Water-damaged Galaxy S 4 Active phones getting replaced, one-time swap policy is confirmed

[Shawn Knight]

Reports surfaced late yesterday that AT&T would be willing to replace a water-damaged Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active as part of a one-time replacement program. The news comes as a number of users have come forward claiming their S 4 Active have fallen victim to water damage.

Samsung has since confirmed the news with a number of outlets, pointing out the Galaxy S 4 Active was designed and tested to adhere to IP67 standards for water resistance. The standard states a device should be able to withstand being submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes.

The handset, like most others, ships with an internal liquid damage indicator that turns a different color when exposed to liquid. This is how manufacturers and wireless carriers determine if a handset has become inoperable due to water exposure when considering warranty / insurance claims.

It’s worth pointing out that AT&T will only replace a water-damaged S 4 Active purchased either through their website or in a retail store. Naturally, AT&T will only replace the handset with another S 4 Active. Also, the deal is only available once so in the event that you somehow manage to ruin your replacement S 4 Active, you’re out of luck.

Samsung launched the Galaxy S 4 Active not long after the original S 4 hit the market. The handset is functionally identical to the S 4 aside from the fact it is water resistant and carries a different display. It retails for the same $199 as the original.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/53526-water-damaged-galaxy-s-4-active-phones-getting-replaced-one-time-swap-policy-is-confirmed.html

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

I wonder how widespread this issue is. Kinda fishy that they will only replace one phone per customer that fails the waterproofing. I doubt anyone is risking taking underwater pictures the 2nd time around, and if you're not willing to let it get wet, then what's the point?

 

[9Nails]

They're probably using the camera button to take pictures. Which, I didn't think you're supposed to push buttons while the phone is submersed. There's an underwater app that you're supposed to use instead.

 

[Burty117]

Wtf?! How on earth can you advertise your phone as having the ability to be submerged in water, and when that does happen and breaks the phone you can only have it replaced once?

I'm sorry, but here in the UK a friend of mine has the Sony Z which is also "water proof", the first one he had definitely wasn't and got it replaced but they didn't argue or say "one time only" the advert says it can be submerged in water it damn well can or will be replaced enough times to make it so...

 

[Guest]

I wish they'd do the same for the S2

 

[Mister_K]

So all the S4 models are water proof or just specific model?

 

[Guest]

"They're probably using the camera button to take pictures. Which, I didn't think you're supposed to push buttons while the phone is submersed. There's an underwater app that you're supposed to use instead."

The buttons aren't the issue. The rubber cap on the charging port isn't watertight. Once you put the phone underwater, it just goes straight in through there.

 

[Relic]

Digital Trends [Link] covered this issue last week, raising concerns that the S4 Active may not be more durable than your average smart phone. It may give you better protection from an accident here or there which is nice, just don’t take the recent ad campaigns by them to heart and go underwater.

Wtf?! How on earth can you advertise your phone as having the ability to be submerged in water, and when that does happen and breaks the phone you can only have it replaced once?

They originally didn't cover it at all under the warranty. I'm guessing they are now due to some bad press and justifiably angry customers who found out the hard way that their phone was not correctly sealed. And since they are acting rather quickly I imagine more than a few are affected.

So all the S4 models are water proof or just specific model?

It's just the Galaxy S4 ACTIVE, but note that the phone is NOT water-proof, it is water resistant. It may not survive underwater, and I personally would never give it a try.