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]

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

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Be sure to report back on how it went.

[Superkitsune]

My Z1s had this issue. I submerged it many times as a test in my sink and even talked on the phone in the shower. But one day I wanted to use it underwater in a pool and all was over. It is in fact the flaps that cover the ports. If you use the USB port to charge your phone you can bet that after opening and closing the flaps so many times it will wear it out and be more at risk of exposure that's why I encourage using a magnetic dock for the phone. Also dust and debris that you may not see get on the gasget/ rubber can cause it to leak in cause it won't seal properly. Also there are other things to take into account. I did send my phone back to sony where they inspected it and sent me a new device under warranty. My experience was rather painless with the RMA allthough it took about 1 week and a half to get a new device. Like other users I wouldn't really use the phone in water if you can avoid it. Allthough it is water proof these devices are not tested rather it states they are Rated.

Something to note:

I used to be an Apple IOS advisor and after alot of RMA calls it was evident that refurbished phones from the manufacturer are better built than ones that come off an esembly line because they are rebuilt to spec and better built after the fact. Just something to take into account. Most manufactures do this. But it's funny to hear how people freak out about it because they are not getting a "new" phone. Anyway. I wouldn't really trust the waterproof with any device. But it's a great addition to its features. I like the Sony xperia phones. Pretty solid devices.

[DeGraaff]

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@Superkitsune wrote:
Allthough it is water proof these devices are not tested rather it states they are Rated.

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They must have been tested, otherwise they cannot officially have IP ceritification. I'm sure that by far most of the devices are pretty much trouble-free. It is misleading with forums such as these, because they are a concentration of people who experience problems and defects so from the looks a support forum, any device would seem like a problem child. But in reality, they are only a handful of people in a huge crowd.

[ryaninc]

Yes, that's definitely true. Forums like this definitely attract people with the same problems. It can easily make it seem like everyone everywhere is having the same problem, but it's never as bad as forums make it out to be. 

Even so, the fact that it's happening to even a few of us is upsetting. Mine went back in the mail to Handtec today, they accepted a return. Hopefully they actually send a replacement and don't just send me a refund. If I do get a replacement, I'm honestly not sure if I'll trust it in the water. And that's sad.

[RexingtonSteele]

I just want a replacement phone that I don'thave to pay for.  I'm going to be pretty mad if they suggest it's my fault and want any form of payment for the repair.

If I do get a replacement phone it's not going near a drop of water.

[blyk35]

My phone died to when i got into the water with it!

[Wordfool]

Did anyone do the pressure test to check for proper sealing? Doing this I determined the USB/SD/SIM covers are very sensitive and clearly a weakness for the waterproofing. 

To do a pressure test dial *#*#7378423#*#* then go to Service Tests then Pressure Sensor. The air pressure will be displayed. Push firmly on the screen and you should see the pressure increase by 1-2mb then drop back down to normal again, all in about a second. If the pressure doesn't rise then the phone's not sealed.

I've done this after opening and closing the covers. Unless they're closed and pushed shut very firmly they fail the pressure test. 

[Belendax]

Hello dude, I just have the same problem now. So what happened in the end? did they repair it? or did they replace it for you?

Please let me know. 

Such a bad feeling right now

[Orange1]

@DeGraaf

Your argument is fallacious.  How many of those thousands of users have tested their devises under water? You can never tell because may be the majority of users dont try under-water photography.  All units should be water tight. There should be minimum margin of error in a flagship phone from Sony. 

This thread and others show that Sony may be conning and cheatng users by selling units that do not meet water-proof specs.

[HHGTTG]

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@Orange1 wrote:

@DeGraaf

Your argument is fallacious.  How many of those thousands of users have tested their devises under water? You can never tell because may be the majority of users dont try under-water photography.  All units should be water tight. There should be minimum margin of error in a flagship phone from Sony. 

This thread and others show that Sony may be conning and cheatng users by selling units that do not meet water-proof specs.

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Well if course it may be wrong of Sony to claim waterproof-ness of their device but I wouldn't dream of putting my phone under water no matter what Sony claim for our phones. If accidentally wetted by rain etc. well that's a different matter. 

I think it's madness to submerge any electrical item unless it is protected by a purpose made casing as in the case of underwater cameras etc. This Sony phone just depends on a few push-fit covers being tight in, addition to extra precautions that may have been done to other sockets to render them safe under wet conditions.

You all can continue submerging your phones but I certainly won't unless I fall in the water. I cannot swim anyway so the phone's survival would be of no importance to me!