If you’ve ever wet your phone in the rain, dropped it in water, or spilled liquid on it, you’re not alone. One study suggests that 25% of smartphone users have damaged their smartphone with water or other liquid.
Liquid entering a smartphone can affect the device in several ways. It could lead to:
- blurred photos if moisture is trapped in the camera lens
- ruffled sound or no sound
- drops of liquid under the screen
- an inability to perceive
- rusting the inside or
- a total end of all functionalities.
While the new phones are advertised as “waterproof”, this does not mean that they are waterproof or completely immune to water. Water resistance only means that the device can handle it some exposure to water before substantial damage occurs.
Samsung Australia has long defended itself against the claims that it misrepresents the water resistance of its smartphones.
In 2019, the Australian Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (ACCC) took Samsung to the Federal Court, claiming that the false and misleading advertisements led customers to believe that Galaxy phones were suitable for:
use or exposure to all types of water (including, for example, oceans and swimming pools).
Samsung Australia subsequently rejected customer warranty claims for damage to the phones through use or exposure to liquids.
Similarly, last year Apple was fined € 10 million by the Italian antitrust authority for misleading claims about the water resistance of its phones and for not covering liquid damage under warranty, despite these claims. .
How durable is your phone?
The water resistance of phones is assessed by an ‘Input Protection’ code, commonly referred to as an IP rating. Simply put, the IP rating of an electrical device refers to its effectiveness against intrusions from solids and liquids.
The evaluation includes two numbers. The first demonstrates protection against solids such as dust, while the second indicates resistance to liquids, especially water.
Entry protection assessments. (Material technology for elements)
An IP68 rated phone has a solid protection against objects of 6 (complete protection against dust, dirt and sand) and a protection against liquid of 8 (protected from immersion in water at a depth of over one meter).
Although, for the latter, producers are responsible for the exact definition of depth and time.
The popular iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S21 both have an IP68 rating. However, in terms of water exposure, the iPhone 12 has a maximum allowable immersion depth of 6 m for 30 minutes, while the Galaxy 21’s immersion limit is up to 1.5 m, all for 30 minutes.
While IP ratings indicate the water-repellent nature of phones, taking most phones to the bathroom will cause you deep problems. The salt content in the oceans and pools can corrode your device and cost you a strong replacement.
Moreover, phone manufacturers perform IP testing in freshwater, and Apple recommends that devices not be immersed in liquids of any kind.
Fortunately, waterproof phones are generally able to survive smaller volumes of liquid, such as from a spilling bottle.
Check for fluid damage
Exposure to water is something that manufacturers keep in mind when designing phones. Most Apple and Samsung phones have a liquid contact / damage indicator strip located inside the SIM card tray.
It is used to check for damage to the fluid that could cause the device to malfunction. An indicator strip that comes in contact with the liquid loses its usual color and becomes discolored and dirty.
A faded tape makes your phone ineligible for a standard manufacturer’s warranty.
If you have any of the latest smartphones from Apple or Samsung, then your device will be able to detect liquid or moisture in its charging port and alert you with an alert. This notification disappears only after the port is dry.
But what should you do if this awful pop-up shows up?
Some next-generation phones have a moisture / liquid alert notification. (Samsung / Apple)
Repairing a registered water phone
First, do not place the phone in a container with rice. It’s a myth that rice helps you dry your phone. Instead, follow these steps:
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Turn off the device immediately and do not press any buttons.
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If your phone is waterproof and you have spilled or immersed it in a liquid other than water, both Apple and Samsung recommend rinsing it by immersing it in tap water (but not under the tap that would could cause damage).
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Wipe the phone with paper towels or a soft cloth.
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Gently shake the device to remove water from the charging holes, but avoid strong shaking, as this may spread the liquid inside.
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Remove the SIM card.
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Use a compressed air blower to flush the water if you have one. Avoid using a hot dryer, as heat can destroy the rubber gaskets and damage the screen.
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Dry the phone (and especially the ports) in front of a fan.
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Leave the phone in an airtight container filled with silica gel packs (those small packs that you put in new shoes and bags) or in another drying agent. They help absorb moisture.
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Do not charge the phone until you are sure it is dry. Loading a device with liquid still inside it or in ports can cause additional damage. Apple suggests that you wait at least five hours after a phone appears dry before charging it (or until the alert disappears).
If the above steps don’t help and you’re still stuck with a seemingly dead device, don’t try to open the phone yourself. It is better to take it to a professional. 
Ritesh Chugh, Senior Lecturer – Information Systems and Analysis, CQUniversity Australia.
This article is republished from Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.