Soon to be released iPhone, will it be Waterproof from the factory?

[Applejuiced]

Why someone assumes that the iPhone will cost more money if they add the waterproofing?
If Apple reduces warranty claims will actually save money, they replacement phones are about $149, way less than an out of a contract price.

I dont get your logic if there is one.
How would they reduce warranty claims? They dont cover water damaged iphones anyway. What does the out of contract price has to do with the out of warranty replacement fee? You're suggesting them not to offer that option any more and make everyone pay full price if they break their phone?
Offcourse it will cost more to do that, its not free. Not only the coating or whatever will be used to accomplish that but also all the R&D behind it.

 

[Shockwave78]

There will probably be a clear 5 gallon water bucket on stage and everyone will be like wtf is this crap. Then right when he is about to finish he will fumbling the phone and it will go tumbling into the bucket. He picks it up and says oh ya one more feature i forgot to tell you about as he makes a call.

 

[BFizzzle]

Pointless stupid ass senseless feature if it does. We're not 8 years old.
Just don't drop your iphone in the tub and don't go swimming with it....If someone dropping their phone that cost hundreds of dollars in water, They just don't need one.

Making the glass unbreakable is more important.

But unbreakable glass? Come on...Just don't drop it.

 

[BlueGummiBear]

Search these forums for "dropped iPhone in water" and then tell me this feature would be useless.

It's a shame there are so many close-minded, backassward thinkers on these forums. Think outside your own little box.

 

[McGiord]

I dont get your logic if there is one.
How would they reduce warranty claims? They dont cover water damaged iphones anyway. What does the out of contract price has to do with the out of warranty replacement fee? You're suggesting them not to offer that option any more and make everyone pay full price if they break their phone?
Offcourse it will cost more to do that, its not free. Not only the coating or whatever will be used to accomplish that but also all the R&D behind it.

My point is that what Apple charges for a replacement phone is $149, when they do this they are not loosing money but not earning as much as they can out of a piece of hardware, and having Store resources in a low profit activity.
This doesn't mean I want them to stop offering the lower price replacement service.
If the iPhone is robust against water, then there will be less people asking for a replacement, therefore they focus their resources in what drives more profit.
The amazement of customers having its iPhone surviving a water accident will offer more and more enthusiastic apple customers talking wonders about Apple products.

I agree that this would be something that ifixit.com or other sources will highlight and very likely apple will not disclose or advertise; as it was already mentioned in the thread, there will be some folks that will abuse the phone believing it is indestructible.
I think, there could be like 3 levels of waterproofing:
The coating applied to the electronics to repel the liquids, and it is not clear if it will negatively affect heat transfer, and increase overheating.
Sealed buttons and ports, speakers, mic,etc.
Fully functional device in submerged environment (like some cameras already out there).

Many years ago,I had a Motorola cellphone, and it was in one of my jeans' pockets, and it survived a full washing machine laundry cycle with detergent, hot temperature and everything.
That was a robust phone.

Besides accidents, **** happens: a drink can be spill, rain, snow, sweat, soup, pool, beach, a bad cold sneeze, anything wet can make it happen = bye bye nice working iPhone.

The waterproofing is a nice to have, if the new model doesn't have it I will get one anyways.

 

[617aircav]

My point is that what Apple charges for a replacement phone is $149, when they do this they are not loosing money but not earning as much as they can out of a piece of hardware, and having Store resources in a low profit activity.
This doesn't mean I want them to stop offering the lower price replacement service.
If the iPhone is robust against water, then there will be less people asking for a replacement, therefore they focus their resources in what drives more profit.
The amazement of customers having its iPhone surviving a water accident will offer more and more enthusiastic apple customers talking wonders about Apple products.

