Common problem on Z series, not fixed for 3 generations now...
So I've had my Xperia Z for about 2 months now and it has endured water tests, and stress test (software wise). I'm completely satisfied with the results. However I was cleaning my phone with my microfiber cloth and noticed something odd when cleaning. As I look up at the top left of the device I see that there is a slight bulge or lift of the device I am wondering if this was after my long photography session I did with it as it heated up quite a bit and the Snapdragon S4 is around the same area. I'd like to know if anyone came across this lift / bulge and had any issues with it / got it back down because the uneven-ness bothers me mentally, I have still washed my phone however haven't fully submerged it since I've noticed bulge. I'll post some pictures on what I'm talking about, I figured someone here can help me out with this for I won't be close to a Sony Service Center to have a look at my device until July.
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Survey:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44369631&postcount=268
EDIT: Here are links requested by drsoran2 and rekoil on a survey on the Xperia Z backplate lift:
Link to survey form:
http://goo.gl/FTzl34
Link to survey results:
http://goo.gl/78iuEU
This is a common problem on the entire Z series of phones:
The camera gets the processor extremely hot, which cooks the waterproof glue used to attach the back panel.
To make matters worse, Sony squeezed an NFC chip under the back panel, exerting outward pressure on it. Once its come loose over more area besides just one corner, it will stick out so far, it produces a 3 millimeter gap, and when you push it back down around the edges, the panel will actually show curvature and pop right back out.
That's poor engineering and it has put me off from buying another Sony phone, especially since the problem has remained the same over 3 generations. Not fixing this is either careless or intentional.
In addition, there's no international warranty, so don't travel with it, or you'll end up like me: My phone's back popped off along one side and soon after, it went into an infinite boot loop. Unlike Samsung, Sony does not offer any way to get into safe mode or recovery mode by pressing a button combination on the phone. No, you need to connect to Sony's PC Companion software, which will not recognize your phone if it never finishes booting. So while you could easily fix a bad app, virus or OS corruption issue on a Samsung phone, on a Sony phone you're up sh*t creek and have to bring it in.
Now, after telling me the warranty doesn't cover the phone in the country I was traveling in, they also told me they couldn't even help me for cold hard cash, as most smaller Sony service centers are not allowed to repair the waterproof line of phones.
I just got through ordering a replacement phone from Amazon, since traveling without a phone to book things in advance becomes very expensive.
---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 AM ----------
And what is the root cause of this issue? Is it the time (appr. 1 year) when sealing loses it's properties? Or is it water which causes this effect? Or maybe enormous heating inside the phone?
The enormous heating cooks the glue, while the poorly placed NFC chip exerts outward pressure.
Bless my frumpy old Galaxy S2, which has withstood my time with it without a sign of wear, followed by taking the abuse of my now 5 year old daughter for 3 years.
The right kind of Polycarbonate is an awesome material to build phones with and Samsung makes them Rock solid. I guess that too maybe at an end with the A series and the S6...
---------- Post added at 09:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 AM ----------
i dont know why many of you guys are having issues with the glue, if your device is getting hot, leave it be, dont use it. Ive been using my Z for over 2 years now and its still running fine, dropped like X number of times and the screen/back didnt crack, and no, i dont have any cases on, no loose ends on either side of the glass front/back.
What i have to measure my CPU temperature is
Status Bar Mini PRO i have the CPU temp. on 24/7 and it goes on top of everything i do, infact, it doesnt even take up much space.
(check the SS below, i have it at the bottom right, as shown, currently it is at 19 degrees celsius.) I live in Vancouver and in the summer time or when i do heavy work (barely) it reaches to nearly 45 degrees Celsius. It rarely reaches that high right now since its still cold here, usually below 40, and if it reaches that high i just leave the phone to cool for a minute or two.
another suggestion is dont use a case, i havent used one at all, but based on my own knowledge, i think heat gets trapped more when you use a case. and its easier for the back to cool off when its just glass at the back.
if you get a new xperia, i suggest you dump it into water right away to see if there are any loose ends, non-tight areas that may allow water to enter. trust me on this, my friend recently bought a Z3 and the screen messed up after the first dip into water. secondly, i would recommend to take care of your phone properly, try not to be clumsy, especially when the front and back are glass, use screen protectors, it helps hold the glass together.
other than that, if you have a defected phone to begin with, then its just your bad luck. just remember to get things tested before the deadline, most carriers or whereever you get your phone from offer 7-14 days exchange, at least in Vancouver it is. good luck bros.!
Your suggestion to test the phone in water on the day you buy it is good.
The rest of your suggestions are at best an insult to users. How come I can record a 3 hour drive with a Samsung S5 in 1080p and it merely gets a little warm, while the Sony Z2 drops out of video (also 1080p not 4k) mode after 20 minutes with a message that the camera was shut off to prevent overheating.
Why can't the retarded thing control its heat in a metal casing? Ahh, because there's only slivers of metal stuck to the outside of a plastic case. "Metal and Glass Case" is just marketing bs. And if it does shut off the camera to "prevent" overheating, why does it still cook the glue anyway? I've never needed a CPU temperature meter on any phone and the Sony isn't any higher performance than Samsung's competing models.
I admit, I bought the Sony for the looks. A mistake I've wasted $500 on. Apparently, you can have either pretty or sufficient heat dispersion, but not both. Reminds me of some crap cars with great looks.
Apparently, all of Sony's engineers were sold along with the PC division.
(unless they're designing these crappers to break on purpose)
