Water splash resistance does not protect against “carelessness”.

Recently, Apple has once again faced a class action lawsuit, this time from Joey Zukran, a lawyer from Quebec, Canada. He accuses Apple of advertising iPhone's water resistance features in its ads but excluding water damage from its warranty coverage.

The incident unfolded as follows: A 19-year-old student accidentally dropped her iPhone into a pool while traveling in Mexico. Despite Apple's claim that iPhones can withstand immersion in water up to a certain depth, her iPhone stopped working after coming into contact with water. When she took her phone to an Apple service center, she was informed that her warranty did not cover water damage.

Coincidentally, during a recent team-building activity involving rafting, one of our colleagues' iPhone 15 Pro also got water damaged. He used a low-quality waterproof phone case, but only discovered a large hole in it after the rafting trip. It was unclear how long the phone had been submerged. He immediately turned off the phone and attempted to dry it using rice, but to no avail. The iPhone could no longer take photos or charge, and when he took it to the Apple Store in Guangzhou's Tian Huan Mall, he was also informed that water damage was not covered under warranty. The quote for out-of-warranty repairs exceeded 5,000 yuan.

In the tech world, there's a saying that rings true despite its colloquial tone: "Water splash resistance does not protect against 'carelessness.'"

When this phrase first emerged, phone water resistance technology was still relatively primitive. Most phones' "water-resistant design" involved using waterproof plugs to seal off various openings and applying waterproof adhesive strips to the back cover. Since people didn't expect much from phone water resistance and didn't keep their phones glued to their hands like they do today, few would actually test their phones' water resistance capabilities.

Image Source: Motorola

However, the situation in 2024 is quite different. It's nearly impossible to get by without a phone these days. So, what can we do to protect our phones when iPhones can't truly guarantee water resistance?

How to minimize damage to a water-damaged phone?

1. Never attempt to turn on the phone immediately after water damage. Avoid taking any chances.

Attempting to turn on a water-damaged phone is one of the worst things you can do. Water may have already seeped into the internal circuitry, and turning on the phone could cause a short circuit, further damaging it. The correct approach is to immediately turn off the phone to prevent short circuits on the circuitry, and dry the phone's surface as soon as possible.

Image Source: JD.com

2. Carefully dry all visible moisture and let the phone air dry.

After removing all visible moisture from the phone's surface, take out any removable parts, such as the SIM card tray, and use paper towels or cotton swabs to absorb any internal moisture. Then, place the phone in a dry, well-ventilated area to air dry further. If possible, use an electronic dehumidifier or seal the phone with a desiccant in a bag to aid in the drying process.

3. Can using a hairdryer speed up the drying process?

No. Counterintuitively, it's best not to use a hairdryer to dry a water-damaged phone. While hot air may accelerate evaporation, it could also force moisture deeper into the phone, particularly into areas like the speakers and charging port. The heat could also damage internal components. The better option is to let the phone air dry naturally or use desiccants to absorb moisture.

4. If the phone shuts down after water damage, can the data be salvaged?

This depends on the specific situation. The phone may shut down due to water entering the circuitry and causing a short circuit or other issues. In some cases, only the screen may be damaged, giving the appearance of a shutdown. Some people try to transfer data immediately after water damage, believing they're "racing against time."

However, data corruption typically occurs almost immediately upon water damage. Water damage to phones can be divided into two stages:

Stage 1: Direct short circuit caused by water ingress while the phone is powered on.

Stage 2: Corrosion and oxidation caused by prolonged exposure to moisture within the phone.

These two stages correspond to short-term and long-term damage, respectively. Short-term damage (such as short circuits) typically occurs immediately upon water ingress and persists until the phone shuts down. Long-term damage (like corrosion) may take about a week to manifest. If the phone's flash storage isn't immediately damaged by water, the data is likely recoverable after drying. However, if the hardware is damaged from the start, even immediate data transfer may not help.

It's better to wait until the phone is completely dry before attempting to access the data, rather than risk further damage by powering it on while still wet. For most phones that don't require firmware writing to the screen, even if the screen or data port is damaged, the data can often be retrieved by replacing the affected parts. Android phones without hardware encryption can also have their data accessed through "board transplantation," so there's no need to rush the process by an hour or two.

5. Can charging the phone "heat" it up to help with drying?

Image Source: Apple

Absolutely not. If the phone's internals are not completely dry, charging it could cause a short circuit, further damaging the phone or even posing a safety hazard. Only attempt to charge the phone after confirming that it is completely dry.

6. Are IP67-rated phones truly waterproof?

Unfortunately, it's not that simple. IP67 and IP68 ratings indicate that phones have water resistance under specific conditions, such as brief immersion in shallow water. However, modern smartphones rely on waterproof adhesives and coatings to repel liquids, but prolonged immersion or high-pressure water environments can exceed their water resistance capabilities. Additionally, high temperatures (from prolonged gaming), chemical exposure (from pools, hot springs, or seawater), or daily wear and tear can degrade the waterproof adhesives and coatings, compromising their effectiveness.

Is phone water resistance just a marketing gimmick?

Due to the many limitations of "waterproof" phones, most smartphones with IP68 certification include disclaimers stating that while the phone is designed to keep water out initially, water ingress is not covered under warranty.

