Moisture destroys 82 million phones annually, yet manufacturers do little to safeguard against it. In January, California-based Liquipel launched the first aftermarket service that waterproofs phones and media players. Engineers place the phone in a vacuum-sealed chamber and inject a carbon-based hydrophobic gas. The gas particles bond to the phone in a layer one thousandth the thickness of human hair.
Because the particles are so small, they also slip through seams to coat internal components, such as the processor and battery. The waterproofing takes less than 30 minutes, and has no noticeable effect on the phone's look or feel. Liquipel then mails the device back to the customer, better than new.
Compatible devices: Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X, and 25 more
Turnaround time: 2 days
Price: $59 (plus shipping)
 |  |