Italy Fines Apple $12 Million for Misleading iPhone Water Resistance Claims

[MauiPa]

Ahhh water resistance is a really good feature of phones. Never had any water resistance problems on my iPhone, despite me sometimes splashing/ lightly submerging it in water (eg to wash it)
I found Apple's marketing to be quite modest and iPhone water resistance is actually better than they advertise

good point and looksy, its actually covered by a standard on what it has to do and how it has to be tested:

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

Regulators redefine the word stupid into an art form

 

[cocky jeremy]

No it's not. I fell down while swimming this summer and my iPhone only briefly went in shallow water and would not charge for days before being ok. I almost junked it as I thought it might be hopeless. So these waterproof claims are seriously bogus. And we're not talking meters here either. I'm talking only splashing inches into the water and that made it fail! to charge anymore!

And guess what the solution was? Spraying more water on the connector and then putting it back in the tray of rice! HAHA!

Apple has never said waterproof. Literally ever.

 

[JustTheFactsWBCAALD]

SUE SUE SUE SUE EM until Apple is no more. BTW, I’m a big fan of Apple and most all their products. Dating back to the iPhone 4. But they have proven to behave as most businesses and humans typically do after their bank accounts dramatically increase. Why can’t there be a happy medium once successful but no, Apple is targeting all of its customers who already pay a ridiculous amount for an iPhone and then 12 months later, buy an almost identical iPhone that truly does nothing exceptionally better than the $1,500 iPhone from last year that Apple just gave you $500 in Apple bucks so you can give them your practically brand new “old” phone. And as they mark “refurbished” on your old iPhone, to then sell in bulk to other retailers or to give as replacements in the rare instances that they stand by their warranties. That’s WINNING. But they couldn’t stop there.....no happy medium. They now intentionally slow older iPhones down while updating all iPhones every couple of weeks, to really send us the message to buy the same iPhone every 12 months now instead of every 2 to 3 years. Didn’t stop there either. They then started misleading all of us idiots through their constant barrage of new iPhone commercials every 12 months with false claims of waterproof iPhones so us dummies (for the record, I’ve NEVER dropped in water or “washed” any of my iPhones) will become more lenient and less cautious around water sources when handling these made of glass and very expensive phones, so truly, most people that aren’t, need to only use a $19 grocery store phone or you must have lots of money/insurance so just keep replacing your iPhone. Finally, also the real reason I’m here, is to shame Apple even more. They are most definitely in the wrong in attacking us, their loyal customers with what I’ve listed here and so much more that I really don’t have time for EXCEPT for this, Apple is now making every iPhone from 12 and higher while they move forward with their barely noticeable improved iPhone line year after year will now ONLY be fixable through Apple or an Apple authorized dealer. So five years ago when I purchased a $25.00 LCD screen through EBay and I installed it on my iPhone 6, which still works perfectly today but is a bit slower, however the $25 screen works exactly like the broken Apple authorized screen that came with the 6 when I purchased it. But Apple wanted $200 to do the same exact job. I know most people wouldn’t attempt to fix/replace parts themselves but a lot of us do and starting with iPhone 12, that is no longer an option. Which just goes to show just how greedy Apple has become and although I do feel this latest lawsuit is meritless (without merit??) but I do hope it flies through their courts and Apple is found guilty which will hopefully put another ugly ding in their business and maybe they can finally realize a change needs to be made or their doors need to be shut. Ok, I used my iPhone XS Max to write this and I have a Series 5 Apple Watch, as I said in the beginning, I like their products but their business practices need to be stopped or they need to close up shop for good. It’s truly horrific.

 

[Wando64]

Italy needs cash and going straight for the cow.

Do you happen to have an opinion on whether it is acceptable to advertise products as water resistant, yet not covering water damage under warranty?
Or do you just have an opinion about Italy?

 

[Crowbot]

So it's only water resistant on the condition that it doesn't come into contact with water. Makes sense actually!

No, Apple simply assumes that if water got in then it was because of an exposure outside their specs. The customer's story notwithstanding. I'll wipe my phone with a damp cloth but not a dripping one. And even though Apple says I can swim with it, I'm careful when I wash my hands with my Watch on my wrist. I don't like tempting fate.

 

[Grey Area]

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

Great, so 6 meter for 30 minutes - plus some unknown number of additional conditions hidden in a non-public standard that the interested customer has to purchase for a mere 280 Swiss Francs ($310). Frankly, I would hardly call this a "disclosure", more like false advertising. Apple should not just be fined, but also be forced to purchase and provide free copies of IEC 60529 to any interested customer.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

Apple has never said waterproof. Literally ever

Semantics. So according to you in their advertisement of a phone under water 6 meters for 30 minutes Apple says nothing. Also the advertisements with splashes of water over devices say nothing. Because the literal word 'waterproof' is not used? Ever heard of implying things?

