Samsung Galaxy S5 has it, so does the Sony Xperia Z1, but is waterproofing the feature to look for in a smartphone?

 
After the crazy megapixel wars, screen resolution wars and crazy processor wars, the new trend in smartphones seems to be something that is actually useful in everyday usage. From the top-of-the-line Samsung Galaxy S5 to the mid-range Wickedleak Wammy Passion X, the new buzzword is waterproof. But do you really need your mobile phone to be waterproof?
Water-resistant, Not Waterproof
First, let’s clear up one thing. These phones aren’t waterproof, they are water-resistant. The difference is vast in pedantic definitions (where jargon like “Ingress Protection” comes into play), but in real-world usage, water-resistant is good enough. What water-resistant means is that the phone will not be on the fritz if you happened to use it in the rain, dropped it in the pool, or accidentally spilt a drink on it. But you can’t go snorkeling with it or leave it under a waterfall for hours—those things would require waterproofing.
There’s an aura around the term “waterproof” that makes the consumer believe the phone is capable of more than it is. It only means you can reasonably expect it to survive damage, provided you aren’t the one causing damage intentionally. For example, if your phone were to drop in that pool, you wouldn’t leave it there, you’d dive in to fetch it. But if you think you can drop your phone into the deep end and find it working after hours, think again—that’s not what waterproofing in phones is.
There are also caveats to all the phones when it comes to water resistance. For instance, with the Sony Xperia Z1, Z2 or the Samsung Galaxy S5, the company notes that you need to have the port flaps sealed, otherwise the protection doesn’t count.
by j.s