topic Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back in Z Series

Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

mybrownpolarbea — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 18:35:12 GMT

I have an issue with the z3 which I believe is a design flaw.

The glass back, while very nice, is so smooth that it just won't stay on many surfaces. I've put it on a book on a table, and it falls off within a minute. I have it plugged in overnight on a wooden bedside table, and it slowly slides off onto the floor. I even put it on a cushion on the sofa and it slides off that as well.

I've compared each scenario with a Samsung Galaxy S3, with a smooth plastic back, and an iPhone 5s with a smooth metal back, and neither of them slide at all.

If I was doing anything odd like tilting the surface or putting it on an already sloping table, I wouldn't complain. But I think this is going to happen to many people. I've seen comments about this on reddit, xda-developers, gsm arena and on a review on The Register website. The ease at which the phone slides and falls is, In my opinion, totally unreasonable, and ought to be addressed by Sony because their design has caused a problem which could so easily lead to the phone smashing, simply because it's been plugged it in to charge - a problem which doesn't happen with two other phones I've tried, and I doubt happens with most others.

Yes it's easy to buy a case but I don't see why I should have to spend more, simply to stop my phone falling on the floor, and which would hide the design of what is otherwise a beautiful phone.

Does anyone else have this problem? Ideally I'd like Sony to provide, free of charge, some kind of case (or other creative design) to fix this, because the ease at which is slips is pretty ridiculous! If any Sony designers read this I'd love to know your thoughts. And if anyone else recognises this problem please make yourselves known.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

Uliwooly — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 18:37:39 GMT

I haven't experienced that with my Z or Z1, but you should contact Sony directly, perhaps your phone's back is deffective

http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/support/contact-us/

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

mybrownpolarbea — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 18:48:47 GMT

I have contacted them and, despite the people on the phone sympathising, they say there's nothing they can do about it and that I should buy a case. A more cynical person might say it's their way of selling more products...!! (I don't think that myself, but if I did it would be understandable)
That's why I want to see if anyone else has the problem.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

Uliwooly — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 18:49:57 GMT

I do recommend that you apply a scratch resistant film on both panels.

Xperia Z3 slipping and sliding off flat surface

Bellxeria — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 10:53:05 GMT

Hi,

Got a copper Z3, great phone and fantastic looks.

i have a serious problem with the phones back surface, its glass and not sure why but it keeps sliding off flat surface (even after turning off all vibrations). i leave it on the table, kitchen work top or any flat surface in 3minutes its on the floor. i called up the support team and she indirectly told me im lier and go buy a sony case. sony case looks good but i wouldnt have bought this phone if i have to put a case to use it safely, it destroys the look.

first of all do anyone else have this problem or noticed it ans thought it should have been the vibration, and second is there a transparent sticker (similar to the screen protector) which prevents this from happening.

appreciate your help

Re: Xperia Z3 slipping and sliding off flat surface

RexingtonSteele — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:36:18 GMT

I've just ordered the body protection from http://www.ultimateshield.co.uk/ and hopefully this will stop it sliding everywhere. It's like a fish!

I'll let you know.

Re: Xperia Z3 slipping and sliding off flat surface

mybrownpolarbea — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 17:11:05 GMT

I've also bought a case from eBay, and it has a clear back. Hopefully it won't spoil the look of the phone too much.

But as Bellxeria says, we shouldn't have to buy something extra, simply to stop the phone falling off a flat surface.

I'm disappointed with the customer service for this problem, especially if the staff are implying that the customer is lying. A screen protector cut specifically for the back would probably solve this problem, since the sliding doesn't happen on the front with the screen protector they provided. I still think Sony should provide that at least, because it's the phone's design that causes it, not people expecting unreasonable things.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

mybrownpolarbea — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 17:20:29 GMT

I should add that a manager of the support team (Jamie) recommended buying a case from eBay because that's what he did. He told me he bought it for £5.

I'm thinking of videoing the sliding so that Sony can see how much of an issue it is.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

malt1977 — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 21:49:42 GMT

I wouldn't say it's a defect, it's just extremely smooth glass. However, I fitted a protective film from a company called ultimate shield, in addition to stopping scratches it also has a higher tack so the handset won't slip around so much.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

mybrownpolarbea — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 22:40:56 GMT

But if the smoothness prevents it from sitting on a relatively smooth and flat surface without falling off, surely that's a flaw?

If Sony tried to sell the phone and said that they had specifically designed it to not rest on a table/kitchen worktop/book/cushion etc then that would sound rather stupid. But that's exactly what they've done, and they're expecting us to buy more of their products if we want it to stop sliding off a table.

