Share your experience!
I know it's not a very popular case but I love the extra screen features the SCR-26 case gives on Android 4.4 (I wouldn't touch slow, bloaty 5.x with a bargepole), so I've stuck with it despite the way it attaches to the phone with glue, and the stupid rear pop fastener.
However, it caused some damage when I took my Z3 Compact out of it to send off for headphone socket repair - when I removed the phone from the case, the glue was so strong it pulled the rear glass cover away from it's seal!
Anyone else hit this issue? And anyone know if Sony repair are likely to make a fuss about the failed rear seal?
Solved! Go to Solution.
Phone came back yesterday repaired with no quibble. It had a new ribbon cable and a new case (!) so the phone looks and acts like new 
Can't fault the repair process really - it was quick and everything works perfectly. Would have been nice to see an 'in repair' status when I was tracking the phone, but I'm a very happy bunny indeed.
I'm sorry to hear about that but the glue on the SCR-26 its not that strong, and to remove the back cover you will have to use a heat gun and a suction cup, contact your Local support to get your device inspected.
It certainly didn't take much effort to break the rear seal, I had a sudden thought I might not get the case back when I was packing the phone up for shipping so carefully peeled it off the back of the phone, starting at one side, and the seal let go with a gentle 'schloop' so I could plainly see the phone's insides through the gap. I carefully pushed it back together and sent it off for repair.
I'm trying to get the headphone socket repaired under warranty, so no doubt it'll be inspected then. I suppose I should count myself lucky the rear screen didn't break and no doubt the seal will be replaced when it's under repair, but from what you say it sounds like I may end up with an extra bill for the failed seal 😞
The back seal its a double sided tape like
http://www.amazon.com/Double-Adhesive-Sticky-Compact-D5803~Front/dp/B00WJ9MCGK
same as the front
http://www.amazon.com/Double-Adhesive-Sticky-Xperia-Compact/dp/B00RGTA5TY
this is how to take it apart
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Sony+Xperia+Z3+Compact+Teardown/35454
Do you live in a hot country? I had this issue with original Z and the back cover began to detach after leaving the phone in car for a few hours in Egypt summer time. If the back side detaches easily without exposing the phone to excessive heat then it should be recognized by the Local support as a defect. I used the same Style Cover version with my Z3 and I attached/detached it multiple times without any problems.
By the way, the style cover for Z5 is fixed to the phone as normal phone cases, not by glue. May be it was decided by the designers in Sony that glue has its difficulties.
You took my post out of context, I'm not telling the user to open his/her device, if you read above you will notice that the device is already with Sony, the links are for the user to know what has to be replaced and how hard its to remove the back cover, don't jump into conclusions.
this is your second post
@bel-ami wrote:
I am shocked - uliwooky, you did not respond to the worry the OP has. What you might have added is that the the rear seal MUST be replaced now because it is not water tight anymore.
Also, the last answer is irrelevant, usually we do not want to open our phones - but the problem is that many z3 compacts have the problem that the glue loses its hold when time goes by. And regylar user should not mess with heat gun because this can damage the battery - but can also break the glass.
and based on the first post
http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-M4-Aqua/M4-aqua-worst-phone-ever/m-p/1066700#M3745
@bel-ami wrote:
November
What kind of advice can be given by a person who wants to be hated?
I understand that you might have issues with your device but I recommend that you read the forum guidelines.
http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Welcome/Discussion-guidelines/m-p/349678#U349678
@Quester
I live in the UK, so rather wet but not very hot
But the phone lives most of it's time in my pocket so I guess the warmth may have had some effect.
I reckon the normal clip type arrangement is much better for the Z3 / Z5 - even ignoring my weird issue, the PS3 / PS4 joystick adaptor sticks to the SCR-26 in a very awkward way and the phone won't fit in the charging cradle with the cover open (which would be rather a nce way of keeping the screen at a good viewing angle), so it's not the best cover for gaming, which is one of the best uses for the phone's speed.
Wonder if there's any way to retro-fit the SCR-26 with plastic phone clips?
Something like the Z5 series covers?
http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/accessories/style-cover-window-scr42/
it might be complicated, perhaps with a 3D printer
Good idea, but I think that might be pushing my expertise a little!
I was thinking more along the lines of sticking something like the plastic phone clips from this to the SCR-26 rear cover. I don't really want to replace the SCR-26 because I find the email widget rather handy for checking mails without having to take the phone out, and the camera widget's very useful for taking pictures of oily car bits without getting the phone itself dirty.