Why Do I Need a Waterproof Phone?
There are some great reasons to get a waterproof phone, but let us begin by saying that this does not mean that you do not still need a good, reliable smartphone. We are not going to fob you off with some low spec rugged model here; both of the phones we are looking at are high powered and high featured too.Waterproof mobiles make great choices for those who work outside in all kinds of weather, or for those who are adventurous and like to take their mobiles into the great outdoors. They are even a good choice for people who might be a little clumsy and who want to avoid water damage just in case. With the number of phones that suffer water damage every day, getting a waterproof mobile might be a good precaution!
What are the Two Best Models?
You will have more choice than you would think if you are looking for a waterproof model, but there are two handsets that clearly stand out from the rest. The first is the Sony Xperia Z1, and the second is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, these are the two best phones on the market, so let's see exactly how they compare.Definitely Waterproof
Since you are looking for a waterproof phone, we should deal with water resistance specs first. How water resistant a phone is can be seen from its IP rating. You can find out more about those here. You are looking for IP followed by two numbers, and the second number will tell you how waterproof a phone is.The Sony Xperia Z1 has an IP rating of IP58, which means that it will be waterproof in water over a metre deep for periods longer than thirty minutes. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has an IP rating of IP67, so it is water resistant in depths up to a meter for up to thirty minutes. The Xperia model is obviously coming out ahead in water resistance specs then, though both models are waterproof.
How Much Power?
You want a phone that is fast and powerful, so we will take a look at processor specs next. The Xperia is running a quad core 2.2 GHz processor with 2 GB of RAM, and the Galaxy is running a quad core 1.9 GHz processor with 2 GB of RAM. That means that the Xperia takes the point again, as it is the faster and more responsive model.
Screen Specs Next
The screens on these two models are almost identical. They are both five inch displays with 1080 by 1920 resolution and 441 PPI, so they are extremely high resolution for great viewing no matter what you want to see, be it web pages or videos.
The Xperia has shatter proof and scratch resistant glass, whilst the Galaxy has Gorilla Glass, which is also shatter proof. When it comes to display quality then, you cannot really choose between the two, so this part of the competition is a draw.
What about Cameras?
Getting a great mobile camera is important to most of us, since the majority of people use their phone as a camera these days. The Xperia has a 20 MP main camera with auto focus and LED flash, and a 2 MP front facing camera as well. The Galaxy has an 8 MP main camera with LED flash and auto focus, but also has a 2 MP front cam so the Xperia clearly leads when it comes to camera specs.
Memory Counts
You will be looking for plenty of storage to keep all your data on, and memory specs are identical here. Both models have a 16 GB internal memory, and both will accept a Micro SD card to add up to 64 GB of external memory as well. Again it is a draw again between the two for storage specs.
Operating System
Both these models are Android phones, the preferred operating system for most people, and both are running the 4.2 Jelly Bean versions out of the box. The Xperia, however, will immediately get an update to the new 4.4 Kit Kat version, whilst it is unclear whether or not the Galaxy will accept this. That means that we really do not have enough information to award points in this category.
Size and Weight
You want to be able to comfortably carry your phone around with you in your pocket, so you will be concerned with how big it is and how much it weighs to see which is the more portable model.
The Galaxy is thirteen by seven centimeters and nine millimeters thick, and weighs 153 grams. The Xperia is larger at fourteen by seven centimeters and eight and a half millimeters thick, and weighs more at 170 grams. The Galaxy gets the point here as the more portable model.
Cost
Our final category is cost, and most of us will be concerned with how much we are spending. The Sony Xperia Z1 is the more expensive model at around £550 whilst the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a little cheaper at around £500. That means that the Galaxy takes the point.
The One to Buy
If you want great waterproof phones, then both of these models are good choices, they have plenty of power and some great features too. The Sony Xperia Z1 is a slightly better model though, even though it is a bit pricier.You get a faster processor and a more adept camera, plus the Xperia is more water resistant than the Galaxy is as well. Both are great phones, but the Sony Xperia Z1 is absolutely the best waterproof mobile choice out there right now.
Phil TurnerAbout the Author:
Phil Turner did not know which manufacturers make waterproof phones so he looked up websites such as uSwitch to see who made them and to see any offers available.