Buying used phones is a good way to save money and the environment. However, there are certain factors to keep in mind to avoid getting scammed. One of them is water damage. If water has entered a phone, the internal components may be damaged and/or the warranty voided. This guide shows a few ways to check for water damage on an iPhone.
Content
- 1. Check the Liquid Damage Indicator Under the SIM Tray
- 2. Discoloration of Display
- 3. Distorted Audio From Speakers
- 4. Liquid Detected Warning While Charging
- 5. Overheating and Random Reboots
- 6. Water in the Camera Lens
1. Check the Liquid Damage Indicator Under the SIM Tray
All iPhone devices from the iPhone 7 onwards are water-resistant but not waterproof. Hence, it’s still possible for water to enter these phones when submerged. Apple has a neat little trick hidden inside the iPhone to determine whether water or any sort of liquid has entered the device. A small white sticker – labeled Liquid Contact Indicator or LCI – turns red upon contact with any liquid.
This sticker is placed inside the SIM tray, so if you’re in the US, the LCI is, unfortunately, not visible unless the phone is taken apart. If you’ve purchased your iPhone in a different country, pop open the SIM tray with a SIM ejector tool. Look inside with the iPhone placed horizontally to see the LCI sticker.
If the sticker is white, the phone is safe from water damage. However, if the sticker has turned red, some sort of liquid has entered the device.
2. Discoloration of Display
One of the first indicators of liquid entering any smartphone is the discoloration of the display. You may start seeing the screen getting washed out or the colors appearing more dull than usual.
Image source:
Pexels
Liquid entering the display can also lead to green or pink lines appearing on the screen. In short, if the iPhone screen doesn’t look the way it normally does, there’s a high possibility of water damage.
3. Distorted Audio From Speakers
Another big hint at iPhone water damage is crackling noises coming from the speakers. It’s even more prominent on old Macs with liquid damage than it is with iPhones, but it can still be heard.
The best way to test this is to play a song or video on your iPhone and listen to the sound output. If there are static sounds, or you hear some sort of disturbance when playing audio, water may have entered the speakers.
Along with the speakers on the bottom of the iPhone, it’s also important to check the one at the top. Try calling someone with the phone and speaking to them. Listen for any distortion or breakage.
Tip: looking to get a used iPhone for your child? After you check for water damage, set up parental controls.
4. Liquid Detected Warning While Charging
Plugging in an iPhone to a charging outlet while there’s liquid in the port triggers a warning. This is a safety measure to ensure there’s no electrical short caused by water when charging an iPhone.
If you see a Charging Not Available or Liquid Detected in USB-C/Lightning Connector label when you connect a charger, the iPhone has come in contact with liquids.
Image source:
Pexels
However, this doesn’t indicate that the iPhone is damaged. It’s possible that the liquid may have come in contact with the charging port but hasn’t entered the iPhone’s body.
5. Overheating and Random Reboots
It’s not abnormal for an iPhone to overheat when under stress. If you’re playing heavy games or using the phone under bright sunlight for long hours, any phone tends to get warm or hot to the touch. However, if an iPhone gets uncomfortably warm under normal circumstances, it could be water damaged.
Use your iPhone to perform basic tests, like opening the Settings app, changing the wallpaper, sending a message, etc. If you feel it is getting warmer than usual, it may have come in contact with liquids. Another dead giveaway is if your iPhone reboots randomly from time to time. That is unusual behavior and could indicate water damage.
6. Water in the Camera Lens
If the iPhone has passed all of the above tests, the final check is to see if there are water droplets or any form of condensation inside the camera lens(es). Turn the iPhone over and observe closely for signs of water entering the cameras. There are mics near the camera module, via which water could have entered that region if the iPhone was submerged.
Accidents are bound to happen. So, if you dropped your iPhone in water, learn how to dry out your wet phone and other electronics and resurrect them. If you’re looking to get a used phone, or the technicians in the Apple Store tells you they can’t fix your phone because it’s water-damaged, the steps mentioned here will help you verify whether the iPhone has come in contact with water.
Image credit: Freepik
Sumukh Rao –
Contributor
Sumukh has a knack for simplifying tech for the masses and helping consumers pick the right gadgets with his in-depth insights and reviews. He decided to hide his engineering degree in the closet to pursue his passion for writing. Over the past 6 years, he has contributed with guides, reviews, and detailed opinions to notable publications like TechPP, XDA-Developers, and Guiding Tech.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for all newsletters.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time. Subscribe