Waterproof Test by Service Menu Pressure Sensor Test

[dquilon]

Hello everyone,

I have been reading about this subject for a while now as I wait eagerly for the arrival of my new Xperia Z3 Compact... (I have also been reading about cracking screens, camera pink spots, self opening flaps, etc)... HOWEVER...

I don't want to go crazy over issues that might be isolated and not widespread, but the Pressure Sensor test seems to be one thing that is still unclarified by an oficial Sony statement or at least by a representative AND present on all Z3 / Z3C devices.

So in this line of thought I would like to ask if some of the notable members of this forums know if there is some kind of equilization valve/membrane embedded on the Xperia Z3 / Z3 Compact handsets since the Pressure Test seems to point to that conclusion.

When performed (*#*#7378423#*#* -> Service Test -> Pressure Sensor) pressing gently the screen while all the flaps are closed, the pressure rises and if you hold your finger, it will fall back to the atmospheric pressure. IS THIS NORMAL? the pressure holds in the Z3 if the landyard hole is closed by your finger while testing.

Here is a youtube video about this, and the reason of my confusion. Sony Xperia Z3 common waterproofing defect in wrist strap hole

I understand that if this wasn't the case, the phone would be in danger if there are drastic atmospheric changes like flying on an airplane, but I would really like to be sure that this pressure equalization is normal and it is an indication that the phone can survive immersion in water as my Acro S has for the past 2 years.

There is a thread on XDA about this subject too, but it still unclarified by Sony. XDA test waterproofing without water 

The note on the original post reads:

"pressure will decrease automatically - that is likely a result of some mechanism (membrane/valve behind lanyard hole) to adjust for changes in atmospheric pressure to allow the barometer to work."

Is this true?

Thanks, hopefully I made myself clear, if not I would be happy to try to explain myself further.

Diego.

[Thommo]

Honestly I don't know and I've seen many Z3's water tested without issue but I will inform the right members and have one respong to this

[dandy63]

Hi, i've read the thread about this a few times on XDA.....some people swear by the results but some dont, some of the results tend to vary, i personally wouldn't trust them but the test is there for a reason i suppose. When any member on this forum has suffered suspected water ingress on their phone i always advise them to insist on a Vacuum Test when the phone arrives at Xperia Care.....interseting tho :smileysmileywink:

[dquilon]

Thanks for the support Thommo and dandy,

My big concern is that I live in a third world country with little to no access to Sony's phones due to strict import regulations and a communist dictatorship disguised as a democracy... And the problem comes when all of our devices we have to get them at a very high price without local warranty, either online or when traveling to foreign countries.

So a family member is actually traveling to New Zealand and I took advantage of the opportunity so I asked the favor of buying the Z3 Compact (checked to be D5833, 14W45. Green) on a local Sony store so I can pay him when he gets back. And due to all this concerns I even asked him through a long distance call to check the Service Menu for various test, including the Pressure Sensor, having similar results to what the XDA thread shows. My relative arrives the 24th of this month so I wanted to test as much as I can since I don't think the warranty will extend to my country once the phone is here so...

Additionally when I got back to work, a coworker coincidentially also got a Z3 Compact (D5803 14W43. Black) in his travel to the US, and I sat down with him and test everything I could, and fortunately the device is in great condition even after a hard fall. The translucent corner had inside cracks but both panels (back and front) are like new.

------------ Back to the main topic -------------

I tested this device of him ALSO having the same results of Pressure rising when pressed but slowly equalizing even if hold... and this time (maybe for Z3 Compact model) covering the landyard hole makes no difference with pressure. It does not retain the elevated pressure, so it might be an indication that IF there is a valve it could be located in a different place for the Z3C...

I will wait for additional replies and hopefully we can uncover this mistery and it could  be good news and ease of mind for people wanting to test (under proper conditions) the water proofing capabilities of our devices.

[z28xtce]

There is no comment from Sony on this because the barometer test is not a waterproofing test, just as the bag of rice is not a phone saving miracle for waterlogged phones.

[Thommo]

They may not to you directly but because I have contacted them then they will either reply here or let me know intern I will reply - Staff are away from work at the moment as they are in Sweden so tomorrow being the 8th hopefully a reply will be given to this - That's all I can do

[SergioPL1]

I just tested mine Z3C and yes... if I press the screen presure rises fast and then slowly (2 - 3 secs) equalizes.

[dquilon]

z28xtc,

with all due respect, I partially disagree with you, because even though the test is not an absolute measurement of the waterproof capabilities of the phone, it does give a good indication in telling the owner that they have a sealed device or not...

When the test is perfomed with the flaps opened, the Pressure will not rise if you press the screen, but IF this happens even when you close the flaps, then you definitely have a bad sealing on the phone and its reason enough to avoid submerging it.

I have 5 years of experience with Mechanical Seals and sealing technology but I would like to understand better how it is implemented our Xperia devices, so we can properly take care of them... My Xperia Acro S has given me 2 years of joyful waterproof entertainment allowing me to take pictures of my family in the pool, rain and even the beach and waterslides.... so I just want to continue to enjoy my type of usage with newer devices.

[z28xtce]

Hi, I understand what you're saying but the barometric test is not the way I would trust at all for an expensive phone. Hopefully sony can enlighten all of us to a specific way to test these phones that is 100% foolproof.

[dquilon]

I agree with you on that part... It is an expensive phone, not as expensive as other alternatives but definitely not cheap... so I will also hesitate to dunk it on water...

Hopefully Thommo will receive an answer about this. But I don't think that there is a better way to test this feature without submersion. This test is also a worse scenario than diving into water because the pressure from the water would help to retain the flaps closed, and this test would actually try to pop the flaps open, so to speak.

Anyway in my line of work we perform sealing test with pressure using a specific device for important products, and in many cases the test are nowhere near the actually degree of complexity that the product will experience, however the test is there to further prove quality control of the product.

I take this pressure sensor test as a similar situation, where we can safely test if the device is behaving normally (If the answer by Sony indicates so). If my phone do not pass this test I will definitely not put it near water... but if it pass I will worry less about all this.