Apple enhances liquid damage detection with macOS Sonoma 14.1 update

Apple (NASDAQ:)’s recent macOS Sonoma 14.1 update has introduced a new feature aimed at enhancing the detection of accidental liquid exposure in its devices. The update includes a system that can detect liquids in USB-C ports on Mac laptops, a move that supplements existing Liquid Contact Indicators (LCI) present in these devices and specific Apple keyboards.

The new tool, named “liquiddetectiond,” operates silently in the background, collecting and analyzing data from each USB-C port. This “Liquid Detection and Corrosion Mitigation Daemon” primarily aids in data collection and analytics, rather than providing user notifications as similar systems do in iPhones and iPads.

The introduction of this feature is part of Apple’s strategy to curtail unwarranted warranty claims and ensure a fair and accurate warranty process. Currently, Apple’s warranty policy excludes coverage for damages resulting from accidental liquid exposure, even for water-resistant products such as iPhone, Apple Watch, and certain AirPod models.

The collected data from the “liquiddetectiond” daemon informs technicians’ decisions about whether a Mac qualifies for free repair following accidental liquid exposure. It remains unclear whether this daemon is compatible with all Mac models or exclusively M3 Macs due to hardware requirements.

This move by Apple represents an advancement in their liquid damage detection strategy. It is expected to enhance the precision of liquid exposure assessments, helping technicians more accurately determine warranty eligibility for gratis repairs.

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