Samsung Galaxy S4 Active waterproof phone isn’t so waterproof after all

Updated on 08-Aug-2013
HIGHLIGHTS

AT&T and Samsung are offering a replacement unit to Galaxy S4 Active owners whose phones have been damaged by water.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, a hardier IP67 certified variant of the Galaxy S4, has become quite the source of embarrassment for Samsung after reports from users that the phone is getting damaged on being submerged in water under conditions that the phone should have been able to handle. As a result now AT&T is offering a brand new unit in exchange to its users whose Galaxy S4 Active suffered from water damage.

AT&T has said that even if the Liquid Damage Indicator in the specific Galaxy S4 Active units are showing a positive reading, users will be given a brand new Galaxy S4 Active in exchange. This appears generous at first especially considering the fact that the phone’s warranty does not cover ‘liquid damage’ but on further analysis seems very, very strange. First up, as Phone Arena points out, the Galaxy S4 Active ads in the U.S. show the phone being used under water. Second, the IP67 certification means that the phone should survive after being submerged in 3 feet of water for half an hour, so the warranty not covering ‘liquid damage’ makes no sense.

An American ad for the Galaxy S4 Active showing its ‘waterproof’ nature.

The Galaxy S4 Active is yet to be launched in India and when it does, we’ll be sure to rigorously test if our review unit lives up to its IP67 certification.   

Source: Phone Arena via Tech Enclave

Nikhil Pradhan

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