So, you’ve been thinking about taking your iPhone 8 with you in the shower.
Perhaps you’d like to use it to play music.
Or you’re waiting for an important phone call.
Whatever your reason may be…
Allow me to explain first what happens when you shower with an iPhone 8.
Keep reading to find out:
- Whether an iPhone 8 is actually waterproof.
- What really happens with an iPhone 8 if you take it with you in the shower.
- 5 surprising facts that you should know if you’re planning to shower with your iPhone 8.
- And a lot more…
Can I shower with my iPhone 8?
You can shower with your iPhone 8. But you shouldn’t. While it’s resistant to water, the chemicals from toiletries may still cause damage. Moreover, the iPhone 8’s water-resistance level also decreases over time. So it won’t always be able to withstand exposure to liquid.
What happens if you shower with an iPhone 8?
What happens if you shower with an iPhone 8 is it’ll continue to work like usual. You can still use it to watch videos or play music. You’ll also still be able to make or take phone calls. Of course, this is provided that it’s still in good condition, with no cracks or other hardware damage.
Like all Apple products, the iPhone 8 didn’t come cheap when it first came out. So naturally, owners would think twice before showering with their smartphones.
But, if you really must take your iPhone 8 with you while you bathe…
You may go ahead and do so.
As long as your phone has no prior damage that may make it easy for water to penetrate…
It should be fine in the shower.
As a matter of fact, in late 2017, Apple released a series of commercials to promote the iPhone 8. And some of those ads included shots of this phone model being splashed with water.
That’s how confident Apple was about this phone’s ability to withstand water exposure.
Many content creators also made videos to test how well an iPhone 8 can resist water. And for the most part, this device did really well.
Now, if you’re interested, here’s 1 of those water test videos for the iPhone 8:
Is the iPhone 8 waterproof?
The iPhone 8 isn’t waterproof. It’s only water-resistant. And prolonged exposure to water will eventually cause damage to its internal hardware.
The terms waterproof and water-resistant can be confusing. In fact, I’ve heard many people use these labels interchangeably, as though they’re the same thing.
But they’re actually quite different. So let me give you a simple explanation of what those 2 terms actually mean.
What waterproof means
This refers to anything that won’t get damaged or affected by water.
When a gadget is waterproof…
You can submerge it under water for hours or even days. And it’ll still be able to function like it usually does.
Here are just a few examples of waterproof devices:
- G-Shock S Series Watch.
- GoPro HERO11 Action Camera.
- Goal Zero Venture 30 Power Bank.
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Speaker.
- LifeProof Aquaphonics AQ9 Speaker.
“That’s awesome. But what about iPhones or other Apple products?”
Well, Apple devices may be expensive. But none of them are totally waterproof. Not even the iPhone models that came after 8.
Now, there are some Apple products that can survive extreme water sports. An example is the Ultra Watch. But it still comes with certain limitations.
What water-resistant means
This term implies that a particular gadget is able to withstand water exposure to an extent.
That means there’s a limit to the following:
- How long you can leave it underwater.
- The amount of water you can expose it to.
- How deep in the water you can submerge it.
For instance, some gadgets can only survive splashes of water for about 10 minutes.
While there are those that you can submerge under water for 30 minutes. At a depth of up to 6.6 feet (2 meters).
Now, most modern gadgets have at least some level of water resistance. And Apple products usually come with impressive water resistance ratings.
That’s why it’s fine to shower with your Apple Watch or iPhone.
Fun fact: The iPhone 7, released in 2016, was the first water-resistant Apple smartphone.
iPhone 8’s water resistance rating
This smartphone has an IP67 rating.
Now, you’re probably thinking…
“What do those letters and numbers even mean?”
Well, allow me to explain.
IP stands for ingress protection. The word “ingress” means entrance or the act of entering.
So, in essence, an IP rating refers to how well a device can prevent the entry of unwanted elements.
The first digit refers to a gadget’s dust or dirt resistance. 1 is the lowest and 6 is the highest.
