How to Check if an iPhone Has Been Water Damaged (Before You Buy)

You're about to spend $600 on a 'mint condition' iPhone 14. The seller swears it's never been dropped, never been repaired. The screen looks perfect. Everything works. But there's one thing they're not telling you—and it could cost you everything.

Water damage is the silent killer of iPhones. Unlike a cracked screen you can see immediately, water damage hides. It works fine for a week, maybe a month. Then one day your Face ID stops working. Your camera fogs up. Your charging port corrodes. And by then, the seller has blocked your number.

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Why Water Damage is Perth's Biggest iPhone Risk

In Perth, this problem is even worse than other cities. We're a beach city. Summer pool parties, Rottnest trips, accidental toilet drops—there are a thousand ways an iPhone ends up water damaged here. And with our climate, that moisture sits inside the phone, slowly corroding components even after it "dries out."

I've been inspecting refurbished iPhones for over four years, and I can tell you this: water damage is one of the biggest risks when buying a used iPhone in Perth. But it's also one of the easiest to detect—if you know what to look for.

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The Liquid Contact Indicators (LCI): Your First Line of Defense

Every iPhone has built-in "tattletales" called Liquid Contact Indicators, or LCIs. These are tiny stickers that change color permanently when they contact liquid. Apple puts them in strategic locations inside the phone—and checking them takes less than 30 seconds.

Here's what you need to know about iPhone water damage indicators:

What LCIs Look Like

LCIs are small, circular stickers visible through certain openings in the iPhone's body. They come in two colors:

• White or silver = No liquid contact (safe to buy)
• Red or pink = Liquid contact detected (do not buy)

Once an LCI turns red, it stays red forever. There's no "resetting" it. This is why it's such a reliable water damage indicator.

Where to Find LCIs on iPhone 14

The iPhone 14 has LCI indicators in three key locations:

1. SIM Card Tray Slot

Remove the SIM tray using the ejector tool (or a paperclip). Look inside the slot—you'll see a small white or red dot on the upper edge. This is the most accessible LCI and the one you should always check first.

2. Charging Port (Lightning Port)

Shine a flashlight directly into the Lightning port at the bottom of the phone. You'll see a small indicator deep inside—it should be white or silver. If it's red or pink, that's liquid contact.

3. Internal LCIs (Requires Opening the Phone)

There are additional LCIs inside the phone near the battery and logic board. You can't check these without opening the device—which is why professional inspection matters for high-value purchases.

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Beyond LCIs: Other Water Damage Warning Signs

LCIs are the most reliable indicator, but water damage often leaves other clues. Here's what to look for when inspecting a used iPhone 14 for water damage:

1. Camera Fogging or Condensation

Check both the front and rear cameras carefully. If you see fog, condensation, or a "milky" appearance inside the camera lens, that's moisture trapped inside the phone. This happens when water gets in and can't fully evaporate.

Even if the phone is "working fine," camera fogging means there's still moisture inside—and it will cause problems later.

2. Charging Port Corrosion

Use your flashlight to inspect the Lightning port. Look for:

• Green or white crusty buildup (corrosion)
• Bent or damaged pins
• Discoloration around the metal contacts

Corrosion in the charging port is a dead giveaway of water exposure. Even if the phone charges now, corroded ports tend to fail over time.

3. Screen Edge Water Stains

Turn the phone's screen completely white (open Notes or Safari with a blank page). Look carefully at the edges of the screen, especially the corners. Water damage can leave faint yellowish or brownish stains along the screen edges where moisture seeped in.

4. Speaker Distortion or Muffled Sound

Test both the earpiece speaker and the bottom speakers. Play music or a video at medium volume. If the sound is:

• Muffled or "underwater-sounding"
• Crackling or distorted
• Significantly quieter than normal

...that could indicate water damage to the speaker components.

5. Face ID or Touch ID Malfunction

Ask the seller to demonstrate Face ID (for iPhone 14). If they say "it's not set up" or "I don't use it," that's a potential red flag. Water damage commonly affects Face ID sensors, and sellers know this is a telltale sign.

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Why "It's Working Fine" Doesn't Mean It's Safe

This is the part most Perth buyers don't understand: water-damaged iPhones can work perfectly fine for weeks or even months after exposure.

