Apple iPod Liquid-Damage Policy Changed; Additional Inspection for Liquid Damage Now Required

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If you’ve spilled water or any liquid on your beloved iPod, laptop or mobile phone, your worst fear will probably be warranty being void. Most manufacturer warranties will not cover liquid damages, and most Apple devices have indicators for liquid contact. Recent changes to Apple’s liquid damage policy might be good news, though.

iPods and other Apple devices–such as iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks–have Liquid Contact Indicators (LCIs), which are membranes that activate when in contact with any liquid. When the LCI is activated, warranty is usually rendered void. This makes it hard to cheat the warranty, even if you thoroughly wipe out other evidence of a spill.

However, sometimes the LCI activates in the presence of condensation, or even droplets of water from rain, which can be a pain if you live in particularly humid climates. Apple’s recent policy amendments will mean that AppleCare employees will look at both the LCI and other signs of water damage before ruling whether warranty is still valid or not. This might include telltale signs like stains and corrosion, among others.

So, if your LCI has been activated, your warranty might still be valid if there is no other proof of liquid contact.