Apple's warranty for water-resistant iPhone 7 doesn't cover liquid damage

Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus may be its first water- and dust-resistant phones but you'll still need to pay for AppleCare if you want to be covered against liquid damage.

Despite suggestions to the contrary, tests proved the iPhone 6s was definitely not water resistant, unlike Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, which survived 30 minutes submerged in water.

But the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have nearly the same protections as Samsung's flagships, carrying the IP67 rating under the International Electrotechnical Commission standard 60529.

The 'IP' in the rating refers to "ingress protection" or how well it protects against foreign materials entering the enclosure. The first number in the IP67 rating is on a scale of 0 to 6 and indicates how well the device protects against incoming solid objects, such as dust or sand. The second number relates to water protection and is on a scale from 0 to 8.

So, with an IP67 rating, the new iPhones have the highest dust protection rating, and the second highest level of water protection, which is rated to be "protected from immersion in water with up to a depth of 1 meter (3.2 feet) for up to 30 minutes."

ZDNet's sister site CNET has a more detailed explanation, but basically it should survive an accidental dip in the bathroom.

Despite the iPhone's new water resistance, Apple notes that liquid damage is "not covered under warranty".

"iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are splash, water, and dust resistant and were tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529. Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty," Apple warns.

That it's not covered by warranty isn't unusual. The Galaxy S7 has the highest water protection rating (IP68), but owners still need to buy additional Samsung coverage for protection against water damage.

To cover itself from water damage claims, Samsung has also inserted moisture-detecting stickers inside the Galaxy S7 and warns in its user manual that despite its IP68 rating, it can still be damaged by dust and water.

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