Here's why that's dangerous:

Water doesn't kill phones instantly. It causes slow, progressive corrosion. The moisture sits on tiny circuit board components, slowly eating away at solder joints and metal contacts. One day everything works. A month later, your cellular signal drops out. Two months later, the battery starts draining in hours. Six months later, the phone won't turn on at all.

And here's the worst part: Apple's warranty doesn't cover water damage—even if the phone was advertised as "water resistant." So when that $600 iPhone dies in three months, you have no recourse.

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What About "Water Resistant" iPhones?

The iPhone 14 is rated IP68, which means it can survive submersion in up to 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes under laboratory conditions.

But here's what Apple doesn't advertise as loudly: water resistance degrades over time.

The seals and adhesives that keep water out wear down through normal use. Drops, temperature changes, and aging all compromise the water resistance. A brand-new iPhone 14 might survive a pool drop. A two-year-old iPhone 14 might not—even if it's in perfect cosmetic condition.

This is why you should never assume a used iPhone is still water resistant, even if it was when new.

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How Sellers Try to Hide Water Damage

Unfortunately, some sellers know exactly what buyers check for—and they've learned how to hide the evidence. Here are common tactics I've seen in Perth:

Tactic 1: "The SIM Tray is Stuck"

If a seller claims they "can't get the SIM tray out" or "don't have the tool," that's suspicious. SIM trays aren't difficult to remove—and any legitimate seller should have the tool or be willing to use a paperclip.

Why? Because the SIM tray LCI is the easiest one to check, and they know you'll see the red indicator if you look.

Tactic 2: Meeting in Dim Lighting

Ever notice how some sellers want to meet at night or in parking garages? LCIs are much harder to see in poor lighting. Always insist on inspecting the phone in bright light—or bring your own flashlight.

Tactic 3: "I Already Factory Reset It"

Some sellers factory reset the phone before meeting, claiming "it's ready for you to set up." But this conveniently means you can't test Face ID, check battery diagnostics, or see usage history that might reveal water exposure.

Always ask the seller to keep the phone functional until you've inspected it. A factory reset can happen after you've verified everything works.

Tactic 4: Replacing LCI Stickers

Yes, this happens. Some unscrupulous sellers actually replace triggered LCIs with new white stickers purchased online. This is fraud, but it's hard to detect unless you know what to look for.

That's why checking multiple indicators—LCIs, corrosion, camera fog, speaker quality—gives you a fuller picture.

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What to Do If You Find Water Damage

If you're inspecting a used iPhone 14 and discover any signs of water damage:

1. Walk away immediately. Don't let the seller talk you into a discount. Water damage is progressive and unpredictable—no discount is worth the risk.

2. Don't feel bad about walking away. If the seller "forgot" to mention water exposure, that's on them, not you. Your money deserves a phone that will last.

3. Report obvious fraud. If you catch a seller deliberately hiding water damage (replaced LCIs, lying about submersion), report the listing to the platform. This protects other buyers.

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The Bottom Line: Always Check for Water Damage

Here's my honest advice as someone who inspects iPhones every day:

• Check the SIM tray LCI every single time. No exceptions. If it's red, walk away.
• Bring a flashlight and inspect the charging port. Corrosion is a dead giveaway.
• Test Face ID, speakers, and cameras. Water damage often shows up in these components first.
• Don't trust "it's never been near water." Verify for yourself—LCIs don't lie.
• If a seller resists inspection, that's your answer. Move on to the next listing.

Water damage is one of the few iPhone problems that's completely avoidable if you know what to check. Spend an extra two minutes inspecting before you buy, and you'll save yourself hundreds of dollars in repairs—or the total loss of a water-damaged phone.

At Oloop, water damage inspection is Step 12 of our TrueCheck™ 30+4 protocol. We photograph every LCI, check for internal corrosion, and verify water resistance seals before any iPhone goes up for sale. If we find even one red LCI, that phone doesn't make it into our inventory—period. Every TrueReport™ includes photographic proof that all liquid contact indicators are white, so you never have to wonder.

Written by Jason, Founder of Oloop | Based in Perth, WA | 4+ years iPhone inspection experience