Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
So common sense is don't take your phone to the pool or lake or bathtub unless you want to damage it Electronic Devices and water don't mix

Apple actually advertised this as a feature in a Keynote. So to the consumer they are saying its water resistant but then won't cover it if it gets liquid in it? Seems a little screwy.

Screen-Shot-2018-11-08-at-10.43.43-AM.png
 
I always wondered what would happen with an Apple Watch if you took it in with water damage - would they say that it's not covered under warranty even though they advertise it as swim proof?

I remember getting a replacement Series 0 because some water got under the screen and started killing off the OLED pixels. I did use it in the shower and in water more freely than I probably should have so it was probably inevitable, but they seemed really willing to exchange it - maybe because it was a 1st gen product?

Either way, it would be really good to see if Apple actually certifies its phones for taking in the pool or washing under a tap in the future if this plays out (maybe guaranteed resistance like the Apple Watch?). Just hope that repairability doesn't suffer too much
 
This is why we need a port-less iPhone with next-level ingress protection.

Doesn’t it all just come down to how good your seals are? You’ll still have components stuck together so more or less ports don’t change the nature of the construction much. Unless we have speakers and microphone removed as well.
 
I had a recent Apple Watch short circuit (got very hot and stopped working entirely) while swimming. The Apple Genius said water damage wasn't covered - which was incredible as the watch has a swimming workout tracking!

When I showed them the Apple Website advertising swimming tracking, they replaced the Watch.
 
I routinely wash my phone under the running water, get it wet because of being in the pool, used it in oceanwater a couple of times (including underwater photos/videos), and the worst that ever happened to me is it would refuse to charge - there's a specific message on the screen saying "can't charge, because wet". Same with my Kindle (minus the ocean bit).

IP standards are very specific and if marketing people got carried away, they should be punished. But still, let's be reasonable, it's not an underwater camera. And the screen works like sh*t when wet.

Unfortunately device manufacturers can't verify if you handled your device according to IP standard or not (for example water which is moving fast / under pressure might penetrate into the device). So warranty does not cover it.
 
Apple actually advertised this as a feature in a Keynote. So to the consumer they are saying its water resistant but then won't cover it if it gets liquid in it? Seems a little screwy.

View attachment 1683272
Well, that's pretty much on-brand for Apple. Anything that happens to an Apple device seems to always be the fault of the customer.

< insert obligatory "you're dunking it wrong" meme here >

I'm curious to see how well Apple's other marketing claims (eg. privacy) hold up against scrutiny. That's a bit more open-ended and nebulous so that would be a heavier lift.
 
I actually kind of agree with this. When my pristine condition iPhone 11 Pro Max had a speaker go out on it the first thing the Apple employee did was to check for water damage. When I asked what he was doing he said he was checking to see if water had gotten inside the phone as it wouldn't be covered under warranty.

When I said "I thought the phone was water resistant" he said "It is, but if water gets inside it it isn't covered." Seemed a little strange to me. If you aren't going to cover water damage then don't market your phones as water resistant.

I asked if the same applied to my watch and he said yes, which to me is baffling. You literally show people swimming in your ads with the watch on but aren't going to cover it if water gets inside the watch.
And that's why they say "water resistant" and not "waterproof". If water gets inside they are going to assume that it was because of an immersion outside the specs. Right or wrong, that's their policy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jovian9
As one testing devices for these kind of standards. It's impossible to test for "real" conditions, as all tests have to be repeatable and thus the liquid has to be determined. Otherwise they should get water samples from all rivers and lakes in Italy and toilet water samples ...
I agree, and since Apple cannot do such comprehensive tests, they should change their marketing. It is fine to advertise industrial computers to informed customers who understand what IP-ratings mean for their usage, e.g. that IP67 is not necessarily better than IP66 given that a hose can cause more water pressure in a weak spot than submersion. But to show such ratings together with soaking-wet iPhones to the general public, that gives a seriously wrong impression.

I mean, take this:
"iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini have an industry-leading IP68 rating for water resistance up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes, and are protected against everyday spills, including coffee and soda."
Together with a picture of water splashing against iPhones.

Industry-leading, no one is more water resistant! 6 meters, I've never dived that deep! These iPhones are basically submarines!
But hose that phone off and it may die, or even a bad spillage may do it - then it just wasn't a proper everyday spill, I guess.

Apple should make clear that their phones are not intended for use in/under water. Apple can advertise that they protect them as well as they can, to give them a chance in case of an accident, but that is basically what it is, a last ditch effort for when all precautions have failed. A driver should still use the brakes to slow down, even if his car has bumpers and air-bags. ;-)
 


Apple has been slapped with a 10 million euro ($12 million) fine by Italy's antitrust watchdog for unfair commercial practices related to its iPhone marketing in the country.

iphone-11-water-splash.jpg

Specifically, Apple is being charged for misleading claims in promotional messages about how deep and how long iPhones can be submerged in water without being damaged.

In marketing materials related to iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple said its iPhones were water resistant at a depth of between one and four meters for up to 30 minutes, depending on the model.

