If you’ve ever got your phone wet in the rain, dropped it in water, or spilled liquid on it, you’re not alone. One study suggests that 25 percent of smartphone users have damaged their smartphone with water or some other liquid.
Liquid entering a smartphone can affect the device in several ways. It can lead to:
- blurred photos, if moisture gets into the camera lens
- distorted audio or no audio
- liquid droplets under the screen
- an inability to recharge
- rusting of internal parts, or
- a total end to all functionality.
Although new phones are advertised as “water resistant,” this does not mean they are waterproof or completely immune to water. Water resistance simply means the device can handle it some exposure to water before significant damage occurs.
Samsung Australia has long defended itself against claims that it misrepresents the water resistance of its smartphones.
In 2019, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took Samsung to federal court, claiming that through false and misleading advertising, customers believed their Galaxy phones would be suitable for:
use in or exposure to all types of water (including, for example, oceans and swimming pools).
Samsung Australia subsequently denied customer warranty claims for damage to phones caused by use in or exposure to liquids.
Similarly, Apple was fined € 10 million last year 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 resistant is your phone?
The water resistance of phones is rated with an “Ingress Protection” code, commonly referred to as an IP rating. Simply put, an electrical appliance’s IP rating refers to its effectiveness against the ingress of solids and liquids.
The rating consists of two numbers. The first indicates protection against solids such as dust, while the second indicates resistance to liquids, especially water.
Ingress Protection Reviews. (Element Materials Technology)
A phone with an IP68 rating has a solid object protection of 6 (full protection against dust, dirt and sand) and a liquid protection of 8 (protected against immersion in water to a depth of more than one meter).
Although for the latter, the manufacturers are responsible for defining the exact depth and time.
The popular phones iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S21 both have an IP68 rating. However, in terms of exposure to water, the iPhone 12 has a permissible immersion depth of up to 6 meters for 30 minutes, while the Galaxy’s limit is 21 to 1.5 meters, also for 30 minutes.
While IP ratings indicate the water-resistant nature of phones, taking most phones for swimming will get you in a lot of trouble. The salinity in oceans and swimming pools can affect your device and cost you a hefty replacement.
In addition, phone manufacturers conduct their IP tests in fresh water and Apple recommends that devices not be submerged in liquids.
Fortunately, water-resistant phones are generally able to survive smaller volumes of liquid, such as when a glass falls over.
Check for liquid damage
Exposure to water is something manufacturers take into account when designing phones. Most Apple and Samsung phones come with a liquid contact / damage indicator strip in the SIM card holder.
This is used to check for liquid damage that could cause a device to malfunction. An indicator strip that comes into contact with liquid will lose its usual color and become discolored and smudged.
A discolored strip usually prevents your phone from qualifying for a standard manufacturer’s warranty.
If you have one of the more recent smartphones from Apple or Samsung, your device can detect liquid or moisture in the charging port and alert you with a warning. This message will not disappear until the gate is dry.
But what should you do when this horrible popup shows up?
Some new generation phones have a moisture / liquid warning. (Samsung / Apple)
Fix a phone with a water log
First, don’t put your phone in a container of rice. It’s a myth that rice helps dry out your phone. Instead, follow these steps:
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Switch off the device immediately and do not press any buttons.
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If your phone is water resistant and you have spilled or immersed it in a liquid other than water, both Apple and Samsung recommend that you rinse it off by submerging it in plain tap water (but not under a running tap, which can cause damage) .
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Wipe the phone dry with kitchen paper or a soft cloth.
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Gently shake the device to remove water from the charging ports, but avoid vigorous shaking as this may spread the liquid inside.
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Remove the SIM card.
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Use a compressed air duster to blow out the water if you have one. Do not use a hot hair dryer as the heat can damage the rubber seals and damage the screen.
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Dry the phone (and especially the ports) for a fan.
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Store your phone in an airtight container full of silica gel packets (those little packets you get in new shoes and bags) or some other desiccant. These help absorb the moisture.
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Do not charge the phone until you are sure it is dry. Charging a device while there is still liquid in it or in its ports can cause further damage. Apple suggests waiting at least five hours if a phone seems dry before charging it (or until the warning goes away).
If the steps above don’t help and you’re still stuck with an apparently dead device, don’t try to open the phone yourself. You better take it to a professional. 
Ritesh Chugh, Associate Professor – Information Systems and Analysis, CQUniversity Australia.
This article has been republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.