T-Mobile AT&T Verizon Sprint Samsung Android

The water-resistant Galaxy S7 and S7 edge feature a moisture sensor in the USB port

posted by Mihai A.

Mar 03, 2016, 4:31 PM

The water-resistant Galaxy S7 and S7 edge feature a moisture sensor in the USB port

Although it's not as important as the microSD card support and the larger batteries, water resistance is definitely a notable improvement that the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge bring over their predecessors.

Given that the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge both feature IP68-certified water resistance, it's not surprising that Samsung warns about drying up the USB port of wet phones before feeding them electrical current. The Galaxy S7 edge user manual reads:

"If you charge the device while the multipurpose jack is wet, the device may be damaged. Thoroughly dry the multipurpose jack before charging the device."

However, it was recently discovered that Samsung went beyond issuing a warning. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge come with a special moisture sensor that prevents the phones from charging when humidity is detected in the charging port. If you'll try to charge it right after giving it a bath, the phone will pop an adequate message and refuse to charge.

Interestingly, some early users say that this humidity sensor is actually so sensitive that third-party charging cables that do not adhere to Samsung's specifications can accidentally trip the warning.