Next iPhone Said to Have Even Better IP68-Rated Water Resistance

[AngerDanger]

This whole "water resistance" is meaningless if Apple will not stand by their product and replace it because of water damage, in my opinion. Until they do that, I won't be testing out the water resistance.

This whole "scratch resistance" is meaningless if Apple will not stand by their product and replace it because of screen damage, in my opinion. Until they do that, I won't be breaking out the cutlery and attacking my screen.

This whole "durable chassis" is meaningless if Apple will not stand by their product and replace it because of impact damage, in my opinion. Until they do that, I won't be trying to dribble my iDevice like a basketball.

dont they say this every year? we have a better product blah blah blah

No, Apple is one of those companies that usually says something like "Oh, man, we really messed this one up. Sorry, it's waaay worse than last year's" in regards to new products.

 

[macTW]

Water resistance is a gimmick if it's not covered by warranty and bordering on fraud if warranty disclaimer isn't made clear alongside the water resistance claim.

Again. See my other post as to why this is a ridiculously dumb view.

 

[69Mustang]

The problem comes when someone has a water resistance phone which fails in that situation because the resistance was defective from the factory. That customer has used their device in an advertised situation and it's failed under those conditions when the advert device continued to work.

Defects are a different issue altogether and covered accordingly. Would it be difficult to argue defective WR? Possibly. Probably. My comment isn't about the "what if" of defects. It's about the possible mindset of the companies regarding water damage.

 

[coolbreeze]

So no redesign. They wont' risk a completely new form factor and tout higher water resistance on a new design.

We all know the GEN 1 RUN crowd around here. Guess only rev.f can be trusted around here...

 

[69Mustang]

But if it fails to protect normal activity and accidents then the protection was meaningless.

Triggering the water damage indicator is not an indication it failed to protect during normal activity or in an accident. How are you coming to that conclusion?

 

[kognos]

This whole "water resistance" is meaningless if Apple will not stand by their product and replace it because of water damage, in my opinion. Until they do that, I won't be testing out the water resistance.

The reason is kind of simple. They can't tell that the water damage on your phone is the result of immersion beyond the certified limits. For example, if you drop your phone in a pool, should it be covered? Water damage is water damage -- the phone won't magically tell Apple "I got hurt because I went in deeper than 1m, so don't cover me!"

You're talking about $500+ devices here, Apple isn't going to eat the cost of every joker who goes deep-sea diving with their phones beyond spec.

Now if you got AppleCare you can still replace it, and it might survive, but the risk is yours. GoPro (which is infamous for water video) have a very similar plan and also incidentally do not cover water damage except in the purchased plan, like Applecare.

I still don't want to take my phone outside in the rain but hell, I admit I'm damn comforted by the idea that if I did, I should be fine.

 

[The Game 161]

So no redesign. They wont' risk a completely new form factor and tout higher water resistance on a new design.

We all know the GEN 1 RUN crowd around here. Guess only rev.f can be trusted around here...

Of course there will be a new design

It's freaking January you will hear a lot of rumours

 

[Col4bin]

Considering the fact that I went swimming with my iPhone 6 in my pocket, I welcome this update!

 

[mattopotamus]

I'll be the first to admit the water damage not being covered makes me salty. I always get AC+ though and that covers it. The water rating means I'm less likely to have to replace my phone due to water damage.

 

[Since1987]

Does it mean that they will get rid of the lightning port now?

Sir Ive won't be happy until ALL ports and buttons are removed.

 

[DTphonehome]

Good. My wife's 7+ died after a momentary dunk in shallow water. It was eventually replaced, but a big pain for her to be without a phone when we were overseas.

 

[Bacillus]

Unforgiveable how those Sams•ng copycats shamefully copy Apple's new features.
Now with IP68 - even before Apple had the opportunity to introduce it...

 

[filmantopia]

Add this to the list of features I simply could not care about. Everything with Apple products these days are gimmicks, not advancements.

So Touch ID, Apple Pay, telephoto/Portrait mode, 3D Touch, the Taptic Engine, and AirPods are all gimmicks. What exactly *do* you want to see Apple do that other companies are doing?

 

[jmgregory1]

The reason is kind of simple. They can't tell that the water damage on your phone is the result of immersion beyond the certified limits. For example, if you drop your phone in a pool, should it be covered? Water damage is water damage -- the phone won't magically tell Apple "I got hurt because I went in deeper than 1m, so don't cover me!"

You're talking about $500+ devices here, Apple isn't going to eat the cost of every joker who goes deep-sea diving with their phones beyond spec.

Now if you got AppleCare you can still replace it, and it might survive, but the risk is yours. GoPro (which is infamous for water video) have a very similar plan and also incidentally do not cover water damage except in the purchased plan, like Applecare.

I still don't want to take my phone outside in the rain but hell, I admit I'm damn comforted by the idea that if I did, I should be fine.

