One of the more splashy (we promise, no more puns) announcements that arrived with Apple’s latest smartphone is that Apple iPhone 7 is waterproof. More specifically, it has a water resistance rating of IP67.
This means the iPhone 7 passed industry testing to withstand dust (a big plus for anyone who spends a lot of time at Burning Man) and survive water immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of up to one meter.
So, while you probably shouldn’t take it surfing or scuba diving with you (save that for your GoPro), it does mean that you may not have to panic if your new Apple iPhone 7 takes a little spill in the sink or gets a little water on it when you’re lounging poolside.
Or do you?
Apple iPhone 7 Water Resistance: Always Read the Fine Print
Yes, the iPhone 7 is water resistant, but it’s not entirely waterproof. There’s also an important footnote in the warranty that begs some attention.
It reads simply: “Liquid damage (is) not covered under any warranty.” So, while the phone is inarguably engineered to handle more than a little water exposure, Apple will only cover damages from water if iPhone 7 owners pony up the additional $129 for the AppleCare program.
Apple iPhone 7 offers similar water resistance to Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and neither of them should be completely immersed in water.
Warranty on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Think of your new Apple iPhone 7 as mildly safe for the beach, and that maybe you don’t have to freak out quite as hard if it falls in the sink. Apple is probably asking for multiple lawsuits if it were to guarantee waterproofness under its warranty.
Apple’s warranty clearly states that water damage is possible, and if it happens, the company won’t fix the phone for free.
“Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty.”
What Does iPhone 7 Waterproof Mean?
Customers could have differing views about what the word waterproof even means, especially with Samsung’s somewhat misleading ads on the subject. (Here’s a helpful hint: never submerge your phone in a fish tank or randomly pour expensive champagne on it for any reason.)
The bottom line: iPhone 7 is waterproof enough to withstand some, but not much, water. If you have any accidental spills (who doesn’t?), at least you won’t have to do any more searching the web to vet that rice technique or replace the phone entirely.
If you consistently expose your Apple iPhone 7 to highly watery conditions, sign up for AppleCare so you can sleep well at night.