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iPhone 7 Plus-Shower water damage

S

ScubaGuy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 7, 2016
4
1
San Jose
I have been a daily reader of MacRumors for a long time. I decided to create an account to write this post, as I want to be transparent about my issue with iPhone 7 (Plus) water resistance. Also, this is the first time I feel disappointed by Apple. Will get updated for any response from Apple.

I bought an iPhone 7 Plus (09/24) from local Apple store. I frequently take it with me under shower to listen to music. I never drop, swim, or do crazy YouTube things with my iPhone. I also got a silicon case to protect it. No major damage, just minor usual usage wear. Case is removed everytime the iPhone contacts water. I always pat my iPhone with towel after shower. Never open the SIM tray - the last person was Apple sales guy at the store when I got it.

Everything worked great until last Wednesday (10/05). About 3 hours after I took shower, the haptic/taptic/vibrator stopped working. This means no feedback for home "button" press. Hours after that, the bottom left corner turned into faint yellow. No condensation. I immediately made an appt with Genius Bar. The earliest was Friday (10/07) noon.

I met with the Genius girl (she was nice) and I explained like above. She ran diagnostic and confirmed that the display is problematic. Then she checked the SIM tray and confirmed water damage. She immediately quoted $349+tax for a replacement (I haven't gotten Care+). She repeatedly stated that 7 (Plus) are water resistant, not water proof. I'm aware by IP67 rating - it should withstand shower. I argued with her about the advertising and Keynote (more about that below), she looked don't-know-what-to-do and the best she could say was "There is always risk". At the end, we agreed to write a feedback at apple.com/feedback

Few things I'm not satisfied with:
1. Ads and Keynote clearly pictured recording video in swimming pool. My experience doesn't reflect this. Can't think anything other than false advertising.
2. On Apple website, under footnote: "Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear." My iPhone was 12 days old! Decreased resistance after one year usage may be acceptable for me, but 12 days?
3. It seems that Apple doesn't acknowledge manufacturing variations. Water damage from shower might be extremely rare, but not impossible. Yes, there is a risk but I feel that consumers are responsible for all risks. Water? $349, sorry. Is it new? How did it get water inside? Doesn't matter - accidental damage - $349.
4. I stated that I bought the iPhone on 24th and the receipt supports my statement. For unknown reason, Genius Bar Work Authorization claims 23rd. How??
5. Repair cost isn't the reason - the water resistance and Apple policy are.

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ScubaGuy. Appropriate username.

It's water-resistant, not waterproof. Apple stated that liquid damage is not covered under warranty.

You took your phone into the shower with you. That's called tempting fate. You could have even kept it outside the shower and blasted music. Maybe bought a Bluetooth speaker. Left the door open. Even hummed to yourself.

Plus the keynote didn't show somebody recording video in a pool. It showed them falling into one. If the keynote showed somebody in the tub, equipped with a rubber duck, singing to their iPhone as they scrubbed it down with hot water, then I might understand.
 
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ScubaGuy said:
I have been a daily reader of MacRumors for a long time. I decided to create an account to write this post, as I want to be transparent about my issue with iPhone 7 (Plus) water resistance. Also, this is the first time I feel disappointed by Apple. Will get updated for any response from Apple.

I bought an iPhone 7 Plus (09/24) from local Apple store. I frequently take it with me under shower to listen to music. I never drop, swim, or do crazy YouTube things with my iPhone. I also got a silicon case to protect it. No major damage, just minor usual usage wear. Case is removed everytime the iPhone contacts water. I always pat my iPhone with towel after shower. Never open the SIM tray - the last person was Apple sales guy at the store when I got it.

Everything worked great until last Wednesday (10/05). About 3 hours after I took shower, the haptic/taptic/vibrator stopped working. This means no feedback for home "button" press. Hours after that, the bottom left corner turned into faint yellow. No condensation. I immediately made an appt with Genius Bar. The earliest was Friday (10/07) noon.

I met with the Genius girl (she was nice) and I explained like above. She ran diagnostic and confirmed that the display is problematic. Then she checked the SIM tray and confirmed water damage. She immediately quoted $349+tax for a replacement (I haven't gotten Care+). She repeatedly stated that 7 (Plus) are water resistant, not water proof. I'm aware by IP67 rating - it should withstand shower. I argued with her about the advertising and Keynote (more about that below), she looked don't-know-what-to-do and the best she could say was "There is always risk". At the end, we agreed to write a feedback at apple.com/feedback

Few things I'm not satisfied with:
1. Ads and Keynote clearly pictured recording video in swimming pool. My experience doesn't reflect this. Can't think anything other than false advertising.
2. On Apple website, under footnote: "Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear." My iPhone was 12 days old! Decreased resistance after one year usage may be acceptable for me, but 12 days?
3. It seems that Apple doesn't acknowledge manufacturing variations. Water damage from shower might be extremely rare, but not impossible. Yes, there is a risk but I feel that consumers are responsible for all risks. Water? $349, sorry. Is it new? How did it get water inside? Doesn't matter - accidental damage - $349.
4. I stated that I bought the iPhone on 24th and the receipt supports my statement. For unknown reason, Genius Bar Work Authorization claims 23rd. How??
5. Repair cost isn't the reason - the water resistance and Apple policy are.

