iPhone moisture sensors a little too touchy?

A number of iPhone users are reporting problems having their still-warrantied iPhones worked on at Apple Store Genius Bars after their devices’ external moisture sensors are falsely tripped.

Liquid Sensor

Techgeist reports that one of their iPhone units exhibited this issue, and after contacting Apple, discovered that the company’s protocol when responding to a customer with a unit that has had its external sensors triggered is to say the warranty is now void and turn the customer away.

In addition, the standard protocol is not to open the iPhone in question to look for actual signs of water damage, or to check the internal moisture detectors—neither of which had been triggered on Techgeist’s device. The article goes on to suggest that the only way around this policy is to contact Apple directly and speak with someone high up in the company, who can then instruct Apple’s in-store technicians to open up the phone to check for damage.

This isn’t a great way to encourage people to use the iPhone really, and hopefully, Apple will come up with a better way to deal with this issue in the future.

Posted on Sep 22nd, 2009 by Philip King in iPhone News | 6 Comments

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6 Comments to “iPhone moisture sensors a little too touchy?”

  1. on 23 Sep 2009 at 4:05 am1Steve

    had the same exact problem with an iPhone 3G AND my 3GS…. said there was water damage but both phones had not been any where near water when I had problems. Apple replaced both though after talking with a supervisor.

  2. on 23 Sep 2009 at 4:45 am2iphonedeveloperthailand

    Interesting, need to check that on my iPhone just to be sure..

  3. on 23 Sep 2009 at 2:18 pm3Xe

    I would be pissed off if that happened to me!

  4. on 23 Sep 2009 at 4:16 pm4thetobster

    My moisture sensor tripped for no good reason and I was out of luck.

  5. on 15 Oct 2009 at 1:18 am5mike

    Bought apple care for both my iphones in April 2009. In June, one of phones started not to work. went to apple store, they said it was water submersion (phone never has been submerged) and would not honor the apple care coverage due to new policy on voided coverage due to water damage. Called apple care customer service, told them they had two options..replace my phone or reimburse my apple care coverage on both my phones. they immediately reimbursed my apple care coverage without question. That tells me that Apple knows they have a problem and are quick to accomodate least path of resistance.

  6. on 15 Oct 2009 at 1:22 pm6THE WORM

    A drop of clear fingernail polish over the dot will solve the problem,works here.

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