Apple appears to have improved water resistance in the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, according to an analysis and teardown by iFixit. While the iPhone still isn’t certified as even water-resistant, much less waterproof, iFixit reports that Apple appears to have taken steps to prevent water damage, such as adding a new gasket where the casing fits together and surrounding the logic board and its components with a new silicon seal to prevent shorting and corrosion if water gets into the casing; this new silicon seal design was revealed earlier this year in an Apple patent filing related to waterproofing that was reported by Apple Insider, although the iFixit report notes that the seal is only one part of the overall patent.
The report also goes on to indicate that other parts of the iPhone 6s, such as the buttons, speakers, headphone jack, and SIM tray, have not changed “dramatically in terms of waterproofiness” [sic], despite other recent patent filings by Apple regarding additional waterproofing technologies. iFixit speculates that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus design may simply be a first step toward a fully waterproof — or at least water resistant — iPhone 7 rumored for next year. Despite these findings, it’s important to keep in mind that although the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus may survive accidental exposure to water more effectively than prior models, Apple still makes no guarantees and will view water damage as invalidating warranty coverage in the same manner as in the past. [via Wired]
