Apple has unveiled its new generation of iPhones and like previous iterations, the iPhone 14 can withstand water-resistant conditions. A resistance of 6 meters deep for 30 minutes, you can rest a little easier if you drop your phone in the toilet or the pool.
The iPhone 14 is splash-resistant and water-resistant and holds the same International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) IP68 rating as its predecessors 12 and 13. IP ratings are the standard ratings for consumer electronics. This includes accidental spills from common liquids, such as soda, beer, coffee, tea, and juice.
Understanding IP ratings
The first thing to know about IP ratings is that they’re tested with brand new devices. Any cracks or breaks from daily use in the housing of your iPhone 14 can compromise the device and allow water inside.
The iPhone 14 is rated IP68. This rating describes how resistant the device is to dirt, dust, or liquids. The ‘6’ in the rating indicates the level of resistance and protection to harmful dust. The second number in the rating indicates the level of resistance to liquids. A rating of eight means "protected from immersion in water with a depth of more than one meter."
In the case of the iPhone 14, the ceramic shield housing is resistant to these situations if in good condition. Over time, due to wear and tear, the resistance may decrease. Also keep in mind that liquid damage is not covered under Apple warranty.
Can I use the iPhone 14 in the shower?
We know that getting away from your phone is hard — social media, ongoing texts, and work emails. Draw a boundary at bringing your phone in the shower. Direct exposure to splashes of water can quickly damage your very expensive, new phone.
The iPhone 14 can withstand ambient moisture from your hot shower but avoid any saunas with it if possible. Place your phone far away on a bathroom shelf to play music while you sing your favorite tunes in the shower. If you want to take the risk, grab a waterproof case for your phone before taking it behind the shower curtain.
Can I use the iPhone 14 underwater?
You can take your new phone to the pool. Gone are the days of instant death to your phone if it was dropped in water. The new iPhone 14 can withstand about 19 feet for up to 30 minutes underwater which means in the event that you do drop your phone in the water, you can jump in and save it.
However, be careful around sand and the ocean as the salt water’s corrosive nature can cause more damage than you bargained for. Know that age and damage to the body of the phone may severely impact water resistance over time.
To avoid pushing it too far and take a few underwater photos, invest in a waterproof case that makes your phone close to waterproof. Some of these phone cases let you take your phone safely down to 10 feet deep.
What to do if the iPhone 14 gets wet
On the off chance that you drop your iPhone 14 in water for longer than you should, here’s what to do to try to minimize the damage.
- Retrieve the iPhone from the water as soon as possible. Immediately dry it off with a towel. Try to dry every crevice to make sure no extra water gets inside and damages the components.
- If you dropped it in salt water, wipe it off with a microfiber towel and fresh water as soon as possible to avoid any salt-caused damage.
- Power off your phone immediately to power down all circuits while it dries. Remove the battery and phone case as well.
- Most likely water got inside the iPhone. After drying off the exterior, place it in a dry environment with a regular fan for it to evaporate, not a blow dryer. Avoid dumping it in a container full of rice (a big myth) since it has proven ineffective in drying devices and the rice dust can clog some of the ports.
- Do not plug in your phone for the next day to allow the insides to dry off completely.
- Wait 48 hours before plugging your phone back in after allowing the moisture to evaporate
What’s new with the new iPhone 14?
Apple announced iPhone 14 and 14 Plus in addition to the new iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max phones.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus features
New features of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, including better battery life and a new dual camera system. The phones come in five colors: Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Purple, and Product Red. Not to mention, the iPhone 14 Plus comes with a bigger screen, now a 6.7-inch screen size. Gone is the physical SIM card slot as well.
The iPhone 14 carries the same A15 Bionic chip as its predecessor and Apple shared that it's 18 percent faster than the iPhone 13. The dual camera system has a new way to process the photos called Photonic Engine. It also comes with a new video stabilization mode that makes your videos look smooth even when moving around.
The two main features to look out for:
Upgraded camera
Both the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus come with an upgraded dual camera system. The 12-megapixel camera now has a sensor that takes in more light. This means brighter, more detailed photos, especially at night and in low-light environments. The front-facing camera got an upgrade too now, with autofocus for the first time ever.
Emergency satellite SOS service
The iPhone 14 now offers an emergency satellite SOS service, a game changer for safety. This feature allows users to send short text messages when they’re offline (without cellular connectivity) to get help in emergency situations, like natural disasters or a dangerous situation.
The phone uses satellites to connect to emergency personnel or chosen contacts and send emergency, short text messages in under 15 seconds. The messages, instead of the iconic iMessage blue, will show in a gray. Once available in November, it will be offered for free for two years and integrate with Find My iPhone. It will work in the U.S. and Canada.
It also comes with Car Crash detection if you happen to be in an accident. The iPhone 14 will send an emergency message to 911 or your emergency contact to indicate that you’ve been in an accident.
The new iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max phones
This pair make up two of Apple’s most expensive phones, they also look a little different. Gone is the small cutout in the front of the phone that worked for Face ID, selfies, and more.
Instead, Apple has introduced a new notification system called Dynamic Island that lives on the home screen. It is a flexible cutout that can change size and shape depending on the tasks at hand. The Super Retina XDR display can now hit 2,000 nits of brightness for better visibility in very bright light.
The phone comes with a brand-new chip, the new A16 Bionic chip, which is an upgrade from the regular iPhone 14. The high performance helps with the new 48-megapixel camera, now with pro raw mode. The Pro also comes with Pro Video and Cinematic modes that can now record at 4K and 24 frames per second with the new video stabilization.
Updating to the iPhone 14
From being water-resistant to providing an emergency satellite SOS service, the iPhone 14 goes beyond a fancy camera (although that’s really nice too!) to amplify reliability.
iPhone 14 Plus available in October. iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are subject to FCC rules as well as consumer protection, contractual, and other provisions of federal or state law. It cannot be sold or delivered until the FCC’s authorization process is complete.
iPhone 14 Plus available in October. iPhone 14 Plus is subject to FCC rules as well as consumer protection, contractual, and other provisions of federal or state law. It cannot be sold or delivered until the FCC’s authorization process is complete.