And the second digit is all about water resistance. It ranges from 1 to 8.
So an IP68 is the best possible score. And Apple smartphones since the iPhone 11 have all come with this particular rating.
But the iPhone 8’s IP67 score is still pretty impressive.
As far as water resistance goes…
This means that it can survive up to 30 minutes underwater. So long as the depth doesn’t exceed 3.3 feet (1 meter).
You might be interested: 7 Dangers When Taking Your iPhone In The Sauna
Showering with an iPhone 8 – 5 surprising facts
#1: An iPhone 8 can withstand a few trips to the shower
So I mentioned that this phone was designed to survive water submersion to an extent.
And because of that…
Taking it to the shower a few times shouldn’t be a problem. The splashes of water from your shower head won’t really damage your iPhone 8.
But before you take a bath with your phone…
It’s best to inspect it for physical damage. This variant came out years ago. So it’s relatively old.
And if you see some cracks in the screen or in the body…
Then it’s best to not shower with it.
However, if it’s still in tip-top condition and you really need to take it with you in the shower…
Then it should be fine to do so.
#2: Apple doesn’t encourage the use of iPhone 8 in the shower
So I just talked about how well this particular model can resist water.
But just so you know. Apple would actually prefer that you don’t take your iPhone 8 with you in the shower. In fact, it says so on this tech giant’s support page.
The reason?
The water resistance level of Apple products decreases with time. This is due to the effects of wear and tear.
In other words, the longer you’ve been using your phone…
The less likely it can withstand exposure to water.
That’s why you should only take your iPhone 8 with you in the shower if you really need to.
Like, if you’re waiting for an important text message. Or you need to make an emergency phone call.
But if you only want to play some music while you take a bath…
I’d suggest that you buy a waterproof Bluetooth speaker instead.
#3: Pressure from the shower can affect the iPhone 8’s touchscreen
While your iPhone will work fine in the shower…
You’ll likely have trouble navigating its menu.
This is because the phone may think the splashes of water are touchscreen gestures. It’s like several fingers touching the phone’s screen at once.
But here’s the good news.
As soon as you move the phone away from the shower head…
You’ll be able to use it like normal. That’s even if your fingers are still wet. And without the need to wipe off the water from the shower.
#4: Chemicals from toiletries can cause damage to an iPhone 8
The iPhone 8 may be water-resistant.
But it isn’t really designed to survive frequent exposure to cleansing products.
This is because they have chemicals that can cause damage to these 2 iPhone components:
- Water seal.
- Acoustic mesh.
The water seal refers to the special glue used by Apple to prevent water from penetrating an iPhone.
On the other hand, the acoustic mesh is net-like hardware. It protects an iPhone’s speaker and Lightning plug.
When the water seal loses its adhesive properties due to chemicals from toiletries…
You may see cracks on the side of your phone. And it’ll be easy for water to get through.
And when the acoustic mesh gets damaged…
Your iPhone’s speaker may end up producing a muffled sound. And its charging port may no longer work.
That’s why if you really need to shower with your iPhone 8…
Do your best to minimize its exposure to your soap and shampoo.
#5: It’ll cost you a lot for repair if your iPhone 8 from water damage
You should certainly think twice before taking your iPhone 8 with you in the shower. This is because you’re likely to spend a significant amount if it gets damaged.
Why?
Well, first of all, Apple’s limited warranty doesn’t cover damages from water exposure.
And second, if you own an iPhone 8, it’s safe to assume its warranty has already expired.
After all, this model came out in 2017. And Apple has discontinued its production in 2020.
In other words, you won’t have much choice but to spend a lot if you want your phone fixed.
“How much exactly?”
Well, it’ll depend on the extent of the damage. But the price should range from about $200 to around $350.
So in the end, while it’s technically fine to take your iPhone 8 with you in the shower…
It’s not really worth it to do so. You can’t always guarantee that it’ll be able to withstand water exposure. So it’s better to keep it dry.