Water damage to smartphones: dos and don'ts
Most smartphones are a significant investment. And unfortunately, one of the most common ways to damage them and lose this investment is spilling water on them or dropping them into water. If you've ever had this happen, you know how frustrating and costly it can be. But we're here to help! In this blog post, we'll discuss dos and don'ts for what to do if your phone gets wet. We'll also provide some tips on how to prevent water damage in the first place.
Ready to dive in?
Whether it's from a glass of water or coffee, here are some tips to follow for what to do if this happens.
If you follow these tips, you'll have a better chance of salvaging your smartphone after water spills on it.
If you can’t revive your phone and it’s beyond repair, contact your smartphone manufacturer and ask about their warranty policy for water damage. If your smartphone is insured, contact your insurance company too.
As important as it is to follow the do's for what to do if your smartphone gets wet, there are "don'ts" that are just as critical to read!
Your phone might have already met its liquid match if you're reading this. But let's say you had a time machine, and you wanted to know everything you could do to prevent smartphone water damage from happening in the first place.
This is what we would tell you:
People with smartphone water damage often say, "I thought my phone was waterproof!" Unfortunately, there's a difference between water-resistant and waterproof, and it's best to understand this difference ahead of time when it comes to smartphones!
Many smartphones come with a "water-resistant" rating, but what does this mean? Can you take your phone swimming with you? Will it survive in a bubble bath for five hours? Not likely.
Instead, water-resistant usually means the smartphone can withstand a little water exposure, such as light rain, quick dips, or accidental spills. If you have a phone with this rating, it's best to avoid submerging it in water for an extended period.
On the other hand, "waterproof" smartphones are designed to be submerged in water and can survive for extended periods of time (more than three minutes). If you like to go swimming or surfing, or if you just tend to get your phone wet often, then investing in a waterproof smartphone may be a good idea. Just make sure that the device is actually rated as waterproof before purchasing!
This is where reviewing your smartphone's moisture protection IP ratings comes in handy.
Source: CNet
For example, the Samsung S8 and the iPhone 13 ProMax have IP ratings for moisture protection of 8, which is the highest ranking. An iPhone 8, on the other hand, has a moisture protection rating of 7.
If you think your smartphone has been damaged by water, there are a few signs to look out for. The most obvious is if your phone starts acting strangely after getting wet – like it won't power on, the screen is cracked, the buttons aren't working, or the screen looks distorted and discolored.
You might also see corrosion around the charging port or on the back of the phone. If you're not sure whether your smartphone has been damaged by water, you can take it to an expert, who'll be able to tell for sure.
Let's say you did everything possible to prevent smartphone water damage, but an accident happened. If you've followed all the dos and don'ts we shared, but your smartphone still isn't working, is there any left to do? Can smartphone water damage be fixed? The answer is: sometimes, and most often, yes.
There are, of course, some situations when your phone might be damaged beyond repair, and you'll need to replace it. In that case, you will hopefully have a warranty for your phone.
But there's a chance smartphone repair experts might be able to bring your phone back to life! If anyone can do it, we can! Your best bet is to call the pros at trufyx to look at your phone and determine if it can be fixed.
Once a month, stay-in-the-know kind of relationship.