Recently, a YouTube video has gone viral online, the author of which claims that the sound in the video can remove water from the iPhone speaker. The video received 45 million views in four years and sparked a wave of skepticism, but also attracted more than 140,000 comments, many of which claim that the method really works.
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Apple declined to comment on this phenomenon, although the water removal system on the Apple Watch works on a similar principle. However, audio manufacturer Bose was quick to confirm the theory’s plausibility, saying that the speaker is essentially moving air, and if you force it to move enough air, with enough force, it can push out droplets of liquid. “The lowest tone a speaker can produce, at maximum volume, will create the most air movement that will push against water trapped inside the phone,” explained Eric Freeman, senior director of research at Bose.
IFixit also performed sound repairs on four smartphones, including the iPhone 13. While the video was playing, he took close-ups of each phone’s speaker, and in each case, it was clear that a stream of droplets immediately began to emit. The effect did not last long, but the water did come out. The video was published on The Verge.
As expected, the effect was limited to speakers. If water gets into the USB port, SIM card slot or under the buttons, the video will not help. However, the method can be useful for removing water from your phone’s speakers after accidental exposure to moisture.