Apple Advised Against Placing Wet iPhones in Rice
Apple engineering leadership clarified that current water-resistant hardware renders the popular drying method ineffective.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Consumer Electronics
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Apple Vice President of Hardware Engineering Tom Marieb has officially advised users against placing wet iPhones into bags of rice. This guidance follows the release of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, which features integrated water-resistant architecture.
Why it matters
The recommendation highlights the evolution of smartphone durability, as modern hardware designs now explicitly mitigate water ingress better than traditional desiccant-based recovery methods. This shift marks a transition in consumer maintenance practices as manufacturers move toward standardized water-resistance ratings.
The iPhone 18 Pro series, powered by the A20 Pro chipset, includes models with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays. These devices deliver battery life spanning 24 to 30 hours, respectively, supported by enhanced internal water-resistant construction.
The players
Tom Marieb
The Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple who oversees the design and durability of the company's mobile hardware.
Apple
A global consumer electronics company known for its integrated hardware stack, including the iPhone Pro lineup and the A-series chipset architecture.
The details
Apple engineers now construct devices using advanced seals and structural adhesives designed to prevent water ingress from everyday splashes. Because the internal chassis is engineered to repel liquid pressure, the company notes that placing the device in rice—a traditional, inefficient method intended to draw out moisture—is no longer recommended. The internal architecture of these current devices is optimized for resilience rather than moisture absorption through external desiccant materials.
Timeline
September 25, 2026: Article publication date.
The Tech Race
This guidance marks a departure from legacy troubleshooting practices in response to the specific water-resistance capabilities of the iPhone 18 Pro series. It places the device among a growing class of consumer electronics that rely on integrated hardening rather than user-managed drying.
Users can now rely on the inherent water-resistant design of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, which are built to withstand standard splashes. If a device becomes wet, the manufacturer suggests abandoning the use of rice in favor of letting the phone air-dry.
The takeaway
Consumers should stop using household staples like rice for device recovery, as modern water-resistant seals change how internal moisture should be managed. Monitor the official Apple support pages for the latest recommended cleaning and drying procedures for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
Further reading
For more on the latest hardware developments, visit Consumer Electronics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TimesNow.
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