Apple claims that iPhone-7 onwards can be waterproof, though damage from water immersion is still heard from time to time. (Photo/Apple Inc)
Apple Inc. is facing several lawsuits in New York against iPhone lovers. The reason is that Apple’s new ads claim that the new iPhones are water resistant, but as a result many users are still facing breakdowns and are being sent in for repairs and are being found to have used them improperly.
Apple Insider reports that Apple claims that the iPhone’s waterproof performance has been getting better and better, and there is even a rumor that even without any additional waterproof measures (such as waterproof bags), even if it falls in the lake, it can be retrieved in a few months without any damage.
However, last Saturday in the U.S. Southern District of New York, the District Court filed a class action lawsuit alleging that Apple exaggerated the waterproof function of the phone.
The class-action lawsuit is 13 pages long, and the plaintiffs, represented by Antoinette Smith, aim to target the waterproofness of Apple’s phones. For example, in Apple’s claim, the commercially available iPhone 7 has an ” IP67″ protection rating, meaning a maximum waterproof depth of 1 meter and 30 minutes of water resistance. In addition, the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, which Apple labels as “IP68” rated, claim to be waterproof to 4 meters and 30 minutes underwater, while the iPhone 12 is even more exaggerated, being waterproof to 6 meters and 30 minutes underwater.
However, the lawsuit points out that the waterproofing tests for these products were limited to the lab and were based on static environments and tests in a lab with pure water, as opposed to a pool or seawater environment. The lawsuit reads, “This means that phone issues that are splashed or temporarily submerged in water while standing by a pool, or using their devices in a saltwater bathing area, will be denied maintenance because the water contains chlorine or salt.”
Even the warranty does not cover damage caused by liquids other than pure water, and the indicator usually turns red when liquids seep into the phone. Apple recommends washing and rinsing with water slightly once it touches juice or coffee, but Apple still denies the warranty.
The lawsuit claims that Apple apparently violated the Consumer Protection Act of the New York General Business Law.
This is not the first time Apple has faced waterproofing problems, as in November 2020, the Italian Antitrust Authority fined Apple 10 million euros (about $12 million) for misleading consumers by claiming water resistance was overblown and not providing a free warranty after the body was damaged by liquid.
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