iPhone 7 Plus Not So Splash Proof?

[Krabba]

My 7+ got a decent splash down on the lake Saturday. No worries right, it's "water-resistant". Well, Saturday night 6-8 lightly colored thin horizontal lines appeared on the bottom 1/4 of the display. Not terribly noticeable until the brightness is way up and then it is rather annoying. Took it into my local Apple Store today and was advised all 3 liquid sensors were tripped and it would be $349 for an out of warranty replacement. Had a discussion with the manager about it where I explained I found it very difficult to swallow the fact that a phone literally marketed with a guy using it during a thunderstorm bike ride couldn't handle a little lake water splash. He seemed unimpressed and gave me some Cupertino number to call.

So, the question is do I just live with the lines and hope that is the only damage or push this up the chain? Anyone had luck calling corporate with issues like this?

 

[timeconsumer]

While I agree that Apple shouldn't show people using the phone in wet conditions it's still water resistant. And if it fails, then it isn't covered by their standard warranty.

How long have you had your iPhone?
Has it ever been dropped?

These things can affect the effectiveness of the water resistance.

Apple says the following:

"iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus 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."

That said, you could continue to try to press for a replacement but I'm not sure I would waste my time.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

Obviously push it up the chain, what kind of question is that.

You're 1 step away from getting a new phone and you're asking if you should do it..

 

[Krabba]

While I agree that Apple shouldn't show people using the phone in wet conditions it's still water resistant. And if it fails, then it isn't covered by their standard warranty.

Yeah, this is a sticking point for me. It either is or it isn't IP67. If it fails within the warranty it should be covered, but hey, what am I gonna do?

How long have you had your iPhone?

Since a couple weeks after launch, first batch ordered.

Has it ever been dropped?

Never. I take immaculate care of my phones. It is in pristine condition... minus the new LCD lines.

That said, you could continue to try to press for a replacement but I'm not sure I would waste my time.

That's the gist of it. I spent 3.5 hours waiting around today to essentially be told "sorry about your luck". Not sure I want to spend more time on the phone if this type of thing never ends in a replacement in the experience of folks here.

 

[timeconsumer]

Yeah, this is a sticking point for me. It either is or it isn't IP67. If it fails within the warranty it should be covered, but hey, what am I gonna do?



Since a couple weeks after launch, first batch ordered.



Never. I take immaculate care of my phones. It is in pristine condition... minus the new LCD lines.



That's the gist of it. I spent 3.5 hours waiting around today to essentially be told "sorry about your luck". Not sure I want to spend more time on the phone if this type of thing never ends in a replacement in the experience of folks here.

Hmm, I see what you mean.

Honestly after reading this I think you should continue to try for a replacement. Since you've never dropped your phone then there's (in my opinion) no reason the phone shouldn't have been able to withstand water within the constraints of the IP67 rating.

Also, since you got your phone so close to release, it could be argued that it could have been faulty from the factory. I would ask Apple if they could look into it to determine how it failed. Was it faulty from the factory or did it just degrade over time since it's basically a launch iPhone.

If it degraded over time, then fair enough. But if it was faulty then Apple owes you a replacement phone as it didn't meet the IP67 rating they advertise.

Apple does cover themselves based on what I quoted in my first post, but you should at least give the number a call and talk to them to see what they can do for you.

 

[Krabba]

Hmm, I see what you mean.

Honestly after reading this I think you should continue to try for a replacement. Since you've never dropped your phone then there's (in my opinion) no reason the phone shouldn't have been able to withstand water within the constraints of the IP67 rating.

Also, since you got your phone so close to release, it could be argued that it could have been faulty from the factory. I would ask Apple if they could look into it to determine how it failed. Was it faulty from the factory or did it just degrade over time since it's basically a launch iPhone.

If it degraded over time, then fair enough. But if it was faulty then Apple owes you a replacement phone as it didn't meet the IP67 rating they advertise.

Apple does cover themselves based on what I quoted in my first post, but you should at least give the number a call and talk to them to see what they can do for you.

Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. That's kind of where I am with it. If the IP67 degrades in 11 months with the way I care for my phone it isn't worth the rating it has been given. I really do wonder if it simply wasn't up to par from the factory being in the first batch shipped. I suppose I will block some time tomorrow and give them a call. Worth a shot if for nothing more than to give my feedback on all of this.