I agree that this would be something that ifixit.com or other sources will highlight and very likely apple will not disclose or advertise; as it was already mentioned in the thread, there will be some folks that will abuse the phone believing it is indestructible.
I think, there could be like 3 levels of waterproofing:
The coating applied to the electronics to repel the liquids, and it is not clear if it will negatively affect heat transfer, and increase overheating.
Sealed buttons and ports, speakers, mic,etc.
Fully functional device in submerged environment (like some cameras already out there).

Many years ago,I had a Motorola cellphone, and it was in one of my jeans' pockets, and it survived a full washing machine laundry cycle with detergent, hot temperature and everything.
That was a robust phone.

Besides accidents, **** happens: a drink can be spill, rain, snow, sweat, soup, pool, beach, a bad cold sneeze, anything wet can make it happen = bye bye nice working iPhone.

The waterproofing is a nice to have, if the new model doesn't have it I will get one anyways.

They are replacing the phone with a refurbished phone and not a brand new one. I've had cell phones for 10 years and never dropped it in water. I've dropped it on the ground several times.

 

[McGiord]

They are replacing the phone with a refurbished phone and not a brand new one. I've had cell phones for 10 years and never dropped it in water. I've dropped it on the ground several times.

Against the ground: there are several cases that do the trick, and that it's a very mature market.

They sell the refurbished ones for more money.
And they also give brand new ones as replacements. The 3GS is no longer in production in China in hi volume and they are building them in Austin Texas, so the replacement 3GS sold in the USA are brand new ones.

 

[Applejuiced]

They sell the refurbished ones for more money.
And they also give brand new ones as replacements. The 3GS is no longer in production in China in hi volume and they are building them in Austin Texas, so the replacement 3GS sold in the USA are brand new ones.

They sell the refurbs for more but you dont give them your old iphone for them to repair/refresh when you're buying it.
They only give brand new ones in rare cases when they're out of stock of refurbs or if the phone just came out.
Either way your logic doesnt make sense but I guess to you it sounds like a brilliant idea
Carry on.

 

[McGiord]

They sell the refurbs for more but you dont give them your old iphone for them to repair/refresh when you're buying it.
They only give brand new ones in rare cases when they're out of stock of refurbs or if the phone just came out.
Either way your logic doesnt make sense but I guess to you it sounds like a brilliant idea
Carry on.

Waterproofing the hardware is a nice improvement that technically can help increase the robustness of the iOS devices.
Mature people with kids will understand what I am aiming here.
iPods Touch, iPads and iPhones that withstand kids abuse can mean more sales = more profits.
Your logic of keeping it fragile doesn't make sense to me, Apple's main business is not based on selling repairs or replacement of broken Apple products.
I agree to disagree with you, and that we have not understood each other.
----------------------------
Any other clues, rumors, sources about Waterproofing the next gen iPhone, or any other smartphone in the market?

 

[Applejuiced]

Waterproofing the hardware is a nice improvement that technically can help increase the robustness of the iOS devices.
Mature people with kids will understand what I am aiming here.
iPods Touch, iPads and iPhones that withstand kids abuse can mean more sales = more profits.
Your logic of keeping it fragile doesn't make sense to me, Apple's main business is not based on selling repairs or replacement of broken Apple products.
I agree to disagree with you, and that we have not understood each other.
----------------------------

Actually I am a mature person with 2 kids. I didnt say keeping it fragile makes sense or that they're after repairs but I just dont see them focusing on such thing as waterproofing that's all.

 

[ixodes]

Of course you can never charge it or use headphones... The holes in the phone provide these capabilities today. If you seal them over, these functions are lost.

Surely you don't actually believe they'd be so stupid as to not take this into consideration?

The update today is Apple will indeed be using this on the new iPhone. That's why they're keeping it narrow & long. It's easier to navigate as a submarine when being played with in the bathtub.

The versatility Apple has built in lives up to their famous iPad Slogan "It's Magical & Revolutionary. Steve would be proud.

(see how thoughtful I was to include the last sentence for those who miss him).