Is that really reasonable?

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

AlexPraga — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 10:46:16 GMT

Mine is doing the same... Could it be something related with static electricity? Like hovering a few microns above the flat surface?

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

Dark_Xperian — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 21:30:34 GMT

I just got a softgel case for my Z3 off of Amazon. Been great since.

This is the case that I bought. Note that this case doesn't fit well with the magnetic dock (Sony DK48 Magentic Dock).

http://www.amazon.com/Xperia-Z3-Case-SoftGel-Flexible/dp/B00MVCWGFW

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

Dunsky — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 19:58:39 GMT

Same problem with my Z3. I had a lot of phones and they never fall from my hands. But this one is the first which fall on the floor lying on the table. Luckily the glasses are okay after fall. Phone is just 3 days old and already fall. This is nonsense. This is bad design.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

SpacedSkunk — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 23:02:00 GMT

I have to admit it is slippery, but to be fair I got a tortoise thin back case off amazon, along with an ultimateshield glass screen protector, both work well together. This fixes the sliding issue and gives another layer of glass to the front.

It doesn't fix the issue at heart if you don't want a case but hope this helps.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

Ashutoshjainjbp — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 07:24:59 GMT

Brother, You Seems to be very lucky person.

My suggestions -

Get a back cover ASAP. As the glass in front and back are very fragile, and next time may not be soo lucky.

Also buy a cusioned box to keep it when you are not using it,

And get a thick carpet, and cover the floor whereever you go.

And add cusions to all your furniture and your surroundings.

And Keep this phone away from your child.

And throw away all your jeans.

Or else be ready to pay 200$ USD for every repair. And also you will have to wait for atleast 30 Days to get your phone back from service center.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

FloridaG44 — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 16:43:58 GMT

I have had the same problem since I got my Z3 2 weeks ago. I would put on a case but the Rogers store where I bought it had none (nor does anyone else yet). So I ordered a case online and am still awaiting delivery. What pisses me off is that while waiting, the phone has slid off FLAT LEVEL surfaces about 10 times. Always onto carpet so far, until yesterday when it hit the plastic mat thing my office chair rolls on. From a height of 30 inches...and of course the screen cracked.

So now I have a brand new Z3 with a cracked screen and I am guessing my case will arrive tomorrow...too late. There is DEFINITELY some kind of weird static thing going on. You can put it down on a level surface, walk away and 2 minutes later hear it fall on the floor. Its like its posessed!

Loved the phone until it got cracked. Now I am just PISSED!

It's delicate and posessed by demons

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

Cryssie — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 23:11:02 GMT

Aaaah demonphone! 0.o

I kept it in a case from day one, not trusting my butterfingers but yes. It is one slippery device. If I look at the way waterdroplets behave on the surface I'd say it has some kind of hydrophobic coating. And although well intentioned, it is questionable industrial design....

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

RichT — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:44:21 GMT

I am thankful that I've found others with this problem. I take pride in looking after my phones and have never had to use insurance due to a cracked screen or water damage in the 20 years I've had a mobile phone. Ever.

I've had the Z3 for 6 weeks now and it had slipped twice and smashed. Firstly from 12 inches high off a bench, I'd turned my back for a second, and now tonight it slipped out of my jacket when I tied my shoelace, completely obliterating the back. I've won the same winter jacket for 3 years and this has never happened with the two previous iPhones.

There is a complete functional flaw in the way the Z3 has been designed. Accidents happen yes, but the design clearly lends itself to a higher risk of an accident happening. Also, I wouldn't expect it to completely disintegrate on a slight drop. It's another indication that these phones haven't been tested within real environments before being sold.

I will be taking my phone to a Sony store tomorrow to ask for a new phone phone or, perhaps better, and full refund.

Richie.

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

wasupid — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 04:21:45 GMT

My Z3 is slippery, like a bar of soap. Contacted Sony Canada. I was advised to buy a case. But, the same time I was told the phone is so new that they don't sell any cases/cover yet...

Will Sony take responsibility?!

Re: Z3 repeatedly falls due to slippery back

Rickard — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 09:04:23 GMT

Sorry to hear that your local support could not help you with a cover.

There should be cases from several different brands available on for example Ebay and Amazon. Krusell also has some nice covers: http://www.krusellcases.com/ca/p_krusell_listing.aspx?f=1578.

There are also some full body covers that has a bit more friction like Copter.