Sony to launch sub-$300 waterproof smartphones next year, HTC, Motorola and others might join the fun

Since launching the Xperia Go back in 2012, Sony didn’t release new affordable waterproof smartphones. The company’s current line-up of handsets that can be dunked in water includes devices like the Xperia Z2, Xperia Z1S, or Xperia Z1 Compact (pictured in this article), all of which are out of reach for customers not willing to spend more than $300 on a smartphone.

Luckily, Sony might introduce sub-$300 waterproof smartphones starting next year. That’s what Taiwan’s DigiTimes is saying, based on unnamed sources from component supply chains. According to DigiTimes, Sony already started looking for partnerships with component suppliers to produce new mid-end and low-end (thus cheap) waterproof handsets. Reportedly, Taiwanese ODMs are more than ready to manufacture devices like these.

Interestingly, it’s said that other companies are also “likely to expand their water-proof portfolios” next year. These include Samsung (which already offers a selection of water-resistant handsets, the latest being the Galaxy S5 flagship), HTC, Motorola, and Lenovo.

As you may remember, Motorola had several water-resistant handsets in its Defy series. It will be interesting to see if the company is planning to revive that series or not. As for HTC, its only recent water-resistant handset that we know of is the HTC J, which saw a limited release in some Asian markets back in 2012.


source: DigiTimes