Apple is again being sued in a court in New York, United States (US) in a class-action complaint. Apple is being sued for false claims against the waterproof feature of the iPhone.
Like many smartphone manufacturers, Apple includes water resistance (IP) levels in its iPhone lineup, with levels of resistance claimed to have improved in recent years.
Apple Accused of Exaggerating Its Cellphone Capability
However, a lawsuit filed in the District Court of New York, USA accused Apple of overestimating the ability of its cellphone to water resistance.
Apple is listed as a defendant, and Antoinette Smith is listed as the plaintiff’s name. The 13-page submission is addressed to Apple for a waterproof cellphone claim case.
For example, iPhone 7 is marketed as having ‘IP67’ protection. It offers maximum water resistance protection to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes.
On the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, Apple labels it as an IP68 rating. But with increased claims for depths lasting up to 4 meters to 30 minutes. Then the iPhone 12 is claimed to be more water resistant. It’s up to 6 meters with a duration of 30 minutes.
However, the lawsuit shows that the so-called phones do not meet the certification level requirements based on laboratory tests with static and pure water.
“This means that consumers who stand on the edge of a pool or sea and their devices are splashed or submerged in water. They are refused guarantees because the water contains chlorine or salt,” said the lawsuit.
Furthermore, the warranty is said to not cover liquid damage, usually indicated by a liquid contact indicator that turns red.
Smith’s plaintiff said it had purchased the iPhone 8 and had contact with water. But that it conforms to the IP rating of the device and is consistent with the water-resistant regulations. It’s written in Apple’s mobile marketing claims.
Apple Refuses to Provide Warranty
When Smith tries to claim warranty to Apple stores, the company refuses to repair under warranty warranty. That forced Smith to incur financial losses through repair costs, downsizing, lower resale values, and the purchase of new equipment.
Quoted by Apple Insider, this is not the first time that this is not the first time the lawsuit against the iPhone’s water-resistant claims. In November 2020 the Italian Antitrust Authority fined Apple 10 million euros for claims that mislead consumers about water resistance.
The fines serve as evidence that Apple has received complaints by regulators, competitors and consumers over the past few years about the matter. The demands made Apple aware that there was a problem that had to be fixed in the water resistance of its devices.
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