The Story of 3 Fried Phones

[PoolGate]

First of all, (*@^$*(#%(^(#*%^!!!!!

My 3rd phone that I went into the pool with in my pocket. And it instantly fried. First was a Samsung S10e, which is supposedly water-resistant to like 10 feet, and it instantly friend. Licked my wounds and bought another S10e. 1 week later, had it in my pocket again and went in the pool. Instant friola. So got a Samsung S20 - also theoretically water resistant. Yesterday, wore that one in the pool the first swim of the season. Yep, you guessed it, instant fryage. All of these phones are supposed to be able to take some water. The S20 was particularly annoying since literally the entire time I was getting ready for the pool I kept in the forefront of my mind not to wear it into the pool. Even kept it in my hand. But the last step before going out to the pool was getting a beer for me and the wife and for a 3 second brief instant, I slipped the phone into my pocket so I could open the door while holding 2 beers. And that was all she wrote.

 

[Jimrahbe]

PG,

I find it interesting that you are blaming the phone...

That said, I have done the same things with hearing aids...

Jim R.

 

[Bperry]

First of all, (*@^$*(#%(^(#*%^!!!!!

My 3rd phone that I went into the pool with in my pocket. And it instantly fried. First was a Samsung S10e, which is supposedly water-resistant to like 10 feet, and it instantly friend. Licked my wounds and bought another S10e. 1 week later, had it in my pocket again and went in the pool. Instant friola. So got a Samsung S20 - also theoretically water resistant. Yesterday, wore that one in the pool the first swim of the season. Yep, you guessed it, instant fryage. All of these phones are supposed to be able to take some water. The S20 was particularly annoying since literally the entire time I was getting ready for the pool I kept in the forefront of my mind not to wear it into the pool. Even kept it in my hand. But the last step before going out to the pool was getting a beer for me and the wife and for a 3 second brief instant, I slipped the phone into my pocket so I could open the door while holding 2 beers. And that was all she wrote.

At least it wasn’t a week old iPhone 5 (back in the day) that was paid for by your employer.

 

[oledan]

I only find humor in your story because it didn't happen to me......

So, you destroyed three phones in about two weeks all by leaving them in your pocket while getting in the pool? I suggest you get some swim trucks without pockets or get one of those iPad size phones that won't fit into a pocket.

 

[Newdude]

Mine got a 20 min swim last year. I was sitting on a pool noodle like a swing while floating around and I went to adjust a little and felt it in my pocket.

I had a $250 deductible on my insurance and thats about what it cost at the ifixscreen guy to replace the display. ATT had an upgrade deal going on so I fixed it and traded it in for a 3 year newer model.

Also PSA : your homeowners policy likely now has an electronics coverage upgrade which costs a fraction of the traditional plans through your cell carrier.

 

[PoolGate]

I only find humor in your story because it didn't happen to me......

So, you destroyed three phones in about two weeks all by leaving them in your pocket while getting in the pool? I suggest you get some swim trucks without pockets or get one of those iPad size phones that won't fit into a pocket.

Actually, this is what I decided to do. I will get swim shorts with no pockets (or else remove the pockets).

BTW: It was 2 in 2 weeks and that was 2 years ago and then just yesterday.

 

[PoolGate]

PG,

I find it interesting that you are blaming the phone...

That said, I have done the same things with hearing aids...

Jim R.

LOL nah I blame myself 100%. Although I am a little perturbed that these phones are advertised as water-resistant and are not. My use case is the exact reason they should be.

 

[Newdude]

I slipped the phone into my pocket so I could open the door while holding 2 beers.

Maybe it wasn't so much *that* it was two beers, but more of *which* 2 beers it was.

Things get wonky at beers 28 and 29. Hiccup.

 

[phonedave]

LOL nah I blame myself 100%. Although I am a little perturbed that these phones are advertised as water-resistant and are not. My use case is the exact reason they should be.

When they have a depth rating, that is the pressure at that depth. So if it is 10 feet, if you took your phone and slowly sunk it to 10 feet deep, in theory it would be OK. However if you exceed that 10' pressure at a lower depth by jumping into the pool, thrashing about with it in your pocket or hands, or any such thing like that, then it will leak. That is why dive watches are rated to things like 100 meters. It is the pressure on the watch, not the actual depth.

 

[PoolGate]

When they have a depth rating, that is the pressure at that depth. So if it is 10 feet, if you took your phone and slowly sunk it to 10 feet deep, in theory it would be OK. However if you exceed that 10' pressure at a lower depth by jumping into the pool, thrashing about with it in your pocket or hands, or any such thing like that, then it will leak. That is why dive watches are rated to things like 100 meters. It is the pressure on the watch, not the actual depth.

I literally walked into the pool from the stairs into 40" of water the phone being maybe 5" underwater in my pocket. 10 steps later I realized I was an idiot and got the phone out of the pool. Samsung sucks.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Samsung sucks.

PG,

There ya go... blaming the phone again...

I would not have a phone if it were not a Samsung phone..

Just saying..

Jim R.

 

[PoolGate]

PG,

There ya go... blaming the phone again...

I would not have a phone if it were not a Samsung phone..

