September 09, 2024 – Apple Inc. has long touted the water-resistant capabilities of its high-end iPhone smartphones, claiming they can withstand being submerged in a certain depth of clear water. However, the company has refused to provide warranty services when users’ phones are damaged due to accidental water exposure.
Recently, a lawyer from Quebec, Canada, Joey Zukran, has filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company advertises the iPhone’s waterproof function but excludes water damage from its warranty coverage. Zukran hopes to turn the case into a class-action suit to represent more consumers who have suffered losses.
The plaintiff, a 19-year-old student, accidentally dropped her phone into a pool while traveling in Mexico. Despite Apple’s claims that the iPhone can withstand being submerged in a certain depth of water, the plaintiff’s phone became unusable after exposure. When she took the phone to an Apple service center, she was informed that the damage was not covered under the warranty due to water exposure.
Zukran argues that there is a contradiction between Apple’s warranty terms and its advertising, which violates consumer rights. He claims that many users have encountered similar situations where Apple has refused to provide repairs. Zukran demands that Apple revoke the provision in its warranty terms that excludes water damage from coverage and compensate users who need repairs or have to purchase new phones due to water damage. Additionally, he is seeking $500 in additional compensation for each member of the potential class-action suit.
It’s worth noting that this is not the first time Zukran has sued Apple. In 2018, he successfully sued the company to address issues related to iPhone battery warranty.
Beyond Canada, users in the United States and Italy have also raised concerns about Apple’s advertising of the iPhone’s waterproof capabilities. In 2022, a US judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, stating that the plaintiffs had failed to provide sufficient evidence that the phone damage was caused by water exposure. In 2020, Italian regulators fined Apple 12 million euros, accusing it of exaggerating the iPhone’s waterproof performance and not clearly stating that such performance could only be achieved under laboratory conditions.
If Apple ultimately loses the lawsuit, it could have a significant impact on the entire industry. This would force smartphone manufacturers to include water damage in their warranty terms, providing better protection for consumers’ rights.
