Is Touch ID on iPhone waterproof?

[airlied]

I know iPhone is not a waterproof phone and nobody wanted to throw it into water. But is Touch ID waterproof? Since I unlock the phone using my wet fingers sometimes and if it's not I'll be burned.

 

[maflynn]

I'd say no, since the phone itself is not.

 

[Narien]

Since the button is "lose" from the rest of the phone, there is a gap where water could get in. So no, it is not waterproof.

 

[Caesars]

No

 

[617aircav]

I know iPhone is not a waterproof phone and nobody wanted to throw it into water. But is Touch ID waterproof? Since I unlock the phone using my wet fingers sometimes and if it's not I'll be burned.

How can it be waterproof when the phone is not?

 

[Zxxv]

No Touch ID is not waterproof, but the input device is.

 

[Applejuiced]

Throw a bunch of water on the touch id button and let us know if it's waterpr or not.

 

[ttmrn]

Technically the Touch ID parts shld not be affected by water.

However as a whole iPhone, it's inconclusive.

 

[hipnetic]

I'm sure that Apple built some degree of water resistance around the Touch ID, because as the OP mentioned, a lot of people are going to occasionally touch the screen with a not-perfectly-dry finger on occasion. I don't think a minimal amount of dampness on the outside of any part of the iPhone is going to trigger any water failures that would cause a problem or be detected by a diagnostic test. Just like taking it out and using it when it's lightly raining outside shouldn't cause problems. Just don't drop it in water, and you should be fine.

 

[robert109]

Of course not

 

[Retired Cat]

I know iPhone is not a waterproof phone and nobody wanted to throw it into water. But is Touch ID waterproof? Since I unlock the phone using my wet fingers sometimes and if it's not I'll be burned.

I looked closely at photos from iFixit.com's teardowns of the 5 and 5S last year. I was concerned about the effect of sweat seeping into the home button, but I believe it isn't a problem for the following reasons:

In the iPhone 5, the home button cover is glued (creating a seal) on top of a rectangular polymer gasket. The gasket in turn has adhesive on its upper face, which seals against the underside of the display unit. A steel plate that backs the entire home button assembly and is secured with 2 screws helps keep this all in place.

Liquid that gets in between the gap between the home button and display assembly is blocked by the adhesive seal between the button cover and gasket, and by the adhesive seal between the gasket and display assembly.

The iPhone 5S is constructed similarly, except that the home button cover has the TouchID sensor under the circular sapphire panel.

Liquid will only get in if the gasket tears or the adhesive fails. Under normal usage patterns in normal climates, I think it would be years before the gasket and adhesive began to degrade. Unless you are squirting industrial solvents into the gap between the home button and display, I really don't think you should worry.

 

[617aircav]

I'm sure that Apple built some degree of water resistance around the Touch ID, because as the OP mentioned, a lot of people are going to occasionally touch the screen with a not-perfectly-dry finger on occasion. I don't think a minimal amount of dampness on the outside of any part of the iPhone is going to trigger any water failures that would cause a problem or be detected by a diagnostic test. Just like taking it out and using it when it's lightly raining outside shouldn't cause problems. Just don't drop it in water, and you should be fine.

The question was is it waterproof and the answer is clearly, NO.

 

[hipnetic]

The question was is it waterproof and the answer is clearly, NO.

Don't be an ass. Despite the OP's poorly worded title, he made it clear in his actual post that he was concerned about whether he could safely use the Touch ID with a wet finger, and the answer is very likely, YES.

 

[Kissaragi]

Probably be fine with wet fingers but the drier the better as theres always a risk of some water getting in down the sides of the button.

Really wish apple had made the 6 waterproof, doesn't seem like it would have been hard to do as it all looks pretty seamless and well sealed as is.

 

[Night Spring]

Don't be an ass. Despite the OP's poorly worded title, he made it clear in his actual post that he was concerned about whether he could safely use the Touch ID with a wet finger, and the answer is very likely, YES.

Yes, but I believe wet fingers can interfere with the accuracy of TouchID. So better to dry fingers first when possible.

 

[Retired Cat]

Probably be fine with wet fingers but the drier the better as theres always a risk of some water getting in down the sides of the button.



Really wish apple had made the 6 waterproof, doesn't seem like it would have been hard to do as it all looks pretty seamless and well sealed as is.

See my post above. Unless the gasket or sealing adhesive breaks, liquid that falls down the side of the button can't get into the inside of the device.

 

[Zxxv]

See my post above. Unless the gasket or sealing adhesive breaks, liquid that falls down the side of the button can't get into the inside of the device.

of course it can... its water

 

[logeox]

If you have ever taken apart a iPhone you know that there is a rubber seal around the home button on the underside. This prevents water from entering into the electronics area. When you depress the button it hits the sensor for the home button. I can't comment how this has changed since they added the fingerprint scanner to home button.