Have you ever wondered, “Can I take my iPhone 11 in the shower?”
The answer is a little complicated.
While you can take your iPhone 11 into the shower because it is a water-resistant device, Apple does not recommend its users take their iPhones in the shower as this can still cause some damage due to other factors such as water pressure and steam.
When it comes to technological devices and water, the common (and well-founded) perception is that these two do not go well together!
However, this is starting to change as more waterproof, or water-resistant devices are becoming available on the market.
This article will highlight everything you need to know about whether you can take an iPhone 11 into the shower, as well as what to do if your iPhone gets wet and which iPhones you can actually get sudsy!
Is It OK To Take Your iPhone Into The Shower?
Most iPhones have an ingress protection code of IP68, making these devices water-resistant.
This protection means that the device’s case is resistant to foreign substances such as water, dirt, and dust.
iPhones with an IP68 rating can be immersed in water more than one meter deep and have dust-tight protection.
While you can immerse iPhones in water, it doesn’t mean that it’s waterproof!
Devices that have an ingress protection code of above IP69 are waterproof.
IP69 means that you can expose the phone to water about 1.5 meters deep and for about 30 minutes, depending on the model.
Even though you won’t immerse your iPhone when you shower, and even though showers tend to be less than 30 minutes in duration, it is still not recommended to take your iPhone in the shower.
As mentioned already, iPhones only have an IP rating of IP68- which means that there’s no protection from high-temperature and high-pressure water.
The hot water temperature in the shower can damage the devices along with the high water pressure.
Hot water is the primary reason why Apple does not recommend iPhone users to take their phones into the shower or a bath.
Another factor that could damage an iPhone if taken into the shower is if soapy water gets into the phone, as this may damage or cause blockages in the device.
It is still better to completely avoid taking your iPhone into the shower, even if you believe that the water is cold enough and that your shower doesn’t have strong water pressure.
After all, the last thing you want to do is to cause liquid damage to your iPhone; I’m sure you’re well aware of just how expensive it can be to fix an iPhone that has been water-damaged!
Can Shower Steam Damage The iPhone 11?
If you made a good judgment call and left your iPhone 11 in the bathroom while taking a shower, your phone will most likely be perfectly fine, even though there will be some shower steam in the room.
However, this does not mean you should expose your iPhone 11 to shower steam, especially continuously and over a long period.
The iPhone 11 is an impressive device that is considerably durable and water-resistant.
However, this phone still does not do too well in high temperature and high moisture environments, which is why shower steam can cause damage to the iPhone 11.
The high temperature of shower steam can also set off the iOS temperature warning system in the phone. When this is triggered, the phone will automatically shut itself off to avoid any permanent damage.
Your iPhone 11 can much better withstand being immersed in water than being exposed to shower steam, as steam is much more volatile than water.
The particles are tinier, and as such, they have the ability to seep through even the tiniest of seams in the device’s body.
While the iPhone is equipped to prevent water from getting into certain parts of the device, steam can conceivably access these areas- resulting in significant damage to the device.
What Do You Do If Your iPhone 11 Gets Wet?
When your iPhone 11 is drenched by a liquid other than water, the first thing you should do is rinse the area that is wet with tap water.
Then, Apple recommends that you follow the steps below to ensure that the phone drys properly and minimizes the risk of water damage:
- Wipe the iPhone with a lint-free cloth (the best cloth to use is the type that is commonly used to wipe glasses lenses)
- Tap the iPhone gentle against your palm to release any water from the lightning connector port
- Leave your phone in a well-ventilated place to dry completely
Before you charge your iPhone, Apple recommends that you wait at least five hours after the device has completely dried.
If you do not do this, the phone can be permanently damaged if there is still water present in the device while it charges.
Finally, it’s important to remember that if you leave your iPhone 11 in water for longer than a particular period of time, the moisture sensors in the device will eventually switch off.
Once these sensors are off, Apple will void the phone’s warranty. Best to keep your phone away from water as much as possible!
What iPhones Can You Take In The Shower?
Apple does not recommend that any iPhone be taken into the shower because while most iPhones are water-resistant, they are not waterproof.
These devices can be exposed to water over a short period of time, but when exposed to both high temperatures and high pressure concurrently (such as in a shower), permanent damage can result regardless of the iPhone model.
According to Apple, the iPhone 7 was the first water-resistant iPhone released.
In fact, the iPhone 6 quietly also possessed some water resistance, but Apple never made this officially known.
The iPhone models released after the iPhone 7 which are water, dust, and splash resistant include:
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
While all the iPhone models that have been listed above are water-resistant, the model’s ingress protection rating does differ between specific models.
The iPhone models listed from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone SE have an IP67 and can be immersed in water up to 1 meter for a maximum of 30 minutes.
However, all iPhone models listed after the iPhone SE have a rating of IP68, but even then these models’ levels of water resistance still differ.
The iPhone models listed above, from the iPhone XS to the iPhone 11, can be immersed in water up to 2 meters for a maximum of 30 minutes.
The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max can be immersed in water up to 4 meters for a maximum of 30 minutes.
Apple’s most water-resistant phones to date are the iPhone 12 to iPhone 13 Pro Max range, which can be immersed in water up to a whopping 6 meters for a maximum of 30 minutes!
In Summary
While all Apple iPhone models from the iPhone 7 and up are water-resistant with a rating between IP67 and IP68, Apple still does not recommend that any of their iPhone models be taken into the shower.
This includes the iPhone 11, which can still be damaged by water if exposed in that environment for too long.
This is because the high temperature of the shower water, high pressure, and shower steam can all lead to your device suffering all sorts of water damage.
If your iPhone is soaked by water or any other liquid, it is essential to follow the steps that we’ve detailed above to prevent any permanent harm from resulting!
Apple has been the dominant pioneer of the mobile tech world for the past two decades. Learn more about what makes their iPhone an icon not just in the present day, but for the ages to come as well!