Effects of Shower Steam on my Samsung Galaxy S8?

[jiyeon]

I've had my S8 for about a month now, and I've always had a habit of taking my phones into the bathroom while I shower so I can have it play music. As of recently, I've been skeptical as to if this can harm my S8's water-resistance in any way. Having watched a teardown video of the S8, it seems easy for steam to make its way and moisturise the hardware.

 

I shower with relatively hot water and I can even see the bathroom mirrors fog up, so I'm wondering if my phone's internals suffer the same fate. My showers last 10-20 minutes so it can't be that drastic, right? When I go to pick up my phone, the back of the phone is slightly damp every time, so that's probably also an indication of something. I use my S8 completely unprotected too, so it's all glass and metal exposed to the air.

 

Would you guys recommend bringing in my S8 and counting on its water-resistance or invest in a completely seperate speaker for my shower musical entertainment?

[flibberdipper]

I've been taking my non-waterproofed phones into the bathroom when I take a shower and they've all been fine, and I take HOT showers (enough to where it kinda looks like you're in a cloud). So if it hasn't hurt my stuff, I think your S8 will be golden.

[jiyeon]

2 minutes ago, tmcclelland455 said:

I've been taking my non-waterproofed phones into the bathroom when I take a shower and they've all been fine, and I take HOT showers (enough to where it kinda looks like you're in a cloud). So if it hasn't hurt my stuff, I think your S8 will be golden

What non-waterproof phones have you got? I previously had my 5X and seemed to have performance drops after a few runs in the bathroom but I'm not certain it's down to the showers, so I'm still wary.

[Wh0_Am_1]

Are you bringing the phone into the shower itself? Or just the bathroom, because if it's just the bathroom just turn on the over head fan, or do something of the sort to reduce moisture, of course this is all precautionary, because that water resistance is just a feature it is NOT a guarantee,  but generally speaking it holds up well, now over a period of 2-3 years steam will degrade the rubber seals, but the battery will probably be trash anyway by then. The real issue is soap, if you are bringing it into the shower itself STOP RIGHT NOW even though your phone is IP68 rated, that hot water, and soap will greatly increase the chances of liquid damage which is NOT covered under warranty. ALSO soap will allow water to bypass the water resistant mesh used over the speaker(s).

[flibberdipper]

2 minutes ago, MiNy said:

What non-waterproof phones have you got? I previously had my 5X and seemed to have performance drops after a few runs in the bathroom but I'm not certain it's down to the showers, so I'm still wary.

Had a GS3, then a Galaxy Avant, and currently on an LG Aristo. Only phone that had any problems was the GS3 since the camera lens was slightly cracked and naturally it would fog up.

[jiyeon]

1 minute ago, Wh0_Am_1 said:

Are you bringing the phone into the shower itself? Or just the bathroom

Into the bathroom and laid on a counter, not the actual shower itself, God forbid.

 

2 minutes ago, Wh0_Am_1 said:

do something of the sort to reduce moisture, of course this is all precautionary, because that water resistance is just a feature it is NOT a guarantee,  but generally speaking it holds up well, now over a period of 2-3 years steam will degrade the rubber seals, but the battery will probably be trash anyway by then.

Right, that fan suggestion is a nice way to suppress what effects steam can have so I will try that from now. Thank you for the information, I expect my S8 to last 3 years anyway so by then I wouldn't need to worry about how much the seals have degraded.

[Wh0_Am_1]

1 minute ago, MiNy said:

Into the bathroom and laid on a counter, not the actual shower itself, God forbid.

 

Right, that fan suggestion is a nice way to suppress what effects steam can have so I will try that from now. Thank you for the information, I expect my S8 to last 3 years anyway so by then I wouldn't need to worry about how much the seals have degraded.

Okay then you should be fine.

[jiyeon]

4 minutes ago, tmcclelland455 said:

Had a GS3, then a Galaxy Avant, and currently on an LG Aristo. Only phone that had any problems was the GS3 since the camera lens was slightly cracked and naturally it would fog up

Ah sorry to hear about your GS3, I've brought my Nexus 5X and iPhone 6S previously into the bathroom as well and they haven't had any problems nor are they water-resistant either.

[uspoloassassin]

If you are planning on having the phone for a long time I'd suggest a waterproof bluetooth speaker, but if you're going to upgrade within 2-3 years it should be good. 

[jiyeon]

1 minute ago, uspoloassassin said:

if you're going to upgrade within 2-3 years it should be good

That's the case with all my phones where I upgrade within the space of 3 years, thank you for the advice.

[flibberdipper]

14 minutes ago, MiNy said:

Ah sorry to hear about your GS3, I've brought my Nexus 5X and iPhone 6S previously into the bathroom as well and they haven't had any problems nor are they water-resistant either.

Eh, I got it used and it'd already gone through hell (cracked screen + lens and the OLED display had dark spots) so it was just kind of a "winter beater" phone for a few months.

[jiyeon]

3 minutes ago, tmcclelland455 said:

it'd already gone through hell (cracked screen + lens and the OLED display had dark spots) so it was just kind of a "winter beater" phone for a few months.

Oh right, all of my phones were left in pretty much 99/100 condition, if anything, my shower adventures were responsible for any sort of wear I put on my phones.

[Zodiark1593]

My electronics stay on my desk during showers, though I haven't heard of anyone killing phones by steam, and my Dad does this all the time. Primarily though, I don't want things falling out of pockets inadvertently. My room is literally on the other side of the shower wall, so a bluetooth speaker should be a good solution here if I so choose.

[dizmo]

My non-IP certified phone always comes into the bathroom with me, and I take hot showers as well. You're good. It's not like you're taking it into the shower with you.

If you're really worried about it, you could always toss a facecloth over it?

[jiyeon]

7 minutes ago, dizmo said:

My non-IP certified phone always comes into the bathroom with me, and I take hot showers as well. You're good

Okay, thank you for your insight, my paranoia also thanks you in particular.

 

8 minutes ago, dizmo said:

If you're really worried about it, you could always toss a facecloth over it

I could, the speaker is on the bottom so it would be exposed either way, but I could definitely give it a try!

[dizmo]

2 hours ago, MiNy said:

Okay, thank you for your insight, my paranoia also thanks you in particular.

 

I could, the speaker is on the bottom so it would be exposed either way, but I could definitely give it a try!

Hahah, yeah it can be a little stressing when you're worried about your toys. I'd hate to have to replace a phone!

Sometimes at work when I pull my phone out of my pocket, the screen is wet with moisture. If it can survive that, I'm sure a little shower moisture is fine