 

[jonnysods]

Ok I'm not agreeing with the fine, don't even know how they get that amount, or who they pass that money onto if they win it, but the advertising, fine print, and rejection of water damage claims is interesting.

 

[recoil80]

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.

And that's ok, but I guess they were fined because of poor communication, not because of their policy.
They have a legal team, I wonder why they didn't suggest putting a footnote with detailed information about water resistance, it would have save them those 12 million

 

[TonyC28]

Do they have any fine print in these ads saying water damage isn’t covered? Seems like that would solve a lot.

 

[ian87w]

I partially agree that if a device is advertised to be water resistant at certain level, then there should also be a certain level of warranty coverage.

 

[rawCpoppa]

I’m in two minds on this. Had water damage to two Apple devices. First gen Apple Watch failed after swimming. IPhone X can no longer use Face ID after getting splashed but no submersion. Both issues occurred outside of the one year warranty. Thing is the ability to keep water out degrades with time. I wonder if this lawsuit took that into account.

 

[FreekieGeekie]

I mean, EverythingApplePro abuses these damn things with water and they do absolutely fine. He religiously has footage on YouTube when he tests them. I’m gonna say… freak occurrence??? 🤷🏾‍♂️

 

[Crowbot]

I partially agree that if a device is advertised to be water resistant at certain level, then there should also be a certain level of warranty coverage.

My understanding is that Apple puts small tabs inside their devices that turn blue if they get wet. So their policy is that if they open it and see blue tabs, it's not covered. Not 100% fair but it is what it is.

 

[Crowbot]

And that's ok, but I guess they were fined because of poor communication, not because of their policy.
They have a legal team, I wonder why they didn't suggest putting a footnote with detailed information about water resistance, it would have save them those 12 million

I repaired medical devices in a hospital for 35 years. No matter how many times I pleaded with them, the medical staff came up with some pretty inventive ways to break stuff. Coffee was one of my worst enemies. I can't tell you how many times I was told "We don't know what happened". Damn, I could see the ring from the cup on the case.

 

[LongWayHome]

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.

Nah. There is absolutely zero way of knowing how a phone got wet or what caused it to short. Water damage should be covered, period.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

this is idiotic

Idiotic is your remark. If Italy had did tests and consider the marketing information as well as customer support not in line, there should be consequences. Apple or any other company. This site is about Apple, of course it covers Apple issues.

Never seen a forum whose user are so pro company and less pro user / customers of the company as this one. It seams that any observation not in line with the company modus operandi is idiotic. I wonder who is the ...

 

[wbrat]

My opinion is that if they benefit from advertising this feature, they should cover it. If they do not want to cover it, they should not make it one of key selling points.

Btw., I accidently dropped my iPhone XR to the lake few months ago in the evening - it was impossible to find it as it was already dark and the water was approx. 3 meters deep there. Next morning we called a scuba diver and he managed to find it. The phone has been working ok to this day. The speakers sounded really bad for 2 days, but after that everything has been totally fine.

 

[ericwn]

Regulators in may countries seem to have double dosed on


stupid pills lately. Water resistant is not water proof, the IP standards govern the water resistance claims, not some stupid bureaucrat's wish list.

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

I’m sure the regulating authority took issue with the misleading advertising which is valid. Ads should not tell the opposite of the product warranty to say the least.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

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

If that is the case I guess thet should update as not water proof.

PS: Tea, coffee and wine aren’t water. What Italy meant as pure water is water that does not have impurities, say sand, mud ... . Coffee, Tea, Wine aren’t water, but liquids.

 

[ericwn]

Apple has never said waterproof. Literally ever.

Except hinting at it in ads. Which you know have not disclosed that they didn’t mean waterproof. Literally ever.

 

[FlyBry]

This fine is from the country that brought us the Fiat and Alfa that are obsolete (and sometimes non-functional) before they are delivered to the end user. Even if you keep your Fiat/Alfa dry fluids are bound to leak out of it.

 

[ericwn]

Italy is such a mismanaged country where corruption prevails and is NOT in a position to judge a company like Apple.
I could only immagine how nice Italy would be if it would be managed by Apple executives.

Good one. Macrumors at its best.
LOL

 

[macfacts]

In fairness I hope Italy is fining Samsung as well because they also don't cover their devices for liquid damage despite touting water resistance.

Samsung doesn't aggressively advertise their smartphones as water resistant

 

[Rckyrr]

It happened to me. $650 later.

Only one single water dropplet!

It was a hot day in Palm Springs, California- 110 degrees and my iPhone was in the shade, streaming music. I went from the pool, padded my hand with a towel, and used the device to change the song and it went kaput.