New iPhones have an average price of roughly $1,000. (Credit: Confidence/Adobe Stock)

According to a study from Casely, 12% of people use their phones while showering — a habit that could ruin their phone.

Even phones advertised as waterproof can be damaged in the shower. “People tend to assume their phone’s water resistance is a shield against all moisture-related risks, but that’s simply not the case,” said Emily Stallings, co-founder of Casely, in a statement. “Repeated exposure to high humidity, like that found in a shower, can wreak havoc on your phone’s internal components over time.”

New iPhones have an average price of roughly $1,000, and most people don’t routinely carry phone insurance. A NAIC study found only about 35% of Gen Z phone users said they have phone insurance.
Taking a phone into the shower creates multiple risks, including:

  • Water damage to internal components. Even if a device is water resistant, water can still seep into cracks or ports, causing short circuits and corrosion over time.
  • Internal condensation. Even if the phone isn’t directly exposed to water, steam in the bathroom can collect as condensation in the phone. This can cause unpredictable behavior and hardware failures.
  • Speaker malfunctions. Playing music or videos through your phone’s speakers during a shower can force moisture into them, causing poor sound quality of even permanent damage over time.
  • Charging port issues. Humidity from the shower can cause charging ports to corrode. Charging ports also open to the internal workings of the phone, so moisture can travel up and cause more damage inside.
  • Reduced battery life. Moisture from the shower can degrade a phone’s battery, shortening its lifespan or requiring replacement.
Phone owners can avoid these risk by simply leaving their phone out of the bathroom. Stallings recommends that people play music or videos through a waterproof Bluetooth speaker instead.

And if the phone has to come into the shower, it helps to invest in a waterproof case — and maybe insurance or an extended warranty. Most phone insurance policies also cover water damage if needed.

“While the temptation to multitask or enjoy entertainment in the shower may be strong, prioritizing your device’s safety will help prevent you from causing damage,” Stallings said. “The repair costs for water-damaged phones can be steep, and in many cases, the damage is irreversible. By keeping your phone out of the bathroom during showers, you can save yourself a lot of headaches — and money."

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