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4.jpg

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Click to expand...
The add is very misleading, Apple are not the only ones, Samsung's policy is exactly the same! If your phone gets damaged by water then it's your problem. Many of the S7 phones have drowned and I'm sure we will see for the iphone as time goes on.
 
I have to agree with @keysofanxiety i would never bring my iPhone into the shower regardless of the rating when Apple clearly states it won't warranty water damage. It's one thing to stick your hand out of the shower to change volume or track but a whole other story to bring it into the shower. Plus it sounds like you showered with it every time you took a shower and to me that's not reasonable. The heat, humidity and water probably played a roll with repeated use.
 
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keysofanxiety said:
ScubaGuy. Appropriate username.

It's water-resistant, not waterproof. Apple stated that liquid damage is not covered under warranty.

You took your phone into the shower with you. That's called tempting fate. You could have even kept it outside the shower and blasted music. Maybe bought a Bluetooth speaker. Left the door open. Even hummed to yourself.

Plus the keynote didn't show somebody recording video in a pool. It showed them falling into one. If the keynote showed somebody in the tub, equipped with a rubber duck, singing to their iPhone as they scrubbed it down with hot water, then I might understand.
Click to expand...
That's true as well in all fairness. But a lot of people still think they can go swimming with it, my daughter said the same to me.
 
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rocknblogger said:
I have to agree with @keysofanxiety i would never bring my iPhone into the shower regardless of the rating when Apple clearly states it won't warranty water damage. It's one thing to stick your hand out of the shower to change volume or track but a whole other story to bring it into the shower. Plus it sounds like you showered with it every time you took a shower and to me that's not reasonable. The heat, humidity and water probably played a roll with repeated use.
Click to expand...

I don't take it everytime I shower; I often take it. Also, it wasn't right under shower (that's my body!).

Speaking of ads, if the rating is misleading and iPhone 7 (Plus) aren't that resistant - then what's the point of creating water resistant phone? Marketing buzzword?

Edit: IP67 is way higher than spraying (IPx3), splashing (IPx4), water jets (IPx5 IPx6). If Apple isn't misleading, they shouldn't rate 7 (Plus) as IP67.
 
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ScubaGuy said:
I don't take it everytime I shower; I often take it. Also, it wasn't right under shower (that's my body!).

Speaking of ads, if the rating is misleading and iPhone 7 (Plus) aren't that resistant - then what's the point of creating water resistant phone? Marketing buzzword?
Click to expand...

It's not a buzzword. It means if you have a liquid accident, there's a solid chance it won't be bricked, and you don't have to worry.

They didn't market it as a companion to your wonderful water journeys.
 
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keysofanxiety said:
It's not a buzzword. It means if you have a liquid accident, there's a solid chance it won't be bricked, and you don't have to worry.

They didn't market it as a companion to your wonderful water journeys.
Click to expand...

So all the waterproof ratings means "survive & operational", not "survive, operational & no damage at all"?

Phones companies really should follow dive watches companies....
 
ScubaGuy said:
So all the waterproof ratings means "survive & operational", not "survive, operational & no damage at all"?
Click to expand...

No, the waterproof ratings mean you still shouldn't think it's appropriate to shower with your £800 device and not even take out AppleCare.

Regularly showering with your phone, only to blame Apple that it got water-damaged, is ludicrous. Accept it was an error of judgement and move on.
 
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keysofanxiety said:
No, the waterproof ratings mean you still shouldn't think it's appropriate to shower with your £800 device and not even take out AppleCare.

Regularly showering with your phone, only to blame Apple that it got water-damaged, is ludicrous. Accept it was an error of judgement and move on.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but UE Boom speakers are rated the same and people are exposing them with liquid without damages.
 
You need to read the tech specs.

Environmental Requirements
  • Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
  • Nonoperating temperature: ‑4° to 113° F (‑20° to 45° C)
  • Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing

I would bet the shower water temperature was warmer than 95 degrees.
And of course the Relative humidity was probably 100% AND condensing.
 
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I own a Samsung Galaxy s7 edge.

The way I see it is.....

instead of thinking I can't take that call while it's raining because that one raindrop that hits a port will fry my phone has changed to I can now think I should be Ok as it's water resistant.

One advert in the Uk for the s7 edge is a guy knocking his phone from his kitchen sink into the bowl of washing up water. The look of horror on his face to then all ok as it's water resistant is kinda misleading. I keep looking for some form of disclaimer within the Tv advert !

I'm with most opinion on that taking the phone into the shower wether it be an iPhone 7 or s7 edge is something undertaken as the owners risk and should be an informed decision.
 
Dropping the iPhone into water is a totally different thing then putting into a room with steam, and maybe come into contact with soapy hands.

And did you remember to not plug the lightning connector into the iPhone for at least 5 hours after water exposure ?

You messed up, and try to wiggle your way out of paying for your mistake,
don't blame Apple, but blame yourself for assuming too much :)
 
1. Steam
2. Soapy water, lost surface tension
3. No warranty for water damages

1+2+3 = your fault, but you are lucky to get a new phone just for 349. Much less than you should pay...

Unfortunately many thinks that they have a waterproof phone and can swim/shower with it.
 
ScubaGuy said:
I have been a daily reader of MacRumors for a long time. I decided to create an account to write this (...)
Click to expand...
So have I. And I created my account specifically to thank you for posting your shower story online. I had a blast reading it. I even have to chuckle a little bit now while I'm typing this. Thank you for the laugh :D
 
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