Even holding a waterproof smartphone in the bathroom can lead to a short circuit inside the device and ultimately cause damage. This warning comes from Sergey Kuzmenko, a senior specialist in testing digital products at the Roskachestvo Center for Digital Expertise, in an interview with socialbites.ca.
Current smartphone models are built to resist moisture and dust according to the IP68 standard. This rating helps protect the device from water ingress in many scenarios, including brief, shallow immersion. Yet when a gadget is taken into the bathroom, where rapid temperature changes and condensation are common, the protection standards are not crafted for those conditions. The result can be humidity building up inside the device as condensation, which can trigger a short circuit on the motherboard. It isn’t always beyond repair, but it is a real risk, according to Kuzmenko.
As the expert notes, temperature differences can cause condensation to form not only on internal components but also on external parts, since smartphone components operate in an environment that is not a vacuum.
Kuzmenko also points out that any signs of misuse or damage to the phone worsen the risk. Deep scratches, cracks, or chips compromise the device’s protective barriers and speed moisture intrusion, ultimately shortening the phone’s lifespan.
Earlier reports noted that charging a smartphone under a pillow can create dangerous conditions, including the potential for fire or an explosion. (Source: Socialbites.ca)