I accidentally dropped my Poco M7 Pro in water, and it was submerged for less than a second. The display immediately started behaving strangely, so I powered it off as quickly as I could. After leaving it to dry for about 24 hours, I turned it on briefly. It appeared normal for 20–30 seconds, then the touchscreen began registering phantom touches and the display became unusually bright, so I shut it down again. Should I keep it powered off and let it dry longer? Is the temporary normal behavior a good sign, or could the phone still have serious internal water damage?
2 Answers
The brief period where it seemed fine isn't necessarily a good sign. Water damage can cause intermittent faults that only appear once moisture shifts or the phone warms up, so the touchscreen and brightness problems suggest liquid may still be inside. More drying time might help, but it may also need professional disassembly and cleaning. If you use gentle airflow or a hair dryer, keep it well away from the phone and use low or cool heat—excessive heat can damage the screen, adhesive, or components.
Keep it powered off for now. Even if the outside feels dry, moisture can remain inside around the motherboard and cause a short when the phone is powered. Let it dry in a warm, well-ventilated place for at least another day or two. Avoid repeatedly switching it on to test it, and don't rely on rice. If you can safely open the phone, disconnect the battery and inspect for moisture, but don't force the back cover if it requires heat or tools you're not comfortable using.
The back cover needs heat to remove, so I don't trust myself to open it without causing more damage. I'll leave it powered off and let it dry longer. Does the fact that it worked normally for 20–30 seconds mean anything?
Understood. I won't keep powering it on to check. I'll give it more time to dry and look into professional cleaning if the display still acts up afterward.