Samsung lied about water resistance, now it's still happening and they refuse to fix my phone for free.

[Pianistinator]

I purchased an A52s last year and unfortunately, dropped it in my sink filled with water yesterday. A gentle drop, nothing cracked or hit hard etc. Camera lens is now foggy and phone flashes green and intermittantly works after soft reset but not for long.

Samsung are telling me I have to pay for it to be repaired? 

About 5-10 seconds in the water, they claim max 30 minutes. 

About 20cm deep, they claim 1m max. 

Anyone else having this issue? I'm UK based for reference.

[Fiona26]

To me water resistance is not water proof. Knowing full well companies do not cover water damage under warranty. Guessing why many pay for care +.
I kept all my devices away from water. But I do know how frustrated you must be as accidents do happen. Did you power the device off immediately and give it time to dry out properly.

[arianwen27 · Accepted solution]

Water resistance degrades over time. They are tested and rated for a certain level, but you get no warranty cover for water damage. Water is unpredictable. It should be able to survive, they tested a brand new phone and it survived, but you can't guarantee it.

To get water resistance ratings, a neutral third party does tests on the phones. So samsung isn't allowed to lie or fake the tests. Someone else does them, then samsung is allowed to say the results

[Glenntech]

If you purchased it last year. Im assuming because the phone came out in 2021.
You got a refurbished phone.
Even if it was second hand, you don't know what has happened with the phone before you purchased it.
It's likely that the phone has been opened before and not had genuine parts fitted.
So likely why water got straight into it
I have been to the Samsung Testing labs in Korea. So have seen how they test to destruction.
Plus they have to be certified

Any phone that's been opened will have compromised water resistance if not done correctly with the correct materials.

As @Fiona26 has said. It's water resistance and not waterproof

[Pianistinator]

Yea it's been drying since it happened.  And "water resistant" to 1m max and for 30 minutes max is water-proof and a court in Australia found against Samsung for this very issue.

[Pianistinator]

Hmm, I didn't think about that. Fair enough. But also just to note, "Water-resistant" to 1m max and 30 minutes max IS water-proof to the specified levels noted. 

[-Robot-]

You also said you dropped it, it may have no exterior visible physical damage but who knows

[Pianistinator]

Nah it really gently fell in, wouldn't have done a thing. Someone else suggested it might've been opened up before which makes sense.

[-Robot-]

Also a possibility