Water Vapor: The Hidden Enemy of Your Phone; Even Water-Resistant Phones Aren't Safe in the Bathroom

Water vapor is a hidden enemy of smartphones, seriously damaging even models with water-resistance certification over time. Many users rely on their phone's water resistance rating and take their devices into humid environments such as bathrooms without concern. The truth, however, is that IP67 and IP68 standards ... The post Water Vapor: The Hidden Enemy of Your Phone; Even Water-Resistant Phones Aren't Safe in the Bathroom appeared first on Safir

0 Posted by: Amir Jalali on October 20, 2015 at 20:11

Water vapor is the hidden enemy of smartphones and even models with a waterproof certificate will suffer serious damage over time.

Many users, relying on the phone's water resistance certificate, put their device in wet environments like the bathroom without worry. But the truth is that the IP67 and IP68 standards seen in most of today's flagship phones do not mean complete waterproofness. These standards are only designed to withstand liquid water and under certain conditions, and the humidity and heat of water vapor is a completely different story.

Why is water vapor more dangerous than water for waterproof phones?

Most modern smartphones, including Apple iPhone models and Google phones, are certified IP67 or IP68, which indicates the level of water resistance. However, these certifications should never be confused with "complete waterproofing", as hot water vapor creates completely different conditions. Steam in the bathroom can turn into a liquid and easily seep into the phone through the charging port, speakers, buttons, and seals. The combination of heat and humidity gradually wears out the internal protection of the phone and causes serious damage.

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Phone manufacturers explicitly warn in this regard. Apple's support page advises iPhone owners to avoid saunas and steam rooms and notes that liquid damage is not covered under warranty. Google also has the same advice and suggests using a Bluetooth speaker instead of a phone.

Heat and humidity cause long-term damage to the phone

Water resistance certifications are for liquid water and determined under specific laboratory conditions, not for high heat and humid bathroom air. Worse, rapid cooling of the device in a humid environment can cause condensation (distillation) both inside and outside the phone. Hot tubs and showers, saunas, and steam rooms can raise the ambient temperature above the allowable temperature specification for a smartphone. Most phones have a maximum operating temperature of around 35°C, and heat can cause sudden shutdowns and seriously affect battery health in the long run.

Frequent or prolonged exposure to heat will cause permanent damage to the phone. Battery capacity is important to many before purchase, as heat accelerates battery aging. The small adhesives and sealants used inside the phone are also not compatible with heat and humidity and lose their effectiveness over time. The worst part is that the damage is often not immediately apparent; You may only encounter occasional warnings about moisture in the charging port or the need to use a magnetic charger, without noticing the gradual degradation of internal components.

How to prevent water vapor damage to your phone?

Whenever your phone gets wet for any reason, dry it immediately. Do not plug anything into the charging port and always keep the ports facing down. Strictly avoid hair dryer or any method that causes the phone to heat up. Also, while placing the phone in a bowl of rice is a common household practice, Apple doesn't recommend using it either.

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The best solution for a wet phone is to not get it wet in the first place. This means keeping the phone away from any hot and humid environment. With just a few extra steps, you can connect to a portable Bluetooth speaker and listen to your music or audiobook while your phone is safely in another room. As smartphones are getting more expensive day by day, avoid making it part of your bathroom routine.