Corrosion in the Lightning Port?

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Level 1

10 points

Corrosion in the Lightning Port?

Has anyone had their iPhone X experience corrosion in the Lightning connector?

And if so, did Apple address it to your satisfaction?

My son is overseas in New Zealand, and has had modest minor water exposure. Much like one would expect with an IPS67 rated phone. Nevertheless, one of the connectors has corroded. To my mind this shouldn't ever happened. The phone should have non-corrosive contacts in a place that is so easily accumulating moisture in a device ADVERTISED to be water resistant. Why do't they then have a wand to dry the port, since I hate the idea of sticking a cotton swab into the port.

I was about to buy one of these for myself, but now I am frozen. If a corroded copper Lithnig connector with brick my $1200 phone, that phone is WAY too fragile!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.0.x), Retina 11,2

Posted on Apr 30, 2018 8:24 PM

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Answer 1

y_p_w

Level 6

17,784 points

Apr 30, 2018 9:15 PM in response to macidahodoc

Apple doesn't tout the water resistance as meaning that it can reliably handle water contact. They basically say it's IP67 at the factory, and that's it. IP67 is certified under specific laboratory conditions. When it's serviced they restore it to IP67 (an Apple Store employee told me this). However, they certainly don't claim that it will resist corrosion or that it can regularly be exposed to water.

iPhone X - Apple

iPhone X is splash, water, and dust resistant and was 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.

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Answer 2

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,621 points

Apr 30, 2018 8:26 PM in response to macidahodoc

Never seen or read of it. However, this is a user to user support forum, and Apple does not participate here. You would have to take this up with Apple. Unfortunately, whether you are satisfied or not, Apple has the final say.

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Answer 3

macidahodoc Author

Level 1

10 points

May 3, 2018 6:50 PM in response to y_p_w

Thanks, now I see the dark side of this. When I contacted Apple, they did not shut me down, but wanted to look at the phone. Fair enough. Maybe this is new to them. The phone has had minimal water exposures, but not none. It seems foolish to make such a phone with copper connectors that would be so corrosion prone with even trivial exposures. Gold or other less corrosive metal would have been a better choice. And that is not out of the realm of possibility...so many speakers and audio sets come with gold-plated connectors for just these reasons: better contact and corrosion resistance. This is a design flaw. I would argue entry of water into the phone we shall call cause. But the world is a hostile place, and the warning you have found is far from prominent in their ads (full of splashing water!). Fine if others don't protect their phones that way. Apple has cultivated a high end reputation. We expect better. Especially for the price!

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Corrosion in the Lightning Port?

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