If you’ve ever wet your phone in the rain, dropped it in water, or spilled liquid on it, you won’t be alone. One study suggests that 25% of smartphone users have damaged their smartphone with water or some other type of liquid.
Liquid entering a smartphone can affect the device in several ways. It could lead to:
- blurred photos, if moisture gets trapped in the camera lens
- audio with or without volume
- drops of liquid under the screen
- an inability to collect
- oxidation of internal parts, or
- a total end of all functionalities.
Although new phones are advertised as “water resistant”, 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 from claims that distort the water resistance of its smartphones.
In 2019, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took Samsung to Federal Court, alleging that false and misleading advertisements had led customers to believe that their Galaxy phones would be suitable for:
use or exposure to all types of water (including, for example, oceans and swimming pools).
Samsung Australia subsequently denied customer warranty claims for damages caused to the phones by use or exposure to liquids.
Similarly, last year Apple received a fine of 10 million euros from the Italian antitrust authority for misleading claims about the water resistance of their phones and for not covering the damage caused. for liquids under warranty, despite these claims.
How strong is your phone?
The water resistance of phones is classified by an “income protection” code, which is commonly called an IP rating. Simply put, the IP rating of an electrical device refers to its effectiveness against intrusions of solids and liquids.
The rating includes two numbers. The first demonstrates protection against solids such as dust, while the second indicates resistance to liquids, specifically water.
Income protection classifications. (Element Materials Technology)
A phone with an IP68 rating has a solid object protection of 6 (total protection against dust, dirt and sand) and a liquid protection of 8 (protected from immersion in water at a depth of more than one meter ).
Although, for the latter, manufacturers are responsible for defining the exact depth and time.
The popular iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S21 phones have an IP68 rating. However, in terms of water exposure, the iPhone 12 has a maximum immersion depth of up to 6 m for 30 minutes, while the Galaxy 21’s immersion limit is up to 1.5 m, also for 30 minutes.
Although IP ratings indicate the water-repellent nature of phones, taking most phones for swimming will cause you deep problems. The salt content in the oceans and pools can corrode the device and be a major replacement.
In addition, phone manufacturers do IP testing in freshwater and Apple recommends that devices not be immersed in liquids of any kind.
Luckily, water-resistant phones are usually able to survive smaller volumes of liquids, such as if a glass is overturned.
Liquid damage check
Exposure to water is something that manufacturers take into account when designing phones. Most Apple and Samsung phones include a contact / liquid damage indicator strip located on the SIM card tray.
It is used to check for damage to liquids that could cause a device to malfunction. An indicator strip that comes in contact with the liquid loses its usual color and becomes discolored and blurred.
A faded strip makes the phone unsuitable for a standard manufacturer’s warranty.
If you have one of the latest smartphones from Apple or Samsung, your device can detect liquids or moisture in the charging port and alert you with an alert. This notification only disappears when the port is dry.
But what should you do if this terrible pop-up window appears?
Some next-generation phones have a moisture / liquid alert notification. (Samsung / Apple)
Fix a registered phone with water
First, do not place the phone in a rice container. It is a myth that rice helps to dry your phone. Follow these steps:
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Turn off your device immediately and do not press any buttons.
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If your phone is waterproof and you’ve spilled or submerged it in a liquid other than water, both Apple and Samsung recommend rinsing it by immersing it in tap water (but not under a tap). current, which 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 ports, but avoid shaking it vigorously, as this could spread the liquid inside.
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Remove the SIM card.
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Use a compressed spray pen to blow water if you have any. Avoid using a hot dryer, as heat can destroy rubber joints 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 full of silica gel packs (those small packs you put in new shoes and bags) or in another desiccant. These help absorb moisture.
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Do not charge the phone until you are sure it is dry. If you charge a device with a liquid still inside or in the ports, it may cause further damage. Apple suggests waiting at least five hours for the phone to dry before charging (or until the alert disappears).
If the above steps don’t help and you still have a seemingly dead device, don’t try to open the phone yourself. It is best to take it to a professional. 
Ritesh Chugh, Full Professor – Analysis and Information Systems, CQUniversity Australia.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.