERY TIME i have exposed this electronic equipment to the elements. I didn't know why, or how but when it comes down to it, i believe that its partially my fault and partially SONYs.
After having researched this **bleep** moment i have learned and later experienced exactly what had gone on. Reviews have said that SONY has acknowledged poor seals along the sides nearest the camera and adjacent to the Headphone jack. Just my luck, i had dropped it a couple of times which removed a bit of the "lip" in that very spot.. When i heated the unit up and removed the screen it was quick to be removed from the frame in that corner and the other. So be it, water made its way throughout the unit as seen by every pink strip to be found. Upon attempting to charge after the stupid rice trick it only turned on to display something not normal and then appear to shut down and vibrate like crazy with a solid red light.
Good news though. I took the puppy apart completely minus the front side, aired it out, re-assembled it and VIOLA! the little **bleep** is working again!!!! I do have water bubbles (kinda like a lava lamp in appearance) that are still present on the front screen. Maybe I wasn't patient enough but at this point, i'll take what I can get as I am not rich. However, Im super stocked that I was able to repair it myself. I find myself wondering of an alternative method to securing the rear panel to the frame. I don't want to spend more money or wait for the seal sticker to be delivered as this is my only means of communication, so maybe some silicone will suffice? Has anybody tried this?
I don't have the back on the phone at this time, as in not connected the least bit, and it is fully functional. I don't know what that electronix are that are affixed to the inside of the rear panel, but so far they don't seem important. I use practically every function offered so Im sure ill find out in the coming days. I hope its not the GPS.
All that said, I love this phone. I am on my 5th one in less than a year. Sad to say, yes. I know. I purchased my first one 3 weeks after its T Mobile debut last summer. 3 hours in to my purchase and after mowing the lawn I was hellbent on jamming out while showering. That phone WAS NOT water resistant. I placed it on the edge of my bath (where I have put every one of them since and exposed it to heat, steam and water spray but never submerged) and it went freakin crazy. I immediately returned it to the store that I had walked out of 4 hours prior and the rep said " YOU DID WHAT?" I pointed at the dunking booth located behind his terminal and said I did exactly what y'all promote the phone as being able to do. " I took it into the shower with me" I got a new one and went on my way. The following morning I took my new phone into the shower, took off to work and stopped at the gas station. When i was getting into my vehicle i took the phone out of my front pocket only to find that the screen had cracked rendering the unit absolutely USELESS. I don't recall how i got that unit replaced, but I think it was also a warranty issue. The third one lasted a couple of weeks before i got stupid and forgot that I had set it on the bumper to my vehicle prior to leaving for a bike ride. By the time i realized what I had done it was too late. LOOKOUT is great, but i was under the impression that I had activated it but when i logged in to locate my phone, i learned otherwise. MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT! so i got a 4th unit. It lasted until the day i bought my new vehicle and sat down with it in my back pocket. I heard the cracking of the screen as I sat down into the vehicle. ughhhhhh.. So now I am on my fifth phone in less than 5 months and have paid 900 for a $600 bad **bleep** phone that seldom gives me any problems other than anxiety which sets in the moment i think i have lost it.
I will stand by SONY for years to come, but I wish they would've put a little more into the creation of a DURABLE water resistant phone. PS T MOBILE WEB SITE STATES THAT ITS A WATER PROOF PHONE!!!!!!!!! why am I at a loss for doing as I'm lead to believe I'm able to SONY?
KEY POINTS: watch the repair videos on YOUTUBE. SUPER EASY TO FOLLOW and cost is minimal if anything, besides time. . Dont keep this phone in your pockets as it will bend/break easily. get a case for the phone. its worth it and could possible have saved me this review but after spending over $900 on a phone, and $1500 a year in service and losing the only case I've ever bought when i lost the third unit, I cant afford one.
