Apple's New Feature Detects Water In USB-C Ports, Curbs Warranty Fraud

In an effort to reduce false warranty claims, Apple Inc. AAPL has incorporated a new feature in macOS Sonoma to detect liquid in USB-C ports on Macs.

This development follows a 2010 lawsuit against Apple for its usage of moisture indicators in iPhones,  reported Apple Insider. The lawsuit, which Apple lost, alleged that the indicators were inaccurate. The tech giant had to pay a hefty $53 million in settlement.

The suit possibly prompted Apple’s 2012 patent application for an enhanced water sensor system. The filing indicated that frequent replacements were being authorized for products damaged in ways not covered under the warranty, largely due to the inability of Apple Store staff to accurately identify water damage.

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In 2016, Apple introduced a similar feature in iPhones with iOS 10, which could warn users if liquid was detected in the Lightning port.

Now, macOS Sonoma has added analogous background liquid detection analysis for USB-C ports. Though Apple has not explicitly stated the purpose of this feature, it is believed to be a part of the company’s consistent efforts to identify water damage, a presumable major issue stated in its warranties.

Named “Liquid Detection and Corrosion Mitigation Daemon,” this feature adds to Apple’s existing method of using Liquid Contact Indicators (LCIs) to identify water damage. LCIs change color when exposed to liquids and are used across the Mac and iPhone.

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