Is The New iPhone 6S Is Waterproof?

[HardOCP News]

Did Apple add waterproofing to its new iPhone 6S without telling anyone? The crew at iFixit seems to think so.

We had our suspicions, based in part on Apple patent filings in one particular area: waterproofing. Apple has been investigating a waterproof (or, more accurately, liquid proof) iPhone for at least the last several years. If that strip of sticky goop on the 6s wasn’t put there to hold the display in, then maybe—just maybe—it was designed to keep liquids out. Like a gasket!

 

[Darunion]

Didn't ios 8 already take care of this?

 

[Spacy9]

Didn't ios 8 already take care of this?

Can't tell if serious?

 

[jojo69]

I heard you can recharge it in the microwave too

 

[Koolthulu]

Apple probably tried to design it to be waterproof and it didn't work. You know if the phone was waterproof Apple would be making a big deal about it.

 

[nutzo]

So, Apple invented waterproofing?

Even if they did add some water proofing, they likely don't want to advertise it, as people will take the phones diving and then complain when they stop working.
More than likely it was just added to reduce the number of phone killed by minor water exposure.

 

[Yakk]

Hmm, market phone as waterproof and people will abuse the crap out of it then claim applecare replacements.

Now, don't say anything and people are still careful around water with it, maybe be EXTREMELY happy when they drop it in the sink when they are updating their Facebook with soapy hands washing dishes.

I'd go with option 2 if I were Apple also.

 

[Ryokurin]

Apple probably tried to design it to be waterproof and it didn't work. You know if the phone was waterproof Apple would be making a big deal about it.

That worked well for Samsung and Sony. As soon as you make that statement people start dunking their phones to test it, or to show off, This is why both backed off that statement with the quickness.

 

[Ur_Mom]

Two 'is' words in the title. Just a quick correction.

I would love a waterproof phone. Not so much because I drop it in water but because I like taking pictures by water and it'd be nice to have some protection just in case.

 

[jthomas]

Richard over on FullMag/Tech Assassin demonstrated that it's not very whiskey proof, took a while before it died though, more than twenty minutes.

 

[Darunion]

Apple probably tried to design it to be waterproof and it didn't work. You know if the phone was waterproof Apple would be making a big deal about it.

Could be a last minute change to design that was able to go into production before it was able to get certified.

I do agree, that if they could they would brag about it but yea it is a dangerous road because it will just cause people to push the limits of it. Instead of it being an extra level of safety for the phone, people will just take it underwater with them.

 

[Ocellaris]

Apple probably tried to design it to be waterproof and it didn't work. You know if the phone was waterproof Apple would be making a big deal about it.

Apple would specifically not make a big deal about it, because people just take their phones and toss them in the sink once this happens. Making a device more water resistant can go a long ways towards reducing warranty claims and improving the customer experience.

 

[ccman]

Even if it was waterproof, you'll still know that you dropped your phone in the toilet, and there will still be germs.

Not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything...

Next YouTube video: Will the iPhone 6s flush?

 

[nilepez]

Even if it was waterproof, you'll still know that you dropped your phone in the toilet, and there will still be germs.

Not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything...

Next YouTube video: Will the iPhone 6s flush?

Assuming you didn't drop it in poop, it's cleaner than putting it on the keyboard you type on. Hell, it's probably cleaner than your phone.

But if it's not, I suspect you could just dunk it in some alcohol and call it good (assuming it's really waterproof...or even water resistant).

 

[twonunpackmule]

Even if it was waterproof, you'll still know that you dropped your phone in the toilet, and there will still be germs.

Not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything...

Next YouTube video: Will the iPhone 6s flush?

Wipe it off with a clorox wipe.

 

[ccman]

Thanks for the suggestions. In this imaginary, not real, not speaking from personal experience scenario, it was an older BlackBerry 7250 company phone a few years ago, it got shipped off, and just toilet water. The IT Department made me put it in the box to ship it off though. They didn't want to touch it.

 

[Logan321]

Seeing as the speakers don't appear to be waterproofed, I'm more likely to believe this is for dustproofing and/or warranty "seal". I work in construction and I try to get water resistant phones just for their higher resistance to fine metal particles from construction. I periodically have to "clean" my speaker by using a magnet to pull the metal particles away.

 

[HFBallad]

Maybe it's "just" water resistant, not water proof.
Which still is more than good enough for the average consumer's occasional accidents.

 

[bloodypulp]

There could be other reasons for the seal. A gasket helps keep dust and bugs out, fills in tolerances between the metal shells(especially as varying temperature causes expansion/contraction, or users press firmly for 3D Touch), may improve audio speaker resonance, physical tampering indicator, electrical insulator against metal parts, blah blah blah.

