iPhone X Submerged in water (within rating), won't turn on

[gladoscc]

My iPhone X was in water (about 80cm deep) for about 15 minutes. The iPhone X is rated for 1m for 30 minutes.

Shortly after taking it out of the water, the Face ID sensor became disabled and said it needed to be repaired. Everything else, including both cameras, were working fine.

About an hour later, the phone suddenly shut down, and became extremely hot in the back where the logic board is. It would not turn on, no matter what.

About three hours later, the phone cooled down, but it does not turn on, even after charging for 20 minutes. I have tried Volume Up button, Volume Down button, hold Side button. It does not work.

Nothing happens when I plug it into my Mac, and iTunes does not recognize it.

Questions:

1) I have AppleCare+. Will Apple cover this under the warranty for free?
2) If not, will Apple cover this under the Australian Consumer Law for free? The phone was advertised as water resistant. It is not water resistant to the rated specifications, and this is a 2 months old phone, with no previous instances of water contact. Thus, if Apple refuses to cover an use case that is advertised, I believe I can get it covered under the ACL, and if not, file a complaint with the ACCC.
3) Is there any way of getting data off it? There are bitcoins on there. The backup is a few days old, and I'm potentially looking at losing tens of thousands of cryptocurrency.

 

[Shanghaichica]

No they won’t cover it under warranty, unless you get very lucky.

However you have Apple care plus so they will take care of you.

 

[fred98tj]

My iPhone X was in water (about 80cm deep) for about 15 minutes. The iPhone X is rated for 1m for 30 minutes.

Shortly after taking it out of the water, the Face ID sensor became disabled and said it needed to be repaired. Everything else, including both cameras, were working fine.

About an hour later, the phone suddenly shut down, and became extremely hot in the back where the logic board is. It would not turn on, no matter what.

About three hours later, the phone cooled down, but it does not turn on, even after charging for 20 minutes. I have tried Volume Up button, Volume Down button, hold Side button. It does not work.

Nothing happens when I plug it into my Mac, and iTunes does not recognize it.

Questions:

1) I have AppleCare+. Will Apple cover this under the warranty for free?
2) If not, will Apple cover this under the Australian Consumer Law for free? The phone was advertised as water resistant. It is not water resistant to the rated specifications, and this is a 2 months old phone, with no previous instances of water contact. Thus, if Apple refuses to cover an use case that is advertised, I believe I can get it covered under the ACL, and if not, file a complaint with the ACCC.
3) Is there any way of getting data off it? There are bitcoins on there. The backup is a few days old, and I'm potentially looking at losing tens of thousands of cryptocurrency.

The “rated specs” are -turned off- and in still water. Might want to read what the various ratings mean.

 

[Newtons Apple]

By the OP’s continued use of the device after it was wet made it pretty well impossible to get data off the device. You bitcoins are lost. If I had that much I would have kept it backed up daily and for,sure would not let it get wet.

We learn everyday.

 

[gladoscc]

The “rated specs” are -turned off- and in still water. Might want to read what the various ratings mean.

Seriously? Turned off? I don't see that mentioned anywhere.

It is rated for still water though, and the ocean isn't still, so I guess.
[doublepost=1514368529][/doublepost]My last iCloud backup is 7 days ago. RIP. I'm guessing there is no way to recover this, even if I pay thousands of dollars?!?

 

[Parkin Pig]

A 2 minute glance at the Apple site answers most of your question about water resistance and AppleCare...

 

[testcard]

Seriously? Turned off? I don't see that mentioned anywhere.

It is rated for still water though, and the ocean isn't still, so I guess.
[doublepost=1514368529][/doublepost]My last iCloud backup is 7 days ago. RIP. I'm guessing there is no way to recover this, even if I pay thousands of dollars?!?

Presumably you could buy a new iPhone and set up from the iCloud backup?

 

[EJ8]

AppleCare doesn’t cover any damage for free. And it doesn’t cover water damage ever.

 

[gladoscc]

Presumably you could buy a new iPhone and set up from the iCloud backup?

Oh, I could, I just mean I won't have any data FROM my last iCloud backup. Australian internet and their pathetic upload speeds

Oh well, total damage:

* ~100 photos and videos, including some from an overseas trip
* One week of journal entries (not the end of the world, I recalled things and re-wrote them)
* $XX,XXX worth of cryptocurrency
* A$149 (cost for non-screen repair under AppleCare+)

 

[Shanghaichica]

AppleCare doesn’t cover any damage for free. And it doesn’t cover water damage ever.

