In an iPhone, you can tell that your device has water damage by looking inside your SIM card slot. After removing the SIM card tray, look carefully inside the slot, if you see a red color this is an indication that liquid damage has occurred and the Liquid Contact Indicator is now activated.
So what now? Will AppleCare cover the water damage on your iOS device? Let’s dicuss.
Most of the Apple products come with a one-year limited warranty. This warranty only applies to Apple manufactured hardware and software. It does not cover any accidental damages such as water damage.
Many signs that indicate that your iOS device has come in contact with a liquid. For example, apart from the LCI, your screen will go black or show distorted displays. Moreover, you won’t be able to charge your device. If any or all of these signs are visible, it means that your device has water damage and you will need to get it fixed.
Keep reading to find out why AppleCare does not cover water damage and how much Apple charges to to fix your device.
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Why Does Apple Not Cover Water Damage?
Apple uses a Liquid Contact Indicator to show if the liquid has bypassed the advertised level of water resistance in Apple Products. iOS devices are splash, water, and dust resistant and not “waterproof”. If your device fails the test Liquid Contact Indicator test it is due to user negligence.
iPhones or any other iOS devices are not designed to be waterproof. According to Apple, they are just “resistant to accidental spills from common liquids such as soda, beer, coffee, tea and juice.” And even though they are water-resistant, they cannot withstand pressurized or high-velocity water.
Moreover, Apple discourages people from exposing their devices to liquids, soaps, oils, and other liquid stuff such as moisturizers or solvents. That is because according to Apple, “splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear.”
Apple outlines the conditions where users should not use their iPhones in order to prevent them from liquid damage. So it’s important to avoid:
How To Avoid Water Damage With iPhone
- Showering, bathing, or swimming with your iPhone.
- Taking your iPhone out under pressurized or high-velocity water. For example, during heavy rains, showers, water sports such as jet-skiing, surfing, water skiing, and similar activities where water pressure is high
- Using your iPhone in extremely humid conditions such as in a sauna or a steam room.
- Dipping or washing your iPhone with water over and over again.
- Crashing your iPhone or dropping it.
- Removing some parts or disassembling your iPhone.
So if the liquid has bypassed the certain threshold of water resistance in an iOS device, that is because you failed to use the device as per Apple’s suggested guidelines. The LCI is designed to indicate whether this is the case. And if it is, then AppleCare would not cover water damage under its free one-year warranty.
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How Much Does Apple Charge For Water Damage?
If your iPhone has water damage and it does not fall under AppleCare+, out-of-warranty prices will apply to it for repairs by Apple. This price starts from $149 to $599, depending on the iPhone model you have.
These out-of-warranty prices are for iPhones that do not have AppleCare+ and fall under the category of “Other damage”.
| iPhone Model | Other Damage (Out-of-Warranty) Charges |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | $599 |
| iPhone 12 Pro | $549 |
| iPhone 12 | $449 |
| iPhone 12 Mini | $399 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | $599 |
| iPhone 11 Pro | $549 |
| iPhone 11 | $399 |
| iPhone XS Max | $599 |
| iPhone XS | $549 |
| iPhone X | $549 |
| iPhone XR | $399 |
| iPhone 8 Plus | $399 |
| iPhone 8 | $349 |
| iPhone 7 Plus | $349 |
| iPhone 7 | $319 |
| iPhone 6s Plus | $329 |
| iPhone 6s | $299 |
| iPhone 6 Plus | $329 |
| iPhone 6 | $299 |
| iPhone SE (2nd Generation) | $269 |
| iPhone SE | $269 |
| iPhone 5s | $269 |
| iPhone 5c | $269 |
| iPhone 4s | $149 |
| iPhone 4 | $199 |
However, if you have AppleCare+ for your iOS devices, this insurance will cover all the other damages that are not covered in AppleCare, including water damage. Just take your iOS device to the nearest Apple Service store and give a service fee of $99 for all eligible iPhones.
So if you are a person who takes full advantage of a water-resistant iPhone and you always take your iPhone underwater, you should definitely buy the AppleCare+ plan that starts from $199 to $299 for iPhones. Wondering whether to buy your next iOS device from Apple online or retail store? Find out about the benefits of buying from an Apple retail store in my article.