All cell phone manufacturers assure customers of their products’ reliable protection. But only the particular smartphones specifically designed for use in extreme conditions have increased water resistance. Standard devices, including the iPhone, can boast protection against shock, dust, and splashes. But unfortunately, it’s not about complete water immersion, even for a few seconds. So in this article, you’ll learn some simple ways to know if your iPhone is water damaged, even if it’s water-resistant.
The Effect of Water on the iPhone
Water quickly leaks through the connections of the case elements. Then the moisture gets on the contacts of plumes or charging and contact with the main board of the iPhone. After that, the physical properties of the materials change under the influence of electric current and liquid. So some of these materials may oxidize pretty quickly.
It leads to a gradual loss of sound in the speaker. Next, the touch unit begins to malfunction, and the iPhone becomes unmanageable. In most cases, these adverse effects appear after a certain period after your phone has been in contact with water. So, how do you know when to send your iPhone in for repair?
How to Know if Your iPhone is Water Damaged
If your phone experienced the water, but you’re still optimistic and believe in the best, then you should read the following article. Howly experts prepared five good ways to determine if you need to take more extreme action.
- The first thing to look at is the 30-pin Lightning connector. It is used to charge the iPhone and acts as a USB connector. If you can see pale gray, whitish spots on the contacts, the iPhone is sunk, and the corrosion process has already begun on the metal elements.
- It is also necessary to check how the iPhone is charging. After plugging it in, it should start charging instantly. If you have to twist the charging wire from side to side, the connector pins are useless, and perhaps the iPhone is wetter than its case can withstand.
- Pay attention to the speaker and microphone. If these elements of the iPhone have gotten wet, they won’t work correctly. The speaker can start wheezing, and the microphone records sound with apparent interference.
- Try to examine the mechanical button carefully. Signs of water influence are hard to find, but perhaps you can see them.
- Determine the state of the LCI Indicator. The Liquid Contact Indicator is a distinctive feature of Apple. You can always find out if water has affected the iPhone by its color. This indicator is located in the SIM card slot in almost all iPhone models. In its normal state, it has a white or silver color and doesn’t stand out against the background of the phone’s case or internal filling. But after contact with water, it becomes bright red, and it is difficult not to notice. So the LCI is the surest way to know if your iPhone is water damaged or not. Howly experts have also taken care of that, preparing step-by-step instructions on fixing a water-damaged iPhone. Here you’ll also learn what common water damage myths are far from the truth.
Can’t You Put a Waterproof iPhone in Water?
So, legally speaking, you can’t (Apple has the right to refuse free warranty service). You can do so, for instance, for iPhone 12, as long as it has IP68 waterproofing, but again, no one guarantees that it will work after submerging in water. The waterproof iPhone is a marketing ploy. In practice, everything depends on the case’s water-repellent properties and the smartphone’s peculiarities.
The waterproofing properties of the case are evaluated according to the IP Seal Ratings. However, they are given to smartphones solely in case of extreme cases without guarantees. Thus, it would be best if you did not bathe with your iPhone and wash it every time with running water. And it’s even more unacceptable to take pictures with your iPhone underwater without any particular protective accessories.
Little Bit of Practice
And now it’s time to reinforce the theory with practice and check how you remember everything. Imagine the following situation: you are on the seashore and want to take a beautiful photo in front of the sunset. But suddenly, your friend with a strange sense of humor runs up to you from behind and touches your shoulder, you get scared, and your iPhone falls into the sea.
But you are lucky to snatch the device out of the water immediately. The phone has been in the water for no more than 2 seconds. How can you tell if your iPhone is water damaged? Your actions should be as follows:
✔️ Remove the iPhone case and find the SIM card tray on the right side of the gadget. The SIM card tray has a small hole, and you can see it under the side button.
✔️ If you have a tool to remove the SIM tray, that’s great. If not, you can use an ordinary paper clip that needs to be straightened. Use it to press the small hole on the bottom of the SIM tray and gently pull the tray out. Then insert the paper clip into the small hole.
✔️ Shine a flashlight into the empty SIM slot and look for a red color. If you find it, the situation is disappointing. As you read above, the Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) was triggered. If water got into the iPhone, it probably damaged it. If you did not find the red color, and instead you saw a white or silver one, then you can be congratulated, because the phone is hardly undamaged.
Conclusion
There are many videos on the web in which iPhone owners subject their smartphones to various tests. You can find examples of testing where the iPhone 12 Pro managed to cope with immersion in water without any problems, but the battery was damaged when recharged. There are also videos in which users unpacked the devices in water without difficulty.
However, throwing your smartphone into a bathtub full of water, a swimming pool, or a lake to test the water resistance of your device is not a good idea. There is a chance that if the iPhone works, it will be much worse after contact with water. If it does, however, you now know how to check the damage so that you can take appropriate action later.