 

[JMG]

Actually I am a mature person with 2 kids. I didnt say keeping it fragile makes sense or that they're after repairs but I just dont see them focusing on such thing as waterproofing that's all.

It's perfectly fine to say that they shouldn't focus on it, but to actually say to NOT even do it if they had the means is just ass-backward thinking. I say, why not?

 

[Applejuiced]

It's perfectly fine to say that they shouldn't focus on it, but to actually say to NOT even do it if they had the means is just ass-backward thinking. I say, why not?

I hear you.
Realisticly speaking I dont see it but if it happens and doesnt increase the price tag then why not.

 

[DocBenway]

Only just saw this thread, but I just posted this in the discussion of the new dock connector:

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=15440137&posted=1#post15440137

Just throwing this one out there, but it's something I've been thinking about for a while now:

Given longevity of original iPhone dock, you'd expect Apple to be thinking as far ahead as possible when changing it (unless you subscribe to the more extreme 'planned obsolescence' theories), and also to want to take full advantage of all the potential a redesign could offer.

The old dock connector would have been a major barrier to water resistance—this new one looks like it could fit a watertight socket...?

Also, think of the new speaker grills: much larger grills (to allow water to drain out) with a waterproof speaker membrane behind?

No sure how the regular ear-position speaker might be made watertight though—any examples out there?

As I said, I keep thinking about this, so thought I'd share...

 

[617aircav]

This is comical. Waterproofing a phone for who exactly? How many phones fall in water? More phones are dropped on the ground than in water, yet they didn't make the glass shatter proof. Why then would they make it waterproof. Its so easy to keep your phone away from water.

 

[dontworry]

This is comical. Waterproofing a phone for who exactly? How many phones fall in water? More phones are dropped on the ground than in water, yet they didn't make the glass shatter proof. Why then would they make it waterproof. Its so easy to keep your phone away from water.

Not comical at all. It's not just about completely submerging your phone in water, but about protecting the circuitry from any sort of moisture damage. We're talking about a nano-scale vapor deposition process that could prevent a short circuit. When I'm working in the yard or shop I get phone calls, and sweat or water will inevitably get on the phone; in the speaker opening, around the home button. You might say, don't get an iPhone then; I would say make the phone water resistant/proof so that I don't have to worry a little moisture rendering my phone useless.
We should push for portable devices that can stand up to elements around us.

 

[tigres]

This is comical. Waterproofing a phone for who exactly? How many phones fall in water? More phones are dropped on the ground than in water, yet they didn't make the glass shatter proof. Why then would they make it waterproof. Its so easy to keep your phone away from water.

Check out the "dropped in toilet" threads alone.
Or swimming
Or spilled
Or rain drop
Or dropped in puddle
Or Milk, Vodka, beer etc

Humans error, and this would really be great. hell, Samsung will copy that in about 1 month.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I don't understand how people don't see the point of waterproofing... This is more than just not dropping it in the pool/toilet/sink. You can use your phone in the rain. or what if your pants getting wet from some water ride at a theme park or a rainy day. You can take pictures under water. Your phone rings while your swimming, and you don't have to run to your towel to sufficiently dry off your hands and head before being able to anser it. A glass spills on the dinner table getting your iPhone wet. It would certainly be a worthwhile feature to have.

You should check out NeverWet. I heard a lot of talk about them about a year ago, but nary a peep since. It should be ready for commercial applications about now...

 

[skidbubble]

People seem to be blurring the line a little bit between water proof and water resistant. There is a big difference between going deep sea scuba diving to the Titanic with your iPhone versus getting a little incidental splash from a tipped over glass of water.

 

[netdog]

Glass + Unbreakable = nonexistent

Glass is snappier.

 

[turtle777]

The point is not its usefulness. It would be useful.

The point is that it's probably too expensive right now to manufacture, and would eat into Apple's margins too much.