 

[ICOM]

Do Iphone people even go outside? What's the point of waterproof Iphone devices...ah, the humidifier

 

[jthomas]

Do Iphone people even go outside? What's the point of waterproof Iphone devices...ah, the humidifier

Maybe once a year for the annual pilgrimage to the Apple Store.

 

[nutzo]

Even if it was waterproof, you'll still know that you dropped your phone in the toilet, and there will still be germs.

Not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything...

Next YouTube video: Will the iPhone 6s flush?

If it's water proof, just toss it in the dish washer or the washing machine

 

[Jayman0580]

http://youtu.be/t_HbztTpL08

This was up on YouTube a few days ago. 30 minutes under water. It's the kind of weird thing Apple would do. Add it but not want to encourage people to put it to the test, so don't mention it.

 

[melteye]

Do Iphone people even go outside?

Says the guy on a hardware forum.

 

[B00nie]

Weren't there a mass of trolls some time ago that published fake news about iOS update making the phones water proof. Maybe Apple is taking some safe guards for similar trollings.

 

[rat]

More than likely it was just added to reduce the number of phone killed by minor water exposure.

I'm inclined to believe this is more the case. It used to be that the white moisture sensing tabs inside the phones could be tripped by using the phone outdoors in the cold and then bringing it into a warm environment. The seal is likely a step to prevent that from happening.

 

[limitedaccess]

http://youtu.be/t_HbztTpL08

This was up on YouTube a few days ago. 30 minutes under water. It's the kind of weird thing Apple would do. Add it but not want to encourage people to put it to the test, so don't mention it.

It would be interesting to see the test down at 1m depth (higher pressure). I believe the minimum IP standard for something to be "waterproof" requires 30 minutes at 1m (the IP67 certification you see for phones marketed as waterproof). It could be the new iphone cannot meet that level of certification but still has water protection to a large degree (as soon in the test).

 

[Yaka]

if they had said "oh one more thing its a bit more waterproof/weather resistant than in the past"
the fan bois out there woulda been testing it beyond what it could withstand and then theyd have waste time combatting the flak. this way they get a good pr hit and all tim cook has to do is smile.

 

[nilepez]

Says the guy on a hardware forum.

Speak for yourself. Wherever I go, I have my PC, in an R5 case, on my shoulder. I where a gold plated power cord around my neck and I use my tablet with team viewer to remote into it. An no my tablet isn't Apple. I use the original Nook Color. Old School!

 

[HockeyJon]

They would have told everyone and advertised it as a feature.

 

[ZodaEX]

Apple never ceases to amaze me with their groundbreaking features. Can it send and receive texts underwater as well?

 

[swatbat]

Can't tell if serious?

It was a joke, same as the older joke that you could microwave a phone to charge it.

Anyway I get them doing this and not saying anything. It can cut down on the number of damaged phones. You don't want to advertise it then have issues with it like sony did.

 

[savagepagan]

That's because if Apple claim the phone is waterproof/resistant, they would have to deal with idiots dunking their iphone underwater to see if it is true and then trying to return the phone if it died due to water damage.

 

[nb14]

I think apple will have a big thing about the iPhone 7 being fully waterproof. The 6S is kind of a small test without telling anyone

 

[nilepez]

I think apple will have a big thing about the iPhone 7 being fully waterproof. The 6S is kind of a small test without telling anyone

My guess is they'll just say water resistant. Water proof implies you can go swimming with your phone (on purpose). What they've done is protect you from drops in the toilet, bathtub and perhaps the laundry or pool.

I kinda like that for once Apple has done something and not tooted their horn.

 

[Zepher]

http://youtu.be/t_HbztTpL08

This was up on YouTube a few days ago. 30 minutes under water. It's the kind of weird thing Apple would do. Add it but not want to encourage people to put it to the test, so don't mention it.

fyi, pure water is an insulator. It's the impurities in the water that conduct electricity and damages electronics.
Without knowing what type of water was used, the video does not prove that he phones are water resistance or water proof.

 

[Weenis]

Tap water isn't pure; that guy apparently used tap water according to his responses in the comments.

 

[shansoft]

They would have told everyone and advertised it as a feature.

Like Sony and Samsung did while not honor the warranty for breaking the phone in water?

Also, just recently Sony advice user not to use underwater for their "Waterproof" phone

http://www.xperiablog.net/2015/09/10/sony-changes-stance-on-waterproof-phones-do-not-use-underwater/

 

[Converge]

I heard you can recharge it in the microwave too

Yes, that is indeed a fact. I've done this on multiple occasions with complete success.

 

[Etherton]

Anyone [h]ere tested theirs? That YouTube video could have been distilled water.

Disclaimer: Not bashing as I really want the 6s.