A couple of years ago, I was at one of my kids lacrosse tournaments and got caught in an epic downpour. Even though I had a Gore Tex (extreme) jacket on, my iPhone 5 (or 5s I can't remember), got completely soaked - the zippered pocket it was in was actually filled with water. Although the phone was still "working", there was water behind the screen and the flash was stuck on, clearly shorting because of the water immersion.

I took it to an Apple store, fully expecting I would have to pay the replacement cost for it, but the genius gave me a replacement, saying he "noticed the mute button wasn't working quite right" - which was funny as the phone was pouring water out the bottom.

Obviously Apple has some leeway in what they'll do, but making the iPhone more water resistant is a great thing, especially for situations like this.

 

[thespacekid]

Now people will sue Apple because find my phone doesn't work in the ocean when they take it swimming.

 

[179202]

IP68 would be very welcome. Any and all water and dust resistance is welcome. I always look at the iPhone as the baseline of what features the market should offer (just like most of their competitors). But non-water resistant smartphones still exist - ones released recently too! (I'm looking at you, Pixel!). The more Apple push this, the better for everyone.

With all of Apple's money, should this have happened years ago.

God I hate comments like this. Shoulda, coulda, woulda buddy. It could've happened years ago, but it didn't. It's happening now and that's a good thing. And yet you still find a way to criticise. You have nothing to actually say, so you just moan instead. Forums, eh?

 

[ABC5S]

This whole "water resistance" is meaningless if Apple will not stand by their product and replace it because of water damage, in my opinion. Until they do that, I won't be testing out the water resistance.

Why would anyone be testing the water resistance anyway?

 

[moonjelly]

Add this to the list of features I simply could not care about. Everything with Apple products these days are gimmicks, not advancements.

I have to disagree. Water resistance was the single most important feature of the 7. In the bad old days a hard rain could ruin a phone.

There are a lot of active, outdoorsmen who need GPS, communications, and other mobile computing functions from their boats, bicycles, etc. For these users its more than fashion and social media. Yes there are protective cases. Built in protection is better than a delicate object that can't leave it's bubble.

Even a phone that lives a protected life in the city could end up in a washing machine. A $500+ device that lives in my pocket can't be too rugged.

 

[Jax44]

With all of Apple's money, should this have happened years ago.

Yes!.
They should have wrapped the iPhone 4 in dollar bills.

Good thinking!.

 

[179202]

A couple of years ago, I was at one of my kids lacrosse tournaments and got caught in an epic downpour. Even though I had a Gore Tex (extreme) jacket on, my iPhone 5 (or 5s I can't remember), got completely soaked - the zippered pocket it was in was actually filled with water. Although the phone was still "working", there was water behind the screen and the flash was stuck on, clearly shorting because of the water immersion.

I took it to an Apple store, fully expecting I would have to pay the replacement cost for it, but the genius gave me a replacement, saying he "noticed the mute button wasn't working quite right" - which was funny as the phone was pouring water out the bottom.

Obviously Apple has some leeway in what they'll do, but making the iPhone more water resistant is a great thing, especially for situations like this.

It's more that you were an honest and decent person and the person who served you tried to find a way to help you out. It's specific to you, not policy. Your story is yet another that proves that being an ******* to people is the hardest way to go about getting anything done. Be honest, be kind.

 

[foxconn]

This whole "water resistance" is meaningless if Apple will not stand by their product and replace it because of water damage, in my opinion. Until they do that, I won't be testing out the water resistance.

There's no way of knowing if a phone was dropped in 5m or 10000m of water. That's why.

 

[garylapointe]

It's not meant to be a feature customers "test"...
Out of curiosity, did you "test" the air bags in your car ?

But what if I crash and the don't deploy, is there some liability if I'm injured?

 

[179202]

Unforgiveable how those Sams•ng copycats shamefully copy Apple's new features.
Now with IP68 - even before Apple had the opportunity to introduce it...

Do samsung pay you or are you just an unfortunate victim of their marketing?
[doublepost=1484334002][/doublepost]

So no redesign. They wont' risk a completely new form factor and tout higher water resistance on a new design.

We all know the GEN 1 RUN crowd around here. Guess only rev.f can be trusted around here...

Or a re-design that's had water resistance factored in since the beginning? crazy to think about, I know.

 

[Creek0512]

This whole "water resistance" is meaningless if Apple will not stand by their product and replace it because of water damage, in my opinion. Until they do that, I won't be testing out the water resistance.

Warranties cover defects, not damage. Apple is not responsible for you damaging your iPhone. What your asking for is the equivalent of automotive manufactures' warranties covering you crashing your vehicle. That's not what warranties are for, that's what insurance is for.

 

[Jax44]

Good start. Now what about wireless charging? I use my Galaxy S7 in the bathtub all the time, but it can't charge on a wire until the USB port fully dries (can take hours). Wireless charging fixes this issue. Also a great way to increase the longevity of the phone by decreasing wear on the port.

Are you filming your Rubber Duckie?.