As the weather gets warmer and you spend more time at the beach or by the pool, we thought it would be a good idea to discuss liquid damage, and the signs that indicate your smartphone might be affected. Many of our iPhone repairs are carried out because of liquid-related issues but, to a large degree, they can be avoided.
One of the biggest things you can do to avoid liquid damage in your iPhone is to remember that water resistant and waterproof are not the same things. This is particularly important if you plan to spend a lot of time at the beach or by the pool this summer. iPhones are water resistant but that doesn’t mean they’re watertight, and you have to take extra care with them when you’re in a marine or poolside environment.
The IP rating on your iPhone is a standard from the International Electrotechnical Commission which specifies a device’s resistance to water, as well as dirt, dust and other solid particles. IP67 and IP 68 are ratings you’re probably most familiar with and both offer almost complete protection against dust. But water resistance is another matter. Apple says IP67 iPhones are water resistant to a maximum depth of one metre while IP68 iPhones are certified to be water resistant in deeper water for the same time period although the actual depth depends on the model. Plus, common liquids like carbonated soft drinks, beer, coffee, tea, and juice can be rinsed off with tap water if they are ever spilt onto the device.
Try as you might, accidents will happen and liquid may get inside your phone. Here are a few signs that this has happened:
- blurry photos when moisture is trapped in the camera lens
- muffled, scratchy or no audio
- liquid droplets are visible under the screen
- the phone fails to charge
- internal parts become corroded
- the iPhone stops working altogether
Another sign of potential liquid damage is the Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI), usually located in the SIM card slot. The LCI in your phone will activate when it contacts water or a liquid containing water. The colour of the indicator is normally white or silver, but when it contacts water (or a liquid containing water), it becomes red. It’s important to note that an LCI won’t activate because of humidity and temperature changes within the product’s environmental requirements.
Have fun by the water this summer but please remember – water resistant does not mean waterproof. And if your iPhone does suffer liquid damage or any other issue, contact us. As certified Apple iPhone repairers, we are experts at fixing problems in any Apple device.