WASHINGTON – Starting this week, Apple Stores are changing their policy on accepting iPhones with minor exposure to water.
In the past, if an iPhone’s liquid contact indicator, had been tripped, a phone would be ineligible for trade-in.
The indicators, which have been built into most Apple devices since 2006, turn from white or silver to red when they come in contact with water or a liquid containing water.
Apple Store employees will no longer check the indicators when evaluating devices for trade-in, according to 9to5Mac.
However, if store employees notice liquid under the phone’s display or corrosion in the phone’s ports, it won’t be eligible for trade.
The trade-in program launched in August.
The Apple website’s Reuse and Recycling section lets users input information about their older device, to get an estimated value for an in-store trade-in.
The new policy only affects in-store trades. Phones that have had liquid indicators triggered will not be accepted for online trades.
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