Apple has to work within strict cost parameters: the price can't possible go up (expected by the market), but the market also expects a bigger, better phone.

The cost of the bigger screen and some other things can be compensated by higher volumes and cost savings in other areas. However, making all phones waterproof would probably cost so much that it can't just be compensated.

And guess what: if you asked the consumers if they (on average) would like the price of every iPhone to go up by $50 for being waterproof, most would probably say no. There you have it.

And if you don't mind the $50, well, ****, go ahead, check out the link that was posted on page one and get it done on your own dime.

The problem (as always in these kinds of discussions) is that people want and expect all kinds of things, and they want it for FREE.

-t

 

[McGiord]

The point is not its usefulness. It would be useful.

The point is that it's probably too expensive right now to manufacture, and would eat into Apple's margins too much.

Apple has to work within strict cost parameters: the price can't possible go up (expected by the market), but the market also expects a bigger, better phone.

The cost of the bigger screen and some other things can be compensated by higher volumes and cost savings in other areas. However, making all phones waterproof would probably cost so much that it can't just be compensated.

And guess what: if you asked the consumers if they (on average) would like the price of every iPhone to go up by $50 for being waterproof, most would probably say no. There you have it.

And if you don't mind the $50, well, ****, go ahead, check out the link that was posted on page one and get it done on your own dime.

The problem (as always in these kinds of discussions) is that people want and expect all kinds of things, and they want it for FREE.

-t

Why do you think this kind of protection in an electronic device that is massively produced, like the OS products, will increase its cost by $50?
That price tag sounds more like an aftermarket fee.

Antirust protection is a given nowadays in any car you buy.
This comparison is kind of unfair, as one of the main features of a car is its exterior paint color, and if the car is not properly coated with the antirust coating it will show up after some exposure to the proper environment. And the autos have more than 100 years in the market.
In the early automotive applications, the antirust protection was not existent, then was introduced as something that changed the automotive market.

As "features" like this evolve and become a standard, the market will keep expecting it, wanting it, and no need to pay a premium for it.

Nothing is free except dreaming.

The initial application of waterproofing protection maybe aimed to protect the internal components, not necessarily the more robust one, that could allow us to use it underwater.

If implemented, the cost per unit will be part of the product manufacturing cost, and I don't believe it will be more difficult or expensive to make than the processor, the cameras, or the glass, therefore its cost might not be that relevant to justify a price increase.

 

[skidbubble]

Remember the whole Gorilla Glass thing? Has Apple even officially copped to using it yet?

I don't think they have. And it's possible that the iPhone isn't made with Gorilla Glass, although the loyalists and Apple fanbase insist otherwise. If Gorilla Glass was as tough as it is touted to be,it wouldn't shatter into thousands of pieces when dropped from mere inches from the ground.

 

[617aircav]

It doesn't make sense for apple to do it. The consumer is not demanding it, so why would apple do it and reduce their profit margins. This is why it doesn't make sense.

 

[McGiord]

It doesn't make sense for apple to do it. The consumer is not demanding it, so why would apple do it and reduce their profit margins. This is why it doesn't make sense.

So all of us who want this in our iPhones, are not consumers?

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I don't think they have. And it's possible that the iPhone isn't made with Gorilla Glass, although the loyalists and Apple fanbase insist otherwise. If Gorilla Glass was as tough as it is touted to be,it wouldn't shatter into thousands of pieces when dropped from mere inches from the ground.

Tempered glass will shatter in thousand pieces if it receives the right amount of stress.
Some of the failures are due to poor manufacturing, the glass is overflush and the edge is exposed, and that is the weakest spot.
Glass is fragile, so it is not very resistent against impacts, but very resistant to loads an bending.
If the glass surface is scratched with an object that is harder that glass = grain of sand or metals, the surface defect will act as a weak spot and when it receives any tensional stress sufficient to overcome the compression layer the glass inner core that is in tension will release all its energy, and shatter.