Don’t Go Overboard, But The New iPhone Is Kind Of Waterproof

We could have used this update a few months ago, when we were still at the risk of losing our iPhone to a poolside mishap. But, if personal experience counts, there are many, many ways to drown a phone. Apple has finally recognized this, and they have addressed the problem with a few subtle tweaks in the 6S's design. Clumsy girls everywhere, rejoice. Online repair resource, iFixit, took up the noble cause of pulling a 6S apart, bit by bit, to examine what makes it tick. They almost immediately noticed some curious differences from the iPhone 6's internal design — namely, a mysterious strip of adhesive around the perimeter of the phone's display, and silicon seals for some of the most vulnerable areas, including the battery, Lightning port, and the phone's delicate internal logic board (where all the chips and processors are situated). Turns out, the seals around the display and logic board connectors (along with minuscule changes to the iPhone's frame itself) are clever, subtle attempts at making the new iPhones more water resistant, and could make a big difference when the phone is exposed to water. Apple actually patented this technique earlier this year. The 6S has improved water resistance on only some of its parts — the power and volume buttons are left out — so it is by no means impervious to water. It'll still be in your best interest to keep your new iPhone far away from any puddles, toilets, or drinks that you may encounter. But, if it ends up taking a swim, it should have a better chance of surviving the business end of your hairdryer or the inside of a bag of rice than your old iPhone did. Here's hoping next year's iPhone 7 will fix this problem for good.