Really I thought it would cover water damage obviously if you paid the deductible.

 

[Samuel79]

Really I thought it would cover water damage obviously if you paid the deductible.

He said he has AppleCare+ which if im not mistaken covers everything inc water damage with max of two clams in the 2 year life span

 

[newellj]

By the OP’s continued use of the device after it was wet made it pretty well impossible to get data off the device. You bitcoins are lost. If I had that much I would have kept it backed up daily and for,sure would not let it get wet.

We learn everyday.

Totally agree. Encrypted backup. iCloud and iTunes. Every day.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Seriously? Turned off? I don't see that mentioned anywhere.

It is rated for still water though, and the ocean isn't still, so I guess.
[doublepost=1514368529][/doublepost]My last iCloud backup is 7 days ago. RIP. I'm guessing there is no way to recover this, even if I pay thousands of dollars?!?

There are "people" who might be able to access your iPhones memory chip to recover data. Try looking up data recovery services, might have to send it to another country. It will be expensive and not sure what you could do with the data afterwards but there are no guarantees that the memory did not short out when wet and still running..

 

[nia820]

May I ask why your iPhone X was submerged in water for 15 minutes?

 

[testcard]

There are "people" who might be able to access your iPhones memory chip to recover data. Try looking up data recovery services, might have to send it to another country. It will be expensive and not sure what you could do with the data afterwards but there are no guarantees that the memory did not short out when wet and still running..

Good call. Couple of possible solutions.
https://www.enigma-recovery.com/how-to-recover-data-from-a-broken-iphone/
https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/110029/How+to+retrieve+pictures+from+iPhone+that+won't+turn+on

 

[gladoscc]

Good call. Couple of possible solutions.
https://www.enigma-recovery.com/how-to-recover-data-from-a-broken-iphone/
https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/110029/How+to+retrieve+pictures+from+iPhone+that+won't+turn+on

Have looked into it.

The Secure Enclave based encryption of the recent models makes data recovery through the memory chips impossible, if the SoC and Secure Enclave does not boot.
[doublepost=1514379015][/doublepost]

May I ask why your iPhone X was submerged in water for 15 minutes?

It was in my pocket in my broadshorts, when I went for a swim on the beach.

I recalled the IP67 rating of "30 minutes, less than 1m", so thought 15 minutes would be fine. My previous iPhone 7 survived the same encounter a while ago.

 

[heov]

Have looked into it.

The Secure Enclave based encryption of the recent models makes data recovery through the memory chips impossible, if the SoC and Secure Enclave does not boot.
[doublepost=1514379015][/doublepost]
It was in my pocket in my broadshorts, when I went for a swim on the beach.

I recalled the IP67 rating of "30 minutes, less than 1m", so thought 15 minutes would be fine. My previous iPhone 7 survived the same encounter a while ago.

There's your mistake. The iPhone is not rated for salt water.

 

[akash.nu]

Really I thought it would cover water damage obviously if you paid the deductible.

Was never the case.

 

[akash.nu]

There's your mistake.

An expensive one. I just don’t understand how people think it’s ok to just go swimming in the sea with their phones, even if it is waterproof.!

 

[gladoscc]

Was never the case.

Many sources contradict you.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/applecare-screen-replacement-fee-dropped-to-29-water-damage-covered/

 

[Shanghaichica]

Was never the case.

Oh I see. Good to know.

 

[maflynn]

My iPhone X was in water (about 80cm deep) for about 15 minutes.

I recalled the IP67 rating of "30 minutes, less than 1m", so thought 15 minutes would be fine. My previous iPhone 7 survived the same encounter a while ago.

Can I ask why are you submerging your phones in water?

 

[Shark5150]

Can I ask why are you submerging your phones in water?

He went for a swim

 

[maflynn]

He went for a swim

Oh, I missed that in the thread. Thanks

 

[noobinator]

The IP67 is more of a nice to have and not part of a warranty. They are saying we designed it to possibly withstand some water/dust in the event of a mishap but we will in no way insure you against damage done by water/dust. But we built it so that it has a better chance of surviving. Yours fell on the side of not surviving. Your AC+ will cover this but the standard warranty will not.