Just saying..

Jim R.

Ha ha yes me as well. All my phones have been Samsung. I just bought my replacement for the one I fried - S23. Be here this week. I am a glutton for punishment I guess.

 

[phonedave]

Ha ha yes me as well. All my phones have been Samsung. I just bought my replacement for the one I fried - S23. Be here this week. I am a glutton for punishment I guess.

Eh, I am a Samsung person myself. My wife still likes Pixels. If we have to use the other persons phone for some reason, it is a total mess.

 

[SJPoe]

I've had the same issue with the S20 - admittedly it's old now, but one accidental dunk in the shorts pocket, not 15 seconds or 3 feet, and it was toast. Took a week in a bag of Silica Gel before it would even turn on again, then another couple days before it would let me charge it. In the meantime I had to buy a new phone because our entire life is controlled or monitored via that device

I must admit, I've gotten a little tired of the Samsung bloat - I had a couple of older Pixels (6a and 5) for work purposes and I have liked the...simplicity, so I've plunked for a Pixel 9 this time around. I finally realized I just don't need that much horsepower in my pocket to browse TFP in the restaurant, and unlocked at 1/3 the price of the current flagships, it seemed financially smart too., ,

Samsung is great, but I just don't understand why they have to have their own version of every single app, and come on, give it up on Bixby already.

 

[phonedave]

I've had the same issue with the S20 - admittedly it's old now, but one accidental dunk in the shorts pocket, not 15 seconds or 3 feet, and it was toast. Took a week in a bag of Silica Gel before it would even turn on again, then another couple days before it would let me charge it. In the meantime I had to buy a new phone because our entire life is controlled or monitored via that device

I must admit, I've gotten a little tired of the Samsung bloat - I had a couple of older Pixels (6a and 5) for work purposes and I have liked the...simplicity, so I've plunked for a Pixel 9 this time around. I finally realized I just don't need that much horsepower in my pocket to browse TFP in the restaurant, and unlocked at 1/3 the price of the current flagships, it seemed financially smart too., ,

Samsung is great, but I just don't understand why they have to have their own version of every single app, and come on, give it up on Bixby already.

The IP8 standard only states that the device will suffer no permanent harmful effects from being submerged. Temporary impacts, until it dries out, are permitted.

 

[SJPoe]

The IP8 standard only states that the device will suffer no permanent harmful effects from being submerged. Temporary impacts, until it dries out, are permitted.

That may be the technical reality, but that certainly is NOT (was not) the implied capability in their advertising. Samsung got sued in Australia and had to change their advertising, although it was weaseled into edge cases around port corrosion. They 'implied' you could not only take it underwater, but you could use it too

If you dig into their disclaimers enough : " Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes and for protection against a solid object greater than 1 mm such as a wire. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water resistance of device is not permanent and may diminish over time because of normal wear and tear. Not dust- or sand-resistant. "

So, might be ok, but outside of the Lab, in anything but clean water, at any time after you bought it, all bets are off. So basically, you have no recourse...don't get it wet

Their ads used to imply you could go swimming or surfing with your phone....except the water protection doesn't cover Salt or Chlorinated water...seems like they've been toned down these days

 

[Bperry]

The IP8 standard only states that the device will suffer no permanent harmful effects from being submerged. Temporary impacts, until it dries out, are permitted.

Any device that is tested to IP standards would fail the test if its operation is impacted even for a short time. The only temporary impact allowed would be the touchscreen operation in that it obviously doesn’t work under water. Once you dry off the screen it should work fine. But you all know Einsteins definition of insanity right? (Although I’m reading it wasn’t Einstein who coined the phrase…)

 

[Dragons Den]

I got pushed into the pool Saturday with my Samsung Galaxy S25, and I'm typing on it now.

I had been blasting my pool guests with an "Ice Buster" water Gatlin Gun. Just got it the day before from Amazon. Came up trying to keep shooting and no dice.

A few minutes later I realized my phone was in my pocket

Still working

Now I gotta send the WATER Gatling WATER Gun back because..... ¿???

 

[phonedave]

Any device that is tested to IP standards would fail the test if its operation is impacted even for a short time. The only temporary impact allowed would be the touchscreen operation in that it obviously doesn’t work under water. Once you dry off the screen it should work fine. But you all know Einsteins definition of insanity right? (Although I’m reading it wasn’t Einstein who coined the phrase…)

The acceptance criteria for water ingress states nothing to do with operational impact. It is solely based on the amount of water that is permitted to enter the casement. There are a lot of weasel words in there that let the relevant technical committee decide if it passes or not. The upshot being IP ratings are at best, a guesstimate. We used to require other testing on equipment - NEBS compliance. Network Equipment-Building System testing. That was a lot more specific. You light the thing on fire in a specific way, it has to self extinguish in a given time frame with self-extinguish defined. It has to emit an upper threshold of EMF at a certain range, etc. The below requirements for IP ratings are very loosey goosey

 

[Newdude]

The below requirements for IP ratings are very loosey goosey

The threshold is juuuuuuuuuust high enough that they can run commercials with Lil' John's phone hitting the pool floor and it still works.

YMMV