This begs the question: Can such phones still be considered "waterproof"?

In recent years, several brands have addressed the issue of "waterproof" phones not living up to their claims. Unfortunately, few have fundamentally resolved the problem. For example, a domestic phone brand recently removed all mentions of "waterproof" from its flagship phone's specifications, replacing them with vague terms like "dust- and splash-resistant" and "water-resistant, dust- and splash-proof." The product description also notes that these features may degrade over time due to daily wear and tear.

Many other brands have adopted similar strategies, using vague language and small print to describe their phones' water resistance capabilities. The only brand I recall that explicitly uses the term "waterproof," emphasizes water resistance ratings, and offers a free repair for water damage is AGM, which has been quietly focused on rugged phones for years.

Image Source: AGM

As for other brands, once the phone's internal water ingress indicator turns red, it's typically classified as "man-made damage" and denied warranty coverage. Some brands may offer high-priced factory repairs, while others may Refusal to provide services altogether. For instance, the friend mentioned earlier whose iPhone got water damaged was quoted over 5,000 yuan for repairs by Apple after inspection. Given the price, it essentially amounts to a full phone replacement.

Some may argue that Apple overhypes its phones' water resistance, but since the iPhone 12, Apple has followed national standards by using the term "water-resistant" instead of "waterproof" in its marketing materials. Even in promotional images, Apple has removed scenes of phones fully submerged in water. While it's tempting to accuse Apple of deception, the linguistic distinction between "intelligent driving" and "self-driving" seems more like a play on words than a deliberate misrepresentation.

Of course, there are reports of Apple offering special channels or "premium customer service" that can intervene in after-sales cases under exceptional circumstances and provide free repairs without additional conditions. Apple Store managers may also handle special cases on a case-by-case basis. However, there's flexibility in how different regions and stores handle out-of-warranty repairs, and special authorizations can be requested for exceptional cases involving water-damaged phones.

Ultimately, these are "special channels," and employee discretion has been tightening in recent years. In Apple's after-sales system, each case is unique and cannot be replicated. While employees may occasionally go above and beyond out of kindness, this is not a standard procedure.

Without guarantees, has phone water resistance become a mere formality?

Looking back at the history of smartphones, the introduction of water resistance was undoubtedly a significant milestone. With the proliferation of IP67 ratings, phones gradually transformed from fragile electronic devices into durable products capable of withstanding complex environments. However, since IP67 and IP68 ratings do not offer "long-term" protection, not even covering the entire software lifecycle of smartphones, is pursuing IP67 certification still necessary?

Or is water resistance a genuine necessity for phones?

Before smartphones became ubiquitous, water resistance was more commonly found in specialized equipment like industrial communication tools. As smartphones became essential in daily life, manufacturers began promoting water resistance as a means to enhance durability.

Image Source: Apple

With technological advancements, IP68 and even higher water resistance standards have become standard features in high-end phones. The continuous improvement of water resistance has also driven the overall evolution of phone quality.

However, aside from specialized rugged phones like those from AGM, few brands dare to offer truly waterproof phones without asterisks. Mentioning IP67 in marketing materials often serves more as a "psychological value" for consumers. For phone brands, obtaining IP67 certification entails additional hardware and testing costs, which are inevitably passed on to consumers in the final product price.

For this reason, some phone brands have experimented with "de-IP67-ing" their phones. This involves incorporating certain water resistance design elements, such as seals and water-resistant coatings, to provide "similar high-level protection" without seeking IP certification or explicitly marketing the phone as "waterproof."

Image Source: OnePlus

For instance, in a promotional video for the OnePlus 7 series, OnePlus dropped a phone into a bucket of water and added a disclaimer:

The product has not undergone IP certification. Water resistance is achieved under specific conditions. OnePlus is not responsible for water or liquid damage. Such damage is not covered under warranty.

Since warranty doesn't cover water damage anyway, OnePlus's approach back then seemed reasonable and in line with consumer expectations.

Undeniably, the evolution of phone water resistance is both a result of technological advancements and market demand. As materials science and sealing technology progress, phones' water resistance is expected to reach even higher levels, potentially achieving true "all-around water resistance."

At the same time, consumers should approach water resistance more rationally, avoiding blind reliance and cultivating good phone maintenance habits in daily use. After all, for most environments with water damage risks, a cheap (under 10 yuan) waterproof phone case can solve most problems.

IFA100: Lei Tech Reporting Team Returns Triumphantly!

From September 6 to 10, IFA100 (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin, Berlin International Consumer Electronics Show) kicked off in Berlin, Germany.

Marking IFA's 100th anniversary, AI large language models are profoundly reshaping the tech industry. Lei Tech dispatched a reporting team to cover IFA 100 with frontline, comprehensive, and professional reports, delivering over 40 pieces of content. Drawing on our extensive experience covering tech events like CES, MWC, and AWE, we ensured the timeliness, richness, and professionalism of our IFA coverage, which reached an estimated audience of over 5 million across Lei Tech's 3 million WeChat subscribers and 10 million new media followers.

We look forward to reuniting at the next IFA, CES, MWC, AWE, and other major tech exhibitions worldwide!

Source: Lei Tech