They should have tested the iPhone X. I had always cleaned my phone with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes and one day it fell in the sink, well let’s just say the lining underneath the display where Face ID was didn’t hold up after 1-2 years and ruined the phone.
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.
One of the Apple ads cited in the Italian watchdog's proceedings (credit: setteBIT)
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
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Italy Fines Apple $12 Million for Misleading iPhone Water Resistance Claims
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The main issue is apples over the top advertising. I get why it can’t be covered as Apple can’t tell if the phone was abused or not.
Wow so you found an Italian product not to your liking (one of the biggest car manufacturers) and think that Italy should for that reason seize its consumer regulations? Rich!
By that standard the US would have shut down their car industry 30 years ago already.
Well actually Italy is precisely in that position, as well as any other country, for many reasons. If you want to compare a country like Italy with a company like Apple, as an organization, than Italy has done historically much more for the evolution of man kind than Apple. Close to Italy Apple is still am infant, and not for the money alone. So a bit of respect and historical positioning if not social and cultural would more close to the actual relevance of each organization than this off topic remark.
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Except every customer's story is always a variation on the best-case scenario.
They went diving in the Marianas Trench, but they say they spilled a glass of water on it.
Yes, this fine is stupid. Your anecdotal experience does not invalidate Apples' claim there is a modicum of water resistance they build into their phones. And it seems "everybody" except the Italian authorities, knows that water resistance is tested under laboratory conditions that don't necessarily equate to real life situations. (The questions become are there people whose phones actually made it through a dive in the pool, shower or toilet. We rarely hear about those cases, mostly hear about complaints when the water resistance fails)
Improving water resistance doesn't mean water proof.
No they shouldn't. Then the "Tom, Dicks and Harrys" of the world will be trying out water resistance "experiments", which Apple will then have to pay for.
Water resistance benefits the consumer not the manufacturer. It potentially saves the owner of the phone from a warranty claim, but it's water resistance and not water-proofing.
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There is literally not a gun to head forcing you to upgrade. Buy what you want and don't complain that Apple doesn't make exactly the product you want to buy.
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Apple deserves this one, my 10s "IP68" went bad for a splash of pool water, and had to get it replaced.
Even iPhone 7 had an ad (Dive) where it got a splash of pool water as a normal thing, my iPhone 7 got water damaged as well. I actually loaded that ad in the apple store to show them their claims and they didn't honor it.
Even iPhone 7 had an ad (Dive) where it got a splash of pool water as a normal thing, my iPhone 7 got water damaged as well. I actually loaded that ad in the apple store to show them their claims and they didn't honor it.
If, if and if. Here in the USA it is acceptable to market water resistance as being tested under laboratory conditions. Are you suggesting Apple lied about their tests?
Never seen a forum who is so anti-Apple, that without examining the information, Apple is automatically in the wrong.
And yes, on the face of it, some things do seem to be idiotic. (However, after one dives into it, it may still be idiotic)
But this thread is a good reminder, that water resistance is never guaranteed and is not to be confused with water proof... and if you get your phone wet and it suffers no harm than maybe the water resistance did it's job.
Italy always show its idiot behaviour. Yes it would be cool to have water damage covered.. but it could be a way to exchange devices with other issue also water resistance is as the iPhone it is perfect condition, if third party repair opens it, if the user damage it with a fall for example, there is no way to be sure water can't enter. All the products that have water resistance works this way. Italy just wants money as always. And yes I'm Italian.
Water resistance wears out over time. How long did you have it before you had that issue? I'd log on to th eApple refurbished site and buy an iPhone X for $400+ and call it a day.
Maybe your phones were damaged. Because I know more than ten cases of my costumers who experienced the opposite.
They declare the iPhone 12 has "a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes)". If that was true it would be 'waterproof' for all intent and purposes other than deep diving.
However, they also mention that "Liquid damage not covered under warranty" immediately after the statement above.
In fairness to them, they also state that "water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear."
It absolutely is. They do this with Apple Watch too where they tout water resistance. But then if your Watch actually fails due to water, they give you this spiel about sending it in and fixing it so long as it's not damaged by water. Makes zero sense.
Surprising this took so long...
Would have expected consumer protection to pick up on that some time ago.
Would have expected consumer protection to pick up on that some time ago.
That's fine, but what the Italian government is saying is that this is just a clever way of duping customers. If you're going to make a splash (no pun intended) about how water resistant your products are, don't put in so many qualifiers. From a consumer standpoint, I think this is terrific. It's not just Apple that's guilty of marketing over-speak like this, it's basically most companies these days. Something/someone should make them accountable.
Agreed. My 7+ was once submerged in murky lake water for a few minutes (around a meter deep) and no issues. That same phone has also been drenched in multiple tropical rainstorms this year and still no issues. A few years ago, I found somebody's trusty ol' iPhone 4+ face down fully submerged in a deep puddle (uneven sidewalk indentation filled with rainwater from a downpour). Within a few minutes the owner's mother called it in an attempt to get it back for her daughter and it worked fine even dripping wet (very risky to use it but it turned out all good). If the chassis and/or seals haven't been previously compromised by shock, temperature extremes, or aging, the advertised water resistance is legit. I don't think the iPhone 4+ ever had any advertised water resistance but, still. build quality counts for something. Not covering water damage under the manufacturer's warranty is certainly questionable, though.
Concerned how one country can make this claim given their economic status and multiple entities willingness to extract money from Apple when their products, namely the iPhone are in countries all around the world.
This isn't the first time Italy has done this, or EU. And why aren't other phone manufacturers or designers held against the same principles?
You hear few cases where Apple doesn't cover water damage under warranty and all of a sudden, its if thats the standard with no inclination of whether or not those cases were valid.
So to answer your question, both, but your antagonistic attitude towards my comment made you miss all of that. Try again.
The part I bolded in your comment; it's not true at all. That IP rating implies that, under similar conditions to the testing, the phone should be resistant to liquid intrusion than a device with lesser or no IP rating. There is no implication of waterproof at all. Apple's support doc list some of the conditions that will alter the water resistance of their devices. https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/watch/apd707b42a5e/watchos
The Italians are claiming that info isn't readily accessible and Apple actively advertises activities that can lead to a voided warranty. Apple can either advertise differently or accept water intrusion warranty claims.
No, you missed the point. It continued to work, but it wouldn't CHARGE for WEEKS until I took more agrressive action that Apple in fact would claim violates the warranty no doubt. Sometimes when I plug a cable in it still delays on actively charging and I have to take the cable out and flip it around or something. Clearly the connector is NOT waterproof at all as far as charging or the software is preventing it. Either way, it's a bogus claim.