Apple to Allow iPhone Trade-Ins With Tripped Liquid Contact Indicators?

Apple has reportedly made changes to its Reuse and Recycle program to allow the trade-in of iPhones with tripped Liquid Contact Indicators.

9to5Mac reports that starting this week, trade-in values for the iPhones will not be impacted by the LCIs. Previously, those devices would not qualify for trade-in.

This week’s changes to the program, however, will allow more customers to trade in their devices. However, the company isn’t going to start allowing seriously water-damaged phones for trade-in anytime soon. If there is evidence of liquid under the phone’s display or corrosion in the ports, the phone will still be ineligible for any trade-in value regardless of what the liquid contact indicator looks like.


The changes will take effect in the U.S.A. and United Kingdom.

Earlier this year, Apple agreed to pay $53 million over refusing to service certain iPhones and iPods for free under AppleCare because of liquid water damage indicators that were tripped even though water did not contact them. 3M, who manufactures the strips, said that humidity alone could cause the white sensors to turn pink/red, thus making the service representative think the device was submerged in water.

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