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Can watching a video really help you fix an iPhone dunked in water
Apple iPhones are water resistant but the older models were susceptible to major damages if you ended up getting it wet.
A YouTube video claiming to solve the issue of water struck in iPhone has been gaining traction online. The video titled Sound To Remove Water From Phone Speaker (GUARANTEED) plays low-frequency sounds intended to vibrate water out of waterlogged smartphone speakers. An experiment conducted by The Verge’s David Pierce and iFixit repair professionals also confirms its effectiveness.
The video uploaded over four years ago has raked up over 45 million views so far, confirming the popularity of this method. But does it really work?
David Pierce was intrigued by the claims made in multiple YouTube videos that they could drain out water from an iPhone using sound. So, he wanted to work with iFixit to put these claims to the test. The experiment required immersing an iPhone 13 in UV dye-treated water and then playing one of these specialised videos. The results of allowing the device to dry overnight were surprising.
The sound waves generated by the video drove water out of the speakers of several smartphones including those from Nokia and Google that were put to the test. Water was successfully removed from the speakers by the first loud blast of sound.
This method, however, merely removed water from the speaker grille. When the iPhone was later disassembled, UV dye revealed that water remained in other sections of the device, demonstrating that the sound-based method does not provide a complete answer for totally drying out a water-soaked phone.
Apple Watch already has a similar function that employs sound to remove water from the device. Since the Apple Watch is smaller and has fewer internal cracks than an iPhone, this procedure works better on it.
Newer iPhone models including the iPhone 15 have an IP68 classification, which means they can be submerged in up to six meters of water for 30 minutes. However, waterproofing may weaken over time.
Apple’s warranty does not cover water damage, so it is best to avoid submerging your iPhone in water whenever possible. Though it should not be depended upon as a comprehensive solution for more extensive water damage, this sound-based method presents a promising alternative for individuals coping with wet iPhone speakers.
