Can Water-Damaged iPhones Be Repaired? Here’s the Truth Christchurch Locals Should Know
Water damage is one of those issues that gives iPhone owners instant heart palpitations — right up there with cracked screens and that mysterious “storage full” message.
But here’s the good news: yes, many water-damaged iPhones can be repaired… as long as the right steps are taken quickly.
And because Christchurch is no stranger to beach days, rainy weather, and the occasional “it slipped in the sink”, we see a lot of these cases at Phone Repair NZ.
Let’s break down what’s actually fixable — and what isn’t.
What Water Damage Actually Does
When water gets inside an iPhone, it can affect:
Connectors
Charging port
Screen
Battery health
Logic board circuits
Face ID / cameras
Buttons and speakers
Water doesn’t cause “one single failure” — it creates tiny shorts and corrosion over time.
That’s why some phones work fine at first, then slowly fall apart over the next 24–72 hours.
What We Can Usually Repair
Screens ruined by moisture
Fogging, ghost touches, dark patches — screens are one of the first casualties.
Replacing the full display generally fixes these issues.
Charging issues + power problems
A wet charging port, corroded flex cable, or damaged battery can all be repaired or replaced.
Cameras and Face ID
Front cameras, especially on newer iPhones, can fail from moisture behind the glass.
Often these can be replaced — but Face ID is case-by-case.
Light corrosion on internal flex cables
Many damaged flex cables can be replaced without major board work.
What’s Harder or Sometimes Not Repairable
Severe logic board corrosion
If water has eaten away the board itself, repairs can become complex — though we can refer these to our board repair specialist.
Face ID modules
If the flood illuminator or dot projector is damaged, Apple’s security system prevents replacement.
Sometimes the camera can be restored — sometimes not.
Extensively soaked batteries
A battery that has swollen, overheated, or shorted internally must be replaced.
The Most Important Factor: Time
Water damage gets worse the longer it sits.
Even if the phone seems okay, corrosion keeps spreading underneath components.
In Christchurch, the phones we save the most often are the ones that come in same-day.
The phones we can’t save?
Usually the ones that spent 2–5 days in rice.
(Spoiler: rice doesn’t do anything except waste time.)
What We Do at Phone Repair NZ
Every water-damage case includes:
Full internal inspection
Corrosion treatment
Cleaning and drying of the logic board
Testing of all components
Replacement of any failed parts
Optional referral to board-level repair for complex cases
We’ll tell you exactly what’s repairable, what isn’t, and how much it’ll cost before anything is done.
So… Can Your iPhone Be Saved?
Often, yes — but not always.
And the faster you bring it in, the better your chances.
If it’s been dropped in the bath, pool, rain, sink, or (our personal favourite) a glass of Coke, we can help.