Despite some of the critiques against Sony’s “Z” line, they have always been praised for one thing: their waterproofing. Since the original Xperia Z, Sony has touted their devices as waterproof, as in it can go underwater, but it seems that that is no longer the case.
If you were to head over to Sony’s Water and Dust Protection support page you’ll notice that Sony is no longer recommending that you submerge your Sony devices underwater. Here are some of the key statements on the page:
Your device has an IP rating. This means that under a strictly controlled laboratory environment, the hardware works as designed even after being exposed to specific conditions.
Sony devices that are tested for their waterproof abilities are placed gently inside a container filled with tap water and lowered to a depth of 1.5 metres. After 30 minutes in the container, the device is gently taken out and its functions and features are tested.
The IP rating of your device was achieved in laboratory conditions in standby mode, so you should not use the device underwater, such as taking pictures. Do not use the device to take photos while performing any type of activity underwater, including diving or snorkeling.
While much of their support page makes sense in terms of relieving them of any liabilities, there is an inherent problem. Sony has constantly promoted and advertised that the devices can go under water without problem. Countless press images and videos show the device being used for pictures and videos under water.
This really isn’t good PR for Sony in a time when Sony is struggling to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive market.
[Sony / XperiaBlog]