 

[ArizonaKid]

Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. That's kind of where I am with it. If the IP67 degrades in 11 months with the way I care for my phone it isn't worth the rating it has been given. I really do wonder if it simply wasn't up to par from the factory being in the first batch shipped. I suppose I will block some time tomorrow and give them a call. Worth a shot if for nothing more than to give my feedback on all of this.

Small Claims Court.

It may even be fun and entertaining. Regardless of Apple's stated warranty, policies, and procedures, there is a precedent awarding damages when a company clearly advertises features that they don't back. If Apple wasn't going to honor warranty claims for water resistance, they should have never shot themselves in the foot and advertise such use. You of course would need a witness the court would believe that saw the phone contact liquid within the acceptable IP67 limits.

Probably all you need:

Sony lost a couple of similar cases, one being a class action lawsuit, on the Xperia line...and they've gone back to honoring water damage warranty claims.

 

[x-evil-x]

id throw a fit if my phone had issues from splashes with no drops. A goddamn fit.

 

[akash.nu]

id throw a fit if my phone had issues from splashes with no drops. A goddamn fit.

Throwing a fit hardly works. The best idea is to be calm, stern & to the point about the event & how the phone failed. Calling that number is actually a good idea.

 

[itsmefudge]

I would call and push it up, sounds like a defective phone. I had my 7+ in my pocket and was standing at the waters edge of Sunset Beach. My daughter was playing at the shore break and a big wave came in and just swallowed her up. I ran in fully clothed with phone in pocked and grabbed her and got her out. She is fine, and my phone was soaked-I was up to my chest in the water. Phone just kept working like normal, no issues.
Good Luck on your replacement!

 

[Givmeabrek]

Let it dry out. Probably be as good as new.

 

[Krabba]

Let it dry out. Probably be as good as new.

Happened on Saturday so we are 3 days out and the lines are still present. They do seem a bit lighter than they were, but they aren't my main concern. I don't want issues to appear down the line since the water-resistance obviously failed.

Planning to give them a call in a bit so we shall see.

 

[cbreze]

Happened on Saturday so we are 3 days out and the lines are still present. They do seem a bit lighter than they were, but they aren't my main concern. I don't want issues to appear down the line since the water-resistance obviously failed.

Planning to give them a call in a bit so we shall see.

I've had water damaged phones in the past that straightened themselves out eventually but it took a lot longer than 3 days in some cases. One fell into a creek, got it out in 5 seconds but it appeared to be toast. I put my sim into a backup and forgot about it. 3 months later I tried to fire up the water phone and it has been working perfectly ever since. My GF had hers in her back pocket and it fell into the toilet. That phone was toast for about a couple weeks then was fine and has been fine ever since. Toilet was clean BTW. LOL! Another GF dropped hers into a puddle and it was never the same again, so it's a crap shoot.
So if it were me and I couldn't get any satisfaction with Apple replacing I'd take a wait and see, give it some more time, might be fine.

 

[Applejuiced]

My 7+ got a decent splash down on the lake Saturday. No worries right, it's "water-resistant". Well, Saturday night 6-8 lightly colored thin horizontal lines appeared up on the bottom 1/4 of the display. Not terribly noticeable until the brightness is way up and then it is rather annoying. Took it into my local Apple Store today and was advised all 3 liquid sensors were tripped and it would be $349 for an out of warranty replacement. Had a discussion with the manager about it where I explained I found it very difficult to swallow the fact that a phone literally marketed with a guy using it during a thunderstorm bike ride couldn't handle a little lake water splash. He seemed unimpressed and gave me some Cupertino number to call.

So, the question is do I just live with the lines and hope that is the only damage or push this up the chain? Anyone had luck calling corporate with issues like this?

It must have been a pretty decent "splash" for all 3 sensors to be tripped.
Resistant or not I always keep my i7 far far away from any liquids.
I wouldnt risk it and then try to get the manufacturer to cover water damage that they clearly do not cover.

 

[Krabba]

It must have been a pretty decent "splash" for all 3 sensors to be tripped.
Resistant or not I always keep my i7 far far away from any liquids.
I wouldnt risk it and then try to get the manufacturer to cover water damage that they clearly do not cover.

It definitely was, that happens on boats sometimes. Who knows, maybe my 2-year-old dunked it in the toilet that night while I slept.

After 30 minutes on the phone I got the same answer I got in store... $349 out of warranty replacement. Oh well, lines have almost totally faded and everything seems to be 100% functional so I'll just ride it out until the 8/X/Pro/Edition launches and this 7+ becomes my wife's.