However, according to the country's competition regulator, the messages did not clarify that the claims are only true under specific conditions, for example during controlled laboratory tests with the use of static and pure water, and not in the normal conditions of use by consumers.

The regulator also took issue with Apple's warranty terms, which do not cover damage caused by liquids. The authority considered it inappropriate to push an "aggressive" commercial practice highlighting water resistance as a feature, while at the same time refusing to provide post-sales warranty assistance if the iPhone models in question suffer water damage.

This isn't the first time Apple has fallen under the radar of Italy's antitrust watchdog. In 2018 Apple was fined 10 million euros (about $11.5 million USD) for "planned obsolescence" of its smartphones, following the regulator's investigation into reports of iPhone battery slowdowns.

(Via setteBIT.)

Article Link: Italy Fines Apple $12 Million for Misleading iPhone Water Resistance Claims
Latest ads show phone being drenched in cola, is that covered?
 
It's simple: if you don't cover it under warranty, then you're admitting you don't trust your own feature. Apple only expects their devices to function for 1 year by the way. The rest is bonus.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: macfacts
And that's why they say "water resistant" and not "waterproof". If water gets inside they are going to assume that it was because of an immersion outside the specs. Right or wrong, that's their policy.
So it's only water resistant on the condition that it doesn't come into contact with water. Makes sense actually!
 
I routinely wash my phone under the running water, get it wet because of being in the pool, used it in oceanwater a couple of times (including underwater photos/videos), and the worst that ever happened to me is it would refuse to charge - there's a specific message on the screen saying "can't charge, because wet". Same with my Kindle (minus the ocean bit).

IP standards are very specific and if marketing people got carried away, they should be punished. But still, let's be reasonable, it's not an underwater camera. And the screen works like sh*t when wet.

Unfortunately device manufacturers can't verify if you handled your device according to IP standard or not (for example water which is moving fast / under pressure might penetrate into the device). So warranty does not cover it.
There's no such thing as handling your device according to IP standards. Besides even if that did exist, Apple's warranty coverage has absolutely nothing to do with IP standards. Apple's warranty not covering liquid damage existed before the iP7 got IP certified. As others have noted, Apple applies the same water damage "logic" to the Apple watch. A device they claim you can use while swimming isn't covered under warranty for water damage.

... fast moving/under pressure might penetrate into the device... and void the warranty. You mean like this? :D
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: yakapo
I've dropped my X into toilet, ****+water did no damage. Washed X multiple times, went through hard rain and such. Sold it after 3 years. Apple should cover water damage.
 
I always wondered what would happen with an Apple Watch if you took it in with water damage - would they say that it's not covered under warranty even though they advertise it as swim proof?

There is plenty of documented threads on this exact question in the Apple Watch forum. Apple can’t prove the watch wasn’t defective with the seals from the factory, therefore; they replaced the watch if water intrusion caused the failure. Dozens of members who have exposed the watch to water activities, Apple replaced the watch without issue with the same model, because they can’t prove it wasn’t defective to begin with. (That’s also assuming the display is not cracked or damaged.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamesjingyi
Regulators in may countries seem to have double dosed on
Yep when I tell my teenager not to get her phone wet she says don’t worry it’s water proof. Tell that to apple when it stops working.

stupid pills lately. Water resistant is not water proof, the IP standards govern the water resistance claims, not some stupid bureaucrat's wish list.
Apple will now update the warranty small print to say:

25.1a Device not covered if the following occurs:
dropped in:
The sea
The sink
The bath
The toilet
Any type of swimming or paddling pool.
A lake
A river
A stream
A waterfall
A pool of water (see exceptions)
A puddle of water (see exceptions)
A bucket of water (see exceptions)
Any liquid not listed in exceptions

25.1b Device not covered if the following occurs:
covered or splashed in:
Tea
Coffee
Wines & Spirits
Alcohol
Soft drinks / Soda's
Milkshakes
Water (see exceptions)
Any liquids not listed in the exceptions

26.1 Exceptions
Your iphone is covered under this agreement if dropped in or splashed with the following liquids:

Static Water
Pure Water


Watch this space with regards to the warranty agreement :):)
maybe you should actually read the IP68 standard. here is a clip from the tech specs for iPhone:

Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant
Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
 
It seems regulators in various countries have double dosed on their stupid pills lately. The claim of water resistance is governed by the IP68 (and others as applicable), not by their wish list. here is an example of Apple's water resistance disclosure:

Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant3
Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529

oh look, its covered by an IEC standard
 
I still remember back when we were at the beach in July 2017 and we went swimming in the local community pool. I decided to take a dip with my wife and 1 year old daughter and it totally slipped my mind that my iPhone 7 Plus was still in my swim trunks pocket. It was fully submerged in the water for about 25-30 seconds. I quickly stormed out of the pool and frantically pulled my phone out of my pocket and it was..... shockingly fine? Nothing wrong with it. Everything was working properly.

I was one lucky bastard I can tell you that. I guess I was one of the fortunate ones, huh? It seems that IP 67 rating actually held up for me at least.... 🤔
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacCheetah3
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.