Apple Did Not Mislead Anyone with iPhone Water Resistance Claims, Judge Says

Class-action lawsuit over water resistance dismissed

A class-action lawsuit claiming Apple misled customers about the water resistance of its smartphones only to be able to charge them more for these devices has been dismissed by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan.

The Cupertino-based tech giant has been accused of intentionally misleading customers in its marketing materials in an attempt to increase the price of its devices when, in fact, the iPhone wasn’t resistant to water.

The plaintiffs, however, failed to demonstrate that their iPhones were damaged by any kind of liquid that these devices were supposed to deal with as per Apple’s marketing materials.

Apple on water resistance: not permanent

While some iPhone owners mistake water resistance for waterproofing, Apple specifically emphasizes that customers shouldn’t by any means swim or bath with the smartphone or expose the device to pressurized water.

Furthermore, the company says, there’s a chance the water resistance is lost due to certain wear, and in case this happens, the liquid damage isn’t covered under warranty.

“Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Liquid damage is not covered under warranty, but you might have rights under consumer law. Minimize exposing your iPhone to soap, detergent, acids or acidic foods, and any liquids—for example, perfume, insect repellent, lotions, sunscreen, oil, adhesive remover, hair dye, and solvents. If your iPhone comes into contact with any of these substances, follow the instructions to clean your iPhone,” Apple says.

The iPhone 7 and newer are all splash, water, and dust resistance, while the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 come with an IP68 rating and can withstand a maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes, according to Apple’s own estimates. But of course, you shouldn’t take this for granted, and as Apple says, avoid exposing the device to liquids.