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[thadoggfather]

I agree I think having "manufacturing tolerances" for ip67 is total bs.

Sorry to hear!

 

[macTW]

Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. That's kind of where I am with it. If the IP67 degrades in 11 months with the way I care for my phone it isn't worth the rating it has been given. I really do wonder if it simply wasn't up to par from the factory being in the first batch shipped. I suppose I will block some time tomorrow and give them a call. Worth a shot if for nothing more than to give my feedback on all of this.

Apple is slightly flexible with their water based exchanges. Especially if the phone appears immaculate and void of damage.

It isn't just Apple who doesn't cover water damage. Samsung as well. It's for the YouTube cash grabs who submerge their phones for thirty minutes and claim it was rain.

 

[Nr123*123]

My 7+ got a decent splash down on the lake Saturday. No worries right, it's "water-resistant". Well, Saturday night 6-8 lightly colored thin horizontal lines appeared on the bottom 1/4 of the display. Not terribly noticeable until the brightness is way up and then it is rather annoying. Took it into my local Apple Store today and was advised all 3 liquid sensors were tripped and it would be $349 for an out of warranty replacement. Had a discussion with the manager about it where I explained I found it very difficult to swallow the fact that a phone literally marketed with a guy using it during a thunderstorm bike ride couldn't handle a little lake water splash. He seemed unimpressed and gave me some Cupertino number to call.

So, the question is do I just live with the lines and hope that is the only damage or push this up the chain? Anyone had luck calling corporate with issues like this?

Call the number in Cupertino! That is where Apple's customer service really does come through. Even a simple email to Tim Cook will get picked up by some executive admin department who will most likely contact you.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

I honestly feel you received a dud because I had my iPhone 7 since October and it has faced several varying water situations. This includes spilling water on it, taking it in a hot shower, having it fall in a puddle of water, and more. I've also dropped my phone several times in between the water accidents. The interesting part is that I went to the Apple Store to seek a battery repair and received a replacement instead. When the Genuis Bar employee checked the water sensors, everything was fine. I would try the Cupertino number again and get someone else to help you. (Even email Tim Cook, as another forum member said).

Example: I had bought a used iPhone 6 almost 2 years ago with its warranty expired. I called Apple and they gave me another 90 days of AppleCare.

I hope you can work it out...

 

[Dwalls90]

My 7+ suffered the same fate.

I cited the advertisement of the phone in the rain, and a manager overrode the repair to replace my phone for free.

As always with the genius bar, YMMV, but I was polite and firm, and left them with no choice.

 

[Krabba]

I honestly feel you received a dud because I had my iPhone 7 since October and it has faced several varying water situations. This includes spilling water on it, taking it in a hot shower, having it fall in a puddle of water, and more. I've also dropped my phone several times in between the water accidents. The interesting part is that I went to the Apple Store to seek a battery repair and received a replacement instead. When the Genuis Bar employee checked the water sensors, everything was fine. I would try the Cupertino number again and get someone else to help you. (Even email Tim Cook, as another forum member said).

Example: I had bought a used iPhone 6 almost 2 years ago with its warranty expired. I called Apple and they gave me another 90 days of AppleCare.

I hope you can work it out...

It seems because all three sensors were tripped they are convinced it took a dip where as I have to assume the water-resistance failed because I know it did not. I'm guessing if only one or maybe two of the sensors had tripped I might have been okay. Oh well, can't fight "city hall".

 

[Krabba]

My 7+ suffered the same fate.

I cited the advertisement of the phone in the rain, and a manager overrode the repair to replace my phone for free.

As always with the genius bar, YMMV, but I was polite and firm, and left them with no choice.

I did exactly that. Mileage definitely varies.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

It seems because all three sensors were tripped they are convinced it took a dip where as I have to assume the water-resistance failed because I know it did not. I'm guessing if only one or maybe two of the sensors hadn't tripped I might have been okay. Oh well, can't fight "city hall".

City hall is for the people. At the end of the day, it's up to you if you want to pursue it or not. Honestly, I think you should try again and be as direct as possible.

 

[alex2792]

That’s some BS, you should push it further up the chain of command.

 

[Dwalls90]

It seems because all three sensors were tripped they are convinced it took a dip where as I have to assume the water-resistance failed because I know it did not. I'm guessing if only one or maybe two of the sensors had tripped I might have been okay. Oh well, can't fight "city hall".

In all fairness, one of my sensors was partially tripped (pink), but not completely red. I don't recall the others, but don't think those were tripped. I think that may have made the difference.