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iPhone X iPhone X Water Resistance Reliability

ipedro

ipedro

macrumors 603
Original poster
Nov 30, 2004
6,347
8,947
Toronto, ON
Coming from a 6 Plus, the iPhone X is my first waterproof phone. I just can’t bring myself to enjoy the claimed waterproofing. It just feels sooo wrong to get my CAD$1,500 iPhone wet.

Has anybody stress tested it? How reliable is the water resistance in the iPhone X?
 
What does IP67 mean in real life?

Ideally, the iPhone 7 can be submerged in depths of under 1m for 30 minutes and not sustain permanent damage. So, if you drop it down the toilet or into the bathtub, you’ll probably be OK. If you jump in the pool with it still in your pocket there’s a good greater chance it’ll survive.
 
ipedro said:
Coming from a 6 Plus, the iPhone X is my first waterproof phone. I just can’t bring myself to enjoy the claimed waterproofing. It just feels sooo wrong to get my CAD$1,500 iPhone wet.

Has anybody stress tested it? How reliable is the water resistance in the iPhone X?
Click to expand...

It's water resistant rated (Not waterproof), however, the conception is that water resistance is merely an added layer of protection. For those who decide to deliberately submerge their iPhone underwater or other conditions, are simply taking the risk of having their warranty voided.

That said, I have zero interest in testing my iPhone water resistance. But if I'm in a situation where it's raining or what have you, then at least I know I have the protection if need be, assuming there are no issues with the seals.
 
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Thanks to water resistance, I now don't think twice before using my iPhone while it rains. Before water resistant iPhones, I would avoid this.

But no, I won't submerge it (although it will likely survive) and don't deliberately get it wet.

So if you ask me, in day-to-day usage the big advantage is that you don't have to actively protect it from getting wet. If it happens (for example if it rains) you'll be fine.
 
ManuCH said:
Thanks to water resistance, I now don't think twice before using my iPhone while it rains. Before water resistant iPhones, I would avoid this.

But no, I won't submerge it (although it will likely survive) and don't deliberately get it wet.

So if you ask me, in day-to-day usage the big advantage is that you don't have to actively protect it from getting wet. If it happens (for example if it rains) you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Well, it's more that you should be fine under those type of circumstances (and would likely be for the most part) but not necessarily just "will be".
 
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Apple even said that the testing was done under controlled conditions, so if you drop it in at toilet and that it hits the porcelain bottom, that’s not under controlled conditions and it could affect the water resistance. Same for hitting the bottom of your bathtub. I believe Apple slowly immersed the phone, not drop it.
 
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The water resistance means I don't worry about using it for brief periods in the rain. If I drop it into a bowl of water or something (I never have) if I snatch it out immediately it will probably survive.

Showering with it, deliberately submerging it or "testing" its resistance is utterly stupid though and should be avoided at all costs.
 
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I don’t know why people are so scared, I haven’t had a need to do this yet but I would wash it in the sink no problem.
 
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I think Apple should get a device to test water resistance integrity like watch makers (at least the better ones) do. They could test a phone for a small charge that way people would know if it’s safe to get wet. I test my watches every year that way I have peace of mind when they get wet. After all, something is only water resistant until it isn’t, it doesn’t last forever..
 
BugeyeSTI said:
I think Apple should get a device to test water resistance integrity like watch makers (at least the better ones) do. They could test a phone for a small charge that way people would know if it’s safe to get wet. I test my watches every year that way I have peace of mind when they get wet. After all, something is only water resistant until it isn’t, it doesn’t last forever..
Click to expand...

That is exactly what they do, they use industry standard ratings that they have to succeed in the tests for said ratings. And the user can see by the rating what to expect.

http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart/
 
Apple states that over time, the seals that provide the water resistance may break down due to exposure to heat and chemicals. The water resistance rating is for a brand new phone, not a year old phone.
 
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I use my old iPhone 7+ in the pool all the time ... this is one of many pictures I took in my pool (Saltwater) ... pictures come out awesome ... and i use it to control my outdoor speakers all the time. This picture was in July and last month i dropped my phone and they always check for water damage before only charging the $29 screen replacement fee under applecare and no water damage was found. I am sure they beefed up the X in regards to water resistance since the 7+
 

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Don't worry about using it in the rain or a hot tub. Don't use it in the shower or environments with a lot of steam. It is water resistant - not steam resistant
 
ipedro said:
Coming from a 6 Plus, the iPhone X is my first waterproof phone. I just can’t bring myself to enjoy the claimed waterproofing. It just feels sooo wrong to get my CAD$1,500 iPhone wet.

Has anybody stress tested it? How reliable is the water resistance in the iPhone X?
Click to expand...

dmx said:
Don't worry about using it in the rain or a hot tub. Don't use it in the shower or environments with a lot of steam. It is water resistant - not steam resistant
Click to expand...

I used my iPhone 7 Plus during scolding hot showers for over a year and it still works perfectly fine. There have been many cases where I had lots of drips of water all over the device. It got to a point where I stopped caring about using my iPhone near or in water.

Given the iPhone X has the same IP67 water resistance, I imagine it would hold up equally as well.

Your mileage may vary!
 
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Joe Rossignol said:
I used my iPhone 7 Plus during scolding hot showers for over a year and it still works perfectly fine. There have been many cases where I had lots of drips of water all over the device. It got to a point where I stopped caring about using my iPhone near or in water.

Given the iPhone X has the same IP67 water resistance, I imagine it would hold up equally as well.

Your mileage may vary!
Click to expand...


Interesting, that is good to know!
 
dmx said:
Don't worry about using it in the hot tub. Don't use it in the shower or environments with a lot of steam.
Click to expand...

I would suggest you re-read your own Post again. Your statement completely contradicts itself. You're saying don't worry about using an iPhone in a hot tub, but you're also saying don't use it in an environment with a lot of steam. You do realize that a hot tub produces steam due to the higher temperatures? So your advice is logical fallacy.
 
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christophermdia said:
I use my old iPhone 7+ in the pool all the time ... this is one of many pictures I took in my pool (Saltwater) ... pictures come out awesome ... and i use it to control my outdoor speakers all the time. This picture was in July and last month i dropped my phone and they always check for water damage before only charging the $29 screen replacement fee under applecare and no water damage was found. I am sure they beefed up the X in regards to water resistance since the 7+
Click to expand...

That is bad ass. Yeah, I'm pretty excited about the water **resistance** so it can be used pretty freely around the pool. Same here, we play music directly, or stream to a BT speaker, and I've always been a little uptight about where my phone was, did any water splash it, etc.

Hahaha, that being said, the wife and I have tortured our original (aka, Series 0) Apple Watches with lots of water submersions - pools, hot tubs, ocean - nothing super deep, though I had mine on during a SUP session and bailed on a wave, easily 4-5 feet under the water.

They just keep on tickin' :D
 
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