A common sight at most dinner tables these days, or at any table really, is the smartphone. As we continue to find more reasons to have our phones with us practically every moment of every day (that we’re awake), the odds that something will happen to it increase practically exponentially. Murphy’s Law may not inherently mean something bad will happen, but when it comes to devices that we spend quite a bit of money on, the expectation is always there.
Especially for the folks who have bad luck, and know it. Getting a new smartphone can sometimes mean packing it into a heavy duty case, even if you hate cases, just so you have that layer of protection. Our phones aren’t just gadgets anymore. They’re investments. And not just because of how much we pay for them, but also for the content therein.
And yet, some of them can just break so easily!
Actually, while dropping a phone is obviously a real issue for a lot of people, that’s not really what’s got my attention this morning. I’ve been thinking about Sony’s Xperia Z3 since yesterday, and the fact that I’m actually pretty excited about that handset. Especially since it’s coming to so many wireless carriers, apparently. (Though, only T-Mobile is confirmed at this point.) It’s great, first off, that Sony’s getting a bigger push for their devices here in the States, especially the flagship device. Hopefully they can continue this effort moving forward.
The Xperia Z3 grabbed my attention because it’s another testament that some manufacturers just have this whole design thing down. They know how to make really nice looking hardware. Sony’s one of them, as far as I’m concerned. While holding previous Xperia-branded devices in the hand hasn’t always been the easiest compared to other devices, considering they’re stark, thin and light rectangles, that’s one area they are reportedly changing with the new design of the Xperia Z3. And, at the same time, they’ve managed to keep their familiar, high-end looking device looking high-end.
The Xperia Z3 also manages to not only keep the Xperia Z2’s water resistant rating, but also add another one for good measure. It’s more resistant than ever before to the things that might seep into our devices and break them from the inside out. All the while it’s still constructed from aluminum and glass. Sony shows that you don’t have to limit your design choices just to make a device that’s better protected from the elements.
Which brings me back to the table, all the tables, and the fact that just putting your phone on the dinner table, especially at a restaurant, can mean one tipped-over cup can potentially mean the life or death of your mobile device. Having a water resistant phone at least gives it a fighting chance, and yet it’s something that not every manufacturer is taking advantage of.
I give props to Samsung and Sony, and the other companies out there setting up their devices to be more resistant. I think this is something that every manufacturer should be implementing in their handsets. And they should take their cues from Sony, because this is a manufacturer that’s managed to bridge the gap between eye-catching design/materials and resistance.
I think it would be pretty great if Apple’s iPhone 6 was water resistant. Or HTC’s One (M9). Sure, the flaps on ports can get annoying sometimes, but ultimately the payoff is pretty great.