Introduction
As smartphones continue to evolve, water resistance remains a significant concern for both manufacturers and consumers. This article combines information from two ABC News articles[1][2], discussing Samsung's $14 million fine for misleading underwater ad campaigns and exploring the challenges in making smartphones waterproof.
Samsung's Misleading Advertisements
In 2022, Samsung Australia was fined $14 million for misleading customers into believing their Galaxy smartphones could safely be submerged in pool or sea water[2]. The ad campaign, which ran from March 2016 to October 2018, showcased various ads that suggested water resistance as a key feature of the phones[2]. However, Samsung later acknowledged that if Galaxy phones were submerged in pool or sea water, there was a high chance their charging ports would become corroded and cease working if charged while wet[2].
Understanding Water Resistance and Waterproofing
While smartphones have become more water-resistant, they are not yet fully waterproof. Water-resistant products can withstand some water exposure, but waterproof items are intended to be completely impervious to water. Ingress Protection (IP) ratings are used to measure a device's resistance to solids and liquids. However, these ratings are tested in controlled laboratory conditions, and real-life situations can be much more varied and unpredictable.
Challenges in Making Waterproof Smartphones
Smartphones are complex devices with sensitive and fragile components packed into a smaller casing, making it more difficult to provide the same level of water resistance as other devices like cameras. Additionally, increasing a phone's water resistance can raise its cost for consumers by 20-30%[1]. As demonstrated by the Samsung case, misleading consumers about a product's water resistance capabilities can have severe financial consequences for manufacturers.
Current Methods for Water Resistance
To make a smartphone water-resistant, manufacturers use various components and techniques, including physical barriers and sealing methods for entry points such as buttons, switches, speakers, microphone outlets, cameras, screens, phone enclosures, USB ports, and SIM card trays. A layer of ultra-thin polymer nanocoating is then applied to the phone's circuit board to repel water. However, a phone's water resistance decreases over time due to component aging and deterioration.
Future Innovations and Solutions
Potential advancements in smartphone technology could involve applying water-repellent coatings to a phone's exterior, as some companies are already working on this technology. Another possibility is fabricating circuitry directly onto waterproof silicone material using laser writing techniques and coating it with water-repellent technologies.
Conclusion
Water resistance remains a significant issue for smartphone manufacturers and consumers. The Samsung Australia case serves as a reminder that companies must be transparent about their products' capabilities. While creating a fully waterproof smartphone is still a challenge, technological advancements may bring us closer to this goal in the future.
Call to Action
Until waterproof smartphones become a reality, it's essential to take precautionary measures to protect your devices. We recommend investing in the Wet Phone Wizard drying pouch, which can help you effectively dry out your phone if it accidentally gets wet. Additionally, if you're planning to capture selfies or create user-generated content (UGC) at the beach, in the snow, or on the water, consider investing in a Wet Phone Wizard waterproof case to protect your phone from potential damage. Both the drying pouch and waterproof case can be purchased from wetphonewizard.com. Don't let a wet phone ruin your day—prepare yourself with Wet Phone Wizard's innovative solutions.
Original article references: [1] ABC News (2022) It's 2022. Why are our phones still not waterproof? ABC News. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-30/why-dont-we-have-waterproof-phones-in-2022/101198084 (Accessed: April 9, 2023). [2] ABC News (2022) Samsung fined $14 million over misleading underwater ad campaigns. ABC News. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-23/samsung-fined-14-million-water-resistance-galaxy-smartphones/101178818 (Accessed: April 9, 2023).