Beginning this week, in-store iPhone trade-in value will no longer be affected by the phone's Liquid Contact Indicators, reports 9to5Mac. According to Apple retail employees, iPhones that have activated Liquid Contact Indicators will be accepted for trade-in and the damage will not have a negative impact on trade-in value.

liquidcontact
Though tripped sensors will not impact value, Apple will continue to refuse devices that have been noticeably damaged by water. Only phones that have had their sensors activated by slight amounts of moisture or humidity can be traded in. In the past, Apple's indicator tape has been proven to be triggered by humid conditions, which ultimately resulted in a lawsuit against the company.

This week's changes to the program, however, will allow more customers to trade in their devices. However, the company isn't going to start allowing seriously water-damaged phones for trade-in anytime soon. If there is evidence of liquid under the phone's display or corrosion in the ports, the phone will still be ineligible for any trade-in value regardless of what the liquid contact indicator looks like.

When Apple's trade-in program launched back in August, the company did not accept phones that had any kind of water damage. The new policy on Liquid Contact Indicators will apply both in the United States and the U.K., where the program launched in October.

Apple's in-store Reuse and Recycling program provides users with a gift card that can be used towards the purchase of a new on-contract phone. Trade-in values are based on model, capacity, and other criteria such as physical condition.

Top Rated Comments

Klae17 Avatar
150 months ago
Wait I thought iOS 7 was waterproof?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThunderSkunk Avatar
150 months ago
Instead of spending time and money on moisture sensors and ticked off customers, Apple could just spend the $ producing phones with waterproof coatings and have another selling point and happier customers.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tmanto02 Avatar
150 months ago
You are right. I know of people who refuse to buy a phone because they are so easy damaged by water.

Did any of you see the Sony ad where their tablet is working with the display on inside an aquarium. Sony can do it. Apple can't.

There are some simply ways to make a phone or tablet water proof. One way is to dip the circuits parts in some kind of plastic and they have some god and thin materials for this now. But the big thing is that others are already doing this.

I wonder if their upcoming iWatch will be water resistant? If you have to take the watch off to wash your hands it is the 100% certain FAIL.

The Xperia z is supposed to be waterproof, however they have done an average job at it. I work in an electrical retailer and have already had heaps of Xperia Zs returned with water damage. If it were the iPhone it would be all over the news. I think waterproofing still needs to mature.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aristobrat Avatar
150 months ago
So water damage is OK for trade-in, but not OK for warranty repair at the Genius Bar. This is going to be fun!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonyive4 Avatar
150 months ago
well..I guess it's just...*sunglasses on* water under the bridge.
YYYYYYEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Arran Avatar
150 months ago
Time to send my iPhone 5 through the wash and send it in :D

Yep, they always say you should scrub it of all personal data.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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