Apple replaced the battery in my iPhone 13 Pro Max on August 9, less than a month ago. During a recent visit to Niagara Falls, the phone was exposed to mist and spray but was never submerged or heavily soaked. Afterward, I noticed condensation inside the front-facing camera, and Face ID has intermittently become unavailable. The phone also temporarily lost cellular service during the drive home and recovered after I restarted it. I'm concerned that the water-resistant seal may not have been restored correctly during the battery replacement. I've owned the phone since launch and had never experienced anything like this before. If Apple determines the issue is related to the repair, would it typically be covered by the service warranty, or could they classify it as liquid damage?
3 Answers
Regardless of who is responsible, don’t keep using or charging the phone if you can see moisture inside it. Arrange an inspection as soon as possible, since condensation can worsen corrosion and may affect the camera, Face ID hardware, or cellular components. Bring the repair receipt and explain exactly when the symptoms began.
Apple’s service warranty may apply if the technician finds that the battery replacement or reassembly caused the problem. Ask them to document the recent repair and have a senior technician or lead review it rather than relying only on a quick visual assessment. They’ll still need to inspect the phone for liquid indicators and other evidence before deciding whether it qualifies for coverage.
The best move is to book an appointment and have the repair inspected by a technician, ideally at the store that performed the work if you can return there. The symptoms could be related to moisture, but only Apple can determine whether the phone shows liquid damage or whether the earlier repair contributed to the problem.
The repair was done in Dallas, but I’m currently in Detroit. I’m worried another store might immediately blame the issue on liquid damage, even though the phone was never submerged.
That makes sense. I’ll make an appointment and specifically ask for a technician to evaluate whether the repair could have affected the seal or caused these symptoms.