Apple's latest filed patent hints that the company might be planning to make a waterproof iPhone in the future, but are the news just misleading?
The Cupertino, Calif-based tech giant filed a patent to the United States Patent & Trademark Office titled "Methods For Shielding Electronic Components From Moisture." The inventors from Apple Inc. were named as Joseph C. Poole, Nicholas G. Merz, Gregory N. Stephens and Scott A. Myers.
The patent states that Apple would develop technology to increase their phone's resistance to moisture for its electrical components, and it specifically mentions "hydrophobic coatings" and protection for the gadget's connectors. It does not explicitly mention that they would be making a waterproof iPhone.
Apple will be utilizing a technology called Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (PACVD) along with silicone-based seals, according to The Bit Bag.
The iPhone maker would only be shielding the crucial electrical components from liquids, but would not necessarily make the whole device a waterproof iPhone.
This could be linked to the February statement of Apple CEO Tim Cook when he said that the upcoming Apple Watch will not be damaged even when worn while taking a shower. However, it is not considered fully waterproof as it cannot be submerged in water.
Apple's move follows after Samsung took its water-resistant Galaxy S5 and conducted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which the iPhone was not able to do. However, the South Korean company did not push through with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge's water resistance feature, according to Digital Trends.
Meanwhile, Sony has its Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact smartphones as waterproof, as well as its aptly-named Xperia M4 Aqua.
After Apple filed the patent, many have been claiming that the next iPhone will be indeed waterproof, but the iPhone maker has not made any comment or announcement yet on the issue. The Apple Watch's release this year makes the launching of any of Apple's new devices more likely to be in 2016 or 2017.