Water friendly phones/tablets?

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kiwifidget

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#136708 6-Dec-2013 11:08

I'm probably going to install an outside speaker near the spa pool and have it wired to a Sonos ConnectAmp. IF.... I can find an android phone or tablet (to use the Sonos app) that wont mind being used while I am in the spa.
I have so far identified four phones (and no tablets) that have IP ratings ranging from 55 to 67.
- Sony Z
- Sony Z1
- Samsung Active S3
- Samsung Xcover2

While all the blurby speccy stuff goes on about their water resistance-ness, none of them seem to say whether they can be used when the operators hands are wet.

If anyone owns one of these phones could they enlighten me further please.
Or are there are any other water-friendly android devices out there I should know about?

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#946465 6-Dec-2013 11:13

I suspect they would be fine. Have you thought of just getting a decent waterproof case instead though?

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scottjpalmer

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#946467 6-Dec-2013 11:14

S4 active
Xperia Z tablet
Toughbook tablet

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#946469 6-Dec-2013 11:17

A friend of mine in the US got himself an 8" android tablet about 18 months ago and partially selected it because it was water resistant. I think it was a Motorola Xoom. He's away for a week, but I'll flick him an email.

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kiwifidget

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#946470 6-Dec-2013 11:21

sidefx: I suspect they would be fine. Have you thought of just getting a decent waterproof case instead though?

I have, but a thread of laziness runs through me and I dont want to be bothered with taking the case on and off all the time as I dont think I'd want the case on full time.

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jonb

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#946471 6-Dec-2013 11:21

I've been using a Z1 in wet conditions with no problems so far. Wet fingers and touch screens aren't a great combination though, a few drops are fine but you lose a lot of sensitivity when very wet.

MikeB4

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#946472 6-Dec-2013 11:22

cheapest solution, go to your nearest Boating store and get marine waterproof zip lock bags for cellphones and tablets. I dropped my phone off our boat it was in a ziplock and didn't even get damp.

kiwifidget

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#946478 6-Dec-2013 11:27

KiwiNZ: cheapest solution, go to your nearest Boating store and get marine waterproof zip lock bags for cellphones and tablets. I dropped my phone off our boat it was in a ziplock and didn't even get damp.

But do you have to take it out of the bag if you want to use it?

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#946479 6-Dec-2013 11:29

kiwifidget:
KiwiNZ: cheapest solution, go to your nearest Boating store and get marine waterproof zip lock bags for cellphones and tablets. I dropped my phone off our boat it was in a ziplock and didn't even get damp.

But do you have to take it out of the bag if you want to use it?

No, both our tablets and cellphones worked great in the bags

kiwifidget

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#946484 6-Dec-2013 11:36

scottjpalmer: S4 active
Xperia Z tablet
Toughbook tablet

Thanks for pointing out the Z tablet, that certainly seems to cover all the bases, except for the budget!!

Edit : just noticed its actually cheaper than the Z phones!

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MikeB4

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#946492 6-Dec-2013 11:39

here is one example

http://www.burnsco.co.nz/ProductDetail?CategoryId=233&ProductId=7847&Colour=0000000706

edit: and another

http://www.burnsco.co.nz/ProductDetail?CategoryId=233&ProductId=7899&Colour=0000001040

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#946504 6-Dec-2013 11:56

KiwiNZ: here is one example

http://www.burnsco.co.nz/ProductDetail?CategoryId=233&ProductId=7847&Colour=0000000706

edit: and another

http://www.burnsco.co.nz/ProductDetail?CategoryId=233&ProductId=7899&Colour=0000001040

Great, theyre waterproof...but do they float with the weight of an iPad/iPhone in them ? :)

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MikeB4

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#946506 6-Dec-2013 11:59

xpd:
KiwiNZ: here is one example

http://www.burnsco.co.nz/ProductDetail?CategoryId=233&ProductId=7847&Colour=0000000706

edit: and another

http://www.burnsco.co.nz/ProductDetail?CategoryId=233&ProductId=7899&Colour=0000001040

Great, theyre waterproof...but do they float with the weight of an iPad/iPhone in them ? :)

I put key floats on them when I was in the boat.

knoydart

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#946510 6-Dec-2013 12:03

How about second hand CF-19 tough book from remarkit.co.nz either keep the MS xp or pop on a linux distro of choice and turn the screen around to give you a 10" tablet

EDIT: spelling

trig42

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#946521 6-Dec-2013 12:18

xpd:
KiwiNZ: here is one example

http://www.burnsco.co.nz/ProductDetail?CategoryId=233&ProductId=7847&Colour=0000000706

edit: and another

http://www.burnsco.co.nz/ProductDetail?CategoryId=233&ProductId=7899&Colour=0000001040

Great, theyre waterproof...but do they float with the weight of an iPad/iPhone in them ? :)

I've often seen those bags and thought, what's the point if they don't float??

I bet people buy them thinking they have done enough to protect their phone, which they will, but a working phone isn't much use at the bottom of the sea.

jaymz

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#946569 6-Dec-2013 13:18

Even cheaper, the simple Glad Zip Lock bags from the supermarket. Work brilliantly to keep water out of your phone and the plastic kinda sticks to the screen so touch works well (Lumia 710).

Got the idea from another forum, where they were discussing how to use their smart phone in the shower.

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