[Closed] Waterproof smartphone

Sony M4

I have a Sony Z1 Compact, waterproof, very good camera (for a phone), excellent screen, good battery life, been dropped several times and still going strong.

I've added a gorilla glass screen protector to it but that's all.

Much prefer it to my work iPhone 5s (feels nicer in the hand).

Would have another like a shot.

iPhone with Lifeproof cover. Had mine down to 5m.

Sony Xperia Z series is what you describe

If you want any kind of robustness, you will need a case anyway, so might as well get a waterproof one. So, any phone with a good case. That means Lifeproof.

Rachel

Get a second hand Sony Xperia Z1 and a gel case.

If you want proper robust you'd need a proper fully enclosing case, which of course means you can get any phone you like - but it will make it a lot bulkier.

I have a Sony Z1 compact in a TPU/gel case. Very pleased with it 🙂

I have an Xperia Z1, it's pish. It was one of the first gen ones and it has loads of bugs. My wife has the Z1 compact which came out a bit later it seems to have fixed all the glitches. I'd look at one of those, they can be had quite cheap new / nearly new. The camera is good.

I have one of these - it's a fairly basic smartphone, but does everything it needs to - think I paid £169. IP67 - waterproof, shockproof, dustproof etc. Decent battery life too

[url= http://www.bwcdevices.com/products/stealth-v2-ip67/ ]BWC Stealth V2[/url]

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/16920772129_614a637c7a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/16920772129_614a637c7a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rMeo3v ]20150411_100203[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

I have an Xperia Z1, it's pish. It was one of the first gen ones and it has loads of bugs.

OK, I take back my recommendation - I had an Xperia Z and now have a Z3, both have been excellent. I assumed the Z1 would be similar (and available for 200€) - get the Z1 Compact by the sounds of it!

Is the Decathlon phone still available?

I've got a Samsung XCover2.

Its a genuinely tough little phone, its survived 2 years of constant abuse without so much as a screen protector, nevermind a case.

As a tough phone it hard to fault.

As a smartphone it now a bit dated - old Android OS, poor internal memory and a bit slow. But the new one won't have these issues.

If you want a genuinely tough phone I'd recommend the Samsung

I'm going to get an new XCover3 at the weekend

Thanks all. Lots of love for Sony! Sounds like they're not as fragile as I thought (but a bit over budget).

No-one tried the new Moto G?

It's not in the shops yet. I have a Moto x with TPU case and it has yet to get damaged.

http://www.tuffphones.co.uk/tough-mobile-phones.html

Just picked up a new Xperia Z2 from the Sony Outlet for £179. I missed the waterproofness of my old Samsung S4 active. Took me a few days and a few updates to adjust from my Oneplus One but so far so good. I spent £3 on a front and rear tempered glass screen protector set and 99p on a form fitting case. Reviews suggest the upgrades from Z2-Z3 weren't that impressive so I thought what the heck. 8)

Sony Z3 compact. Waterproof and dust tight...took it swimming in the sea on holiday. Get a buffer as though as I've knackered the dedicated camera button.

Think I paid around £220 locked to voda, and £15 unlock fee. Over £100 cheaper than the others.

I'm on my 4th Z3 compact.

1) DOA
2) Dropped on road, back smashed
3) Cracked back in pocket or innocuous drop to hardfloor in house
4) Current, no issues so far

The glass back makes a rubbery case essential unless you have the hands of a gecko.

Otherwise, I like it. Takes good pictures.

i have a z3c too. ok robustness, but one of the port covers works it's way back out all the time, so it 'might' be waterproof but i won't be setting out to test it anytime soon. sony have changed the way that copy/cut/paste works and i just don't get one with it - not intuitive, and in some applications the keyboard 'p' is virtually inaccessible. apparently it's a software thing and i need to do a reset, though it's most prevalent in messaging, a native app. 🙄
sd card expansion is good, and it's quick online, and to switch windows etc. but
frankly i have no love for it. wish i'd stuck with htc TBH.

Can anyone explain why OP should pay £200+ for a Sony when the Motorola is:

*Newer
*Doesn't need port covers
*Android 5.1.1 with the fastest updates in the industry
*Supports gestures [shake for camera etc]
*Supports onscreen notifications without unlocking
*The best handset ergonomics in the business
*Made by a company with a far better attitude to eliminating conflict minerals from the supply chain
*Probably tougher, though it's hard to quantify.
*Probably has better battery life.

....for less money?

Or

For 240 Euro, is also faster [2GB RAM, newer processor ready for 64bit Android]

Can anyone explain why OP should pay £200+ for a Sony

I see your Sony logo and I raise you:

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Also have the Z3 Compact. Fastest of the normal sized phones, waterproof (split cola over key this morning with no drama) and dust proof. I use a gel case and it has survived all the normal drops that phones get.

Has coped with many a soggy ride in Scotland's finest weather so far. it has a handy screen lock to prevent it phoning folk from your pocket.

Battery life is pretty good too compared to previous phones I have had.

