Blog l Your phone is waterproof ... but do not try

On June Samsung announced a phone within the range waterproof S4, the S4 Activ. The mobile has IP67 certification, which means it can be submerged up to one meter for 30 minutes whenever the user take care to seal the connection ports.  It is the only motive capable. Sony has several tablets and cell within the same range Xperia certification. Today it is relatively easy to create a mobile capable of withstanding small dips. No special materials are needed or that the device grow much in size or weight. A protective film on the electronics, one plastic tab to seal the ports ... ready. But although it is relatively simple and does not rise much the cost of manufacturing the vast majority of manufacturers stay away from this category.The reason? warranty becomes extremely complicated.  With mobiles "normal" no problem. It's an all or nothing. If markers of moisture in the interior were most likely enabled mobile is submerged and therefore the warranty does not cover the repair. User is missing. (Hay that put many asterisks in this sentence, in a very damp these markers can be activated even if the phone does not fall into the water). With a waterproof phone, however, there is no way to know if a phone has been damaged by manufacturing defects or careless user. Does plunged two or three meters? Did you leave the phone more than 30 minutes submerged?Did the user check the precaution of securing the battery cover or the sealing of the ports? Who knows. Even though the markers are adapted to be activated only after more than 30 minutes under water, there are many variables that can affect the detection process. This results in strange situations like the current warranty Activ S4 collect this paragraph:

This warranty does not cover: (a) defects or damage resulting from accident, misuse, abnormal use, improper storage, exposure to liquid, moisture, dirt, sand, dust or unusual physical, electrical or mechanical [...].

That is just the opposite of what publicized at the time of presenting the terminal (resistant to dust, liquids and dips) and advertised in various promotional materials. The absurdity reaches the point that Activ has a way of "underwater photography" between the camera options. As discussed liable for Samsung in this post of Engadget , the guarantee being updated to reflect different conditions, probably more in line with their Xperia Sony, but even Sony conditions are vague terms used. As the submersible phones do not have a large market share damage cases are few and can be managed by one to one -negotiating with the client, but imagine a Normal S4 Galaxy or iPhone and chaos generated in the Samsung after-sales service or Apple every summer.

What will most likely in the future? My suspicion is that moving gradually become more resistant to the elements but most companies do not advertise, except in very specific models.