Every day over 100,000 smartphones drown in Europe

Spilling a liquid on your smartphone or accidentally dropping it in a volume of water (sink, bathtub, swimming pool, toilet) is the second cause of degradation of mobile devices, behind the screen break after a fall.

And according to analysts at the firm IDC, Those are more than 100,000 smartphones which are damaged by liquids every day in Western Europe, causing significant costs for their repair … when possible.

iPhone 7 waterproofThis aspect has led smartphone manufacturers to offer more and more often waterproof protection on their devices.

Part of Asia, this trend has spread among many market players, to become a feature highlighted in high-end smartphones, and no longer only on rugged smartphones intended for outdoor use.

And the progression is significant since IDC indicates that the number of smartphones offering waterproof protection has increased by 45.2% over the first nine months of 2016, compared to the same period last year, in Western Europe, representing a volume of 22.5 million units and 23% of all smartphones sold during this period.

xperia-zWhich also means more than three quarters smartphones sold in 2016 in Europe are not waterproof and protected against damage from liquids.

Analysts note that the waterproof dimension has clearly become a differentiator for some mobile device manufacturers, beyond the price war alone.

"Today's smartphones are used throughout the day, but increased use also comes with a higher risk of accidents, such as dropping the device on the ground or in water. With advances in nanotechnology and better designs, liquid damage is a problem that should no longer exist"says IDC.