Despite Being Water-resistant, Sony SmartWatch 3 Fails Consumer Reports Tests

Previously, I had the chance to review the Sony SmartWatch 3. During my time with it, I walked away impressed by the watch’s hardware, though found the Android Wear experience fairly lackluster. Since that time, a new version of Android Wear has been revealed with new functionality.

Thanks to the release of Apple Watch, consumer interest in the category has risen dramatically. Looking to see which watch reigned supreme, Consumer Reports put 11 models to the test. How did the Sony SmartWatch 3 fare?

Not so well, it seems. Consumer Reports put the smartwatches through their labs to test for:

Durability
Health functionality
Readability in bright and low light
Ease of use
Ease of interaction

In their study, they found the Apple Watch ahead of the pack in every category except readability where it finished in second behind the Pebble, thanks to its e-ink display. What hurt Sony the most is their IP67 rating, which makes the watch dust- and water-resistant. The rating for water-resistance ranges from 0 through 8. With a 7 rating given, Sony claims that the SmartWatch 3 is “protected from immersion in water with a depth of up to 1 meter (or 3.2ft) for up to 30 mins.”

When Consumers Report conducted their tests, they found that their SmartWatch 3 stopped working after being under water for 30 minutes.

The Sony SmartWatch 3 was the only watch that did not pass our water-resistance test. Two consecutive samples did not function properly after being submerged for 30 minutes at 3.3 feet. Because of its poor performance in this test, the Sony fell to the bottom of our rankings.

On the other hand, Apple makes no mention of water-resistance of the Apple Watch though if you dig deep enough, you can find an IPX7 rating for it. That means both watches share the same water-resistant rating but real world tests have proven otherwise. Here is the video which mainly focuses on the Apple Watch.

Sony notes the following on their site

The SmartWatch 3 is protected against water and dust as long as you follow a few simple instructions: all ports and attached covers are firmly closed; you can’t take the smartwatch deeper than 4.9 ft of water and for longer than 30 minutes; and the water should be fresh water. Casual use in chlorinated pools is permitted provided that you rinse the device in fresh water afterwards. No seawater and no salt water pools. Abuse and/or improper use of the device will invalidate warranty. The smartwatch has an Ingress Protection rating of IP68.

During my time with the Sony SmartWatch 3, I opted not to test the unit’s water-resistance as that’s not how I use my electronics. In fact, even with my non-electronic watches I’ve never had a desire to shower or swim with it. Still, tests like the one conducted by Consumers Reports are designed to replicate rain, splashing, and accidental submersion.