In the case of whether iPhones are waterproof, there seems to be some confusion but hopefully, by the end of this article, things will be a lot clearer!
Before we go any further, there’s a massive difference between “waterproof” and “water-resistant.” If you imagine a waterproof raincoat, you would expect to stay reasonably dry in heavy rain BUT if you stood under a waterfall wearing this jacket, it’s very likely that water would come through the material and the seams.
What we are trying to say is that a raincoat is waterproof, but only when used for a normal rain shower, other than that, you wouldn’t expect it to keep you 100% dry.
The problem stems from the word “waterproof.” This word is not a defined quantity, which is why electronic device manufacturers use the word “water-resistant.” instead.
But this term also needs clarification before you jump into the swimming pool with your brand-new iPhone X in the pocket of your swimming shorts!
Here’s Apple’s small print for all of their iPhone models since the iPhone 7:
“iPhone 7 and newer are splash, water, and dust resistant and were tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529. Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty.”
This means that all iPhones from the 7 are splash, water, and dust resistant and they are not waterproof or dustproof.”
So what does this rating of IP67 actually mean?
IP actually stands for “Ingress Protection.” IP has two digits; the first digit indicates the protection level against solids, and the second digit refers to protection against liquids.
“IP67” means that the phones are totally dust-resistant, and able to withstand temporary immersion up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes in fresh water (not Fanta, not saltwater, and definitely not in bleach in your toilet!!!
Another thing to bear in mind is that splash, water, and dust resistance is not permanent and resistance might decrease with wear & tear.
If you only read one sentence of this article…make sure it’s this one! – DO NOT TRY TO CHARGE A WET iPhone – REFER TO THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR PROPER CLEANING & DRYING INSTRUCTIONS!
So keep those instructions close by in case the worst situation happens!
TO BE CLEAR – Liquid damage to iPhone or iPod isn’t covered by a warranty. Take a peek at Apple’s policies and you’ll soon discover that there are no guarantees when it comes to H2O!
Oh……that one hurts, doesn’t it? If water does manage to get inside your iPhone, don’t expect Apple to send you a brand-new replacement!
IP waterproof rating chart
What conditions to avoid with your iPhone
To be crystal clear, we have included a list of what “not” to do with your iPhone (taken from Apple’s website)
- Do not swim or bathe with your iPhone
- Do not expose your iPhone to pressurized water or high-velocity water, such as when showering, water skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, jet skiing, and so on
- Do not use your iPhone in a sauna or steam room
- Do not intentionally submerge your iPhone in water
- Do not operate your iPhone outside the suggested temperature ranges or in extremely humid conditions
- Do not drop your iPhone or subject it to other impacts….haha!
- Do not disassemble your iPhone, including removing any screws
What should you do if your iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, or iPhone X gets wet?
If your “water-resistant” iPhone takes a dip, Apple’s suggestions are as follows:
- Wipe it with a “soft, lint-free cloth.”
- Do not open the SIM card tray until the phone is completely dry.
- Refrain from charging your iPhone until it’s completely dry.
- Wait for the water to drain and dry from the speaker port.
If after following all of Apple’s instructions your phone is damaged, then you only really have two options;
Buy Apple Care Plus
You can buy Apple Care Plus within 60 days of your original purchase. It’s pretty cool because you get coverage for two incidents of damage that occur at any time within two years from the date you first bought your iPhone. At the time of writing, you pay just $29 for screen repair and $99 for anything else.
Buy a carrier warranty
Your second option is to talk to your carrier about your iPhone’s extended warranty. If you have one, your carrier is now responsible for helping you to fix the issue and not Apple. As carriers’ terms & conditions vary, you will have to talk to them directly to discuss your broken iPhone.
REMEMBER “Waterproof” doesn’t really mean waterproof!!!
Don’t be conned into thinking you can take any smartphone into the water because phones aren’t really waterproof….think about it, electronics and water don’t play well together.
Phone makers are trying their best with many techniques such as nano-coating (which seals device innards from liquid damage.)
Just a couple of well-placed (or badly placed in this case) on any part of exposed electronics is just asking for trouble and can kill a phone in no time at all.
Just do a Google search for suggestions on how to dry out a wet phone with rice and silica packs and you will see the scale of the problem!!!
Wouldn’t it be awesome if your iPhone was 100% waterproof?
Imagine for a second, all of the iPhone fatalities that could have been prevented in swimming pools, toilets, and even washing machines.
Consider all of the fun you could have if your iPhone was truly waterproof – from snorkeling, kayaking, or just a worry-free day on the beach!
The vast majority of phones are still not waterproof straight out of the box. So the question is “how do you waterproof your iPhone?”, or even “is it even possible to make an iPhone waterproof?”
There is only one viable solution and that is to grab a waterproof phone case/pouch/dry bag. This is basically a protective, watertight container for your device. There are two options to choose from and they are a hard case or a soft one (these are often called waterproof pouches or dry bags.) Both kinds of waterproof iPhone holders work in the same way, just put your phone inside and close the seal.
Our favorite waterproof case for your beloved iPhone is the YOSH Universal. This best-selling airtight case is suitable for iPhone X/8/7/6/6S Plus, 5S/5C, Samsung Galaxy S9/S8/S7 Edge, Note 5/4, and all other smartphones measuring 6.0″ in diagonal.
The durable YOSH Universal Waterproof Phone Case Bag has been specially designed for active types that don’t want to worry about damaging their phone while engaging in more extreme activities. The YOSH’s job is to protect your phone (or another device) from dirt, dust, sand, and most importantly water! Each product is actually tested underwater for two hours!
The folks at YOSH are so confident in their products that they offer an unconditional lifetime warranty. To reiterate, it fits all phones/devices up to six inches in diagonal including iPhone, Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia, and Blackberry.
Amazon.com If you liked this article, you might also enjoy learning about gooseneck iPhone holders from our tech section.
A big thanks to Electriciancourses4u.co.uk for supplying the image “IP Waterproof rating chart.
And Compudemano at Flickr for his fabulous image.