Regards

someone said

It's not in the shops yet.

?

I like my xperia Z1, not the new model so theyre around for good prices. Have taken underwater photos no problem! And it took a rather nasty tumble from my roadie jersey at 20mph yesterday, other than a few small scratches its fine (which I was shocked at!). Good camera too, which combined with the waterproofness was the selling point for me

Also, if you go for a sony, get the charging dock so that you don't need to undo the waterproof 'plugs' all the time, and risk them wearing/breaking!
And get a tempered glass screen protector

someone said

It's not in the shops yet.

Well, it's only a few days away!

Another Z3 compact + tempered glass screen cover and case. Thought the case would bulk it a bit, but it still manages in my pocket. Battery life is very good. Survived a couple of drops but nothing serious so far. Rain soaked in pocket but not been immersed in anything yet.

I have a sony xperia z3 tablet, which is pretty good, nicely waterproof, decent battery life etc, so on th eback of that I have ordered a z3 phone to replace my current htc one.

My main aim was to get something I could just chuck in my rucksack and not worry about getting wet, but I also wanted something that didnt look like it was designed by JCB.

Anyway I havent got received the z3 phone yet, but I'm expecting it to be decent.

Comments in [b]bold[/b]

Can anyone explain why OP should pay £200+ for a Sony when the Motorola is:

*Newer [b]Newer is not always better[/b]
*Doesn't need port covers [b]but is it just splash proof as the Sony offers more than just splash IIRC[/b]
*Android 5.1.1 with the fastest updates in the industry [b]that would be google, motorola are no longer owned by google so wont be updated as quick. Probably still better than Sony though[/b]
*Supports gestures [shake for camera etc] [b]never found those kind of things useful[/b]
*Supports onscreen notifications without unlocking [b]if it gets lollipop it shoud[/b]
*The best handset ergonomics in the business [b]probably best for individuals to decide, no one is the same[/b]
*Made by a company with a far better attitude to eliminating conflict minerals from the supply chain [b]not something I can comment on[/b]
*Probably tougher, though it's hard to quantify. [b]seen plenty of broken motorolas, wouldn't want to argue either way[/b]
*Probably has better battery life. [b]I suspect not, Sony has very good battery life, the moto G was good compared to say a nexus but not that good. The OHs HTC One is amazing for battery life IMO and I think Sony are similar

Camera is probably better on the sony too, and the screen. Now I know you are buying it as a phone but using your phone as a camera is something which sadly is all too easy to slip into the habit of doing.

Currently using a Defender - which is hard as nails. Bulky and a bit old-tech now but the GPS is damn good and battery life is huge!

I got mine from Memory Map with the full UK 1:50k and 1:25k mapping (and 1:10k plus road maps IIRC) which was expensive, but it is available without all that from elsewhere.

I've got the s4 active bigger battery and waterproof to 1mt but I've had it deeper than that.
It's OK but not amazing

Newer is not always better

But it does usually guarantee a product life further into the future.

but is it just splash proof as the Sony offers more than just splash IIRC

IPX 7 - 1m/30minutes

that would be google, motorola are no longer owned by google so wont be updated as quick. Probably still better than Sony though

No, it isn't, and was never Google. It was Motorola, and they haven't customised the OS so, yes, they will still be the fastest to deliver updates as there is less testing to be done.

never found those kind of things useful

Have you ever owned a phone that has this feature? I can assure you that launching the camera or torch without having to hit a button is extremely useful and much quicker.

if it gets lollipop it shoud

It is on 5.1.1 now. I thought this was Motorola exclusive thing [was on the v2 X], but maybe it's universal now [assuming you have the OS]. My bad.

seen plenty of broken motorolas, wouldn't want to argue either way

It's anicdotal, but I have witnessed an amazing amount of abuse doled out to G's in the past. My [3] Sony's have all failed.

probably best for individuals to decide, no one is the same

Broadly, I agree, but at the same time I have studied ergonomics, I have owned two of the Motorola phones with the compound curve design and discussed with several other users. Oh and have a read of the reviews. Sony are still using planar surfaces.

Sony has very good battery life, the moto G was good compared to say a nexus but not that good. The OHs HTC One is amazing for battery life IMO and I think Sony are similar

Android 5 is more power efficient due to pre-compiling of apps, the on screen notifications mean less screen on time and the phone sports a 2500mAh battery. It is a guess, though I read a review saying they get 2 days out of the phone with lots of use and that it's hugely longer running than the mk1, which will do 2 days anyway.

To add a negative - it's not got a compass chip.

I've said enough 🙂 Good luck OP.

Android 5 really is worth having, it's the only OS that will continue to get security updates in a timely manner.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/08/waiting-for-androids-inevitable-security-armageddon/

i got z3 compact for my family ,great phones, great pictures just very fragile 3 out of the 4 phones have broke 1 my fault so that one doesn't really count but other 2 cracked without been dropped , sony repaired one free, 2nd cost me £90 to get repaired, it lasted 2 weeks then same fault again, so i wouldn't recommend these phones.