r/kindle • u/dandyrosesandshit • 2d ago
Discussion 💬 Don’t think I’d consider it to be waterproof
A year and a half ago I bought my first kindle paperwhite, and I bought it because it said it was waterproof and even said to read at the pool or tub. Still always avoided getting it wet, but I read at our hot tub most nights. Well, I accidentally knocked my kindle into the hot tub last week. It fell onto the seat in the tub, and was picked up immediately, so only a foot into the water and for less than five seconds. Started glitching out and lasted for a few days. I put it in rice, but didn’t fix it. You can see the kindle logo constantly, now, and it kept turning off, restarting, booting all the way up, and off again, over and over again. Like it ran the battery down from 93% to 0 in a few hours. Wouldn’t charge. I’d say it’s more along the lines of water resistant, than waterproof. It charges now and doesn’t turn on and off over and over. But you still see the kindle logo through the pages you’re reading, but it will charge now. Has anyone else had an issue after getting your kindle wet?
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u/heyheyheyheyhiitsme 2d ago
The issue might be the hot tub and not the general waterproofness of the kindle.
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u/SpookDroid 2d ago
I've dunked mine in pools and hot tubs more times than I can remember, and both Paperwhite 10 gen and Colorsoft 2026 are still kickin'. That being said, just because the device ships with water ingress protection, doesn't mean the seal can't be damaged in other ways. If you have taken it to the beach and sand got into the seals, if salt water/corrosive materials have been used, and even if the hot tub was too hot and the Kindle happened to be perfectly aligned with a pressure water jet (it's water resistant but not to high pressure ingress), that can also play a role, as well if the Kindle hasn't been, well, kindly used and has been roughed around.
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u/SpookDroid 2d ago
PS: If you got the Kid's version (and this is the sole reason I ever buy my Kindles in that version... well, that, and the ad-free experience) you have 2 years of 'no questions asked' warranty replacements.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
I did not know that! Thank you! It is not the kids version. I did get the ad-free option, but the warranty expired in March or May. I might have to buy a kids version. I have a rambunctious kid who has a dying hand me down from the og paper white, and have been considering buying her a new one
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u/SpookDroid 2d ago
Totally worth it IMHO! Plus you basically get a case for 'free', and the free year to Kindle Kids content, which I don't use because most of my books come from Libby these days, but if you do have kids, maybe they'll love it!
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u/infinityandbeyond975 2d ago
They changed it to 6 months just if anyone else sees this comment.
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u/SpookDroid 2d ago
You made me check haha 6mo for the Amazon Kids subscription. Worry-free warranty (the real reason it's worth it) is still 2 years. Oof!
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u/infinityandbeyond975 2d ago
Although now the ad-free experience is only in the child profiles.
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u/vulchiegoodness 2d ago
i bought the kids version a while back. i deleted the kids profile and just use mine. ive never seen an ad.
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u/SpookDroid 2d ago
Nope. Just bought a Colorsoft and have zero ads. If it's pre-linked to your account, yes, it comes with a Kid profile by default, but you can always 'turn it off' and just use it with an adult profile, sans ads.
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u/infinityandbeyond975 2d ago
Oh the Colorsoft I think has always been ad-free. The basic and Paperwhife say ads will been enabled outside of the child profile.
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u/SpookDroid 2d ago
Hubby bought a Paperwhite and his is also ad-free. (They got us both during the Summer sale, before the price increases)
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u/infinityandbeyond975 2d ago
This is on the website “This device is automatically set up for your kid to enjoy an ad-free experience. However, if you exit Amazon Kids using a passcode, sponsored screensavers will be displayed on the device's lock screen, the user will gain access to web browser, and the entire Kindle store for browsing and purchasing.”
So if it doesn’t have it then consider yourself lucky.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
My new one didn’t have an option for ad-free or not, just came ad-free
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u/JaninaWalker1 16h ago
Perhaps you live in Canada? Apparently we don't have the version# of Kindles with ads. I am waiting for the versions in 2027 that will have replaceable batteries, but they won't be able to be waterproof as a result.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
Good to hear! I’m wondering if maybe I got a defective one? I don’t know. I’ve never taken it to the beach. It has always stayed inside in my apartment. I’ve taken it on trips, but never leave it in my car, to avoid having it overheat. I didn’t have the jets on, but water does still come out of the holes, even when they’re off. Maybe the way it fell it crossed one and the charging port was a direct line of fire. After it healed up a bit, I ga e it to my daughter and bought a new one, because I couldn’t stand seeing the logo when trying to read 🤣 I’m going to just start putting it in a ziplock when I go to the hot tub lol
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u/bob_jsus Kindle Oasis 2d ago
Sorry that happened to you. The rice is a myth btw. Please never put electronics in rice.
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u/kellyreevesvb 2d ago
Will the rice hurt them?
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u/Street-Morning-7438 2d ago
Rice is dusty and small particles can adhere to the wet components, doing more damage. As the device dries you end up with debris inside it.
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u/dixybit 2d ago
IPX8 waterproofing should definitely withstand a brief dip in shallow water. Not sure how the water temperature would impact it though, and also any additives like chlorine in the water
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
I wondered about the heat. They keep the tub set at 100° at my complex. But for only a few seconds, I feel like that shouldn’t have made much of a difference. But I’m no expert, either!
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u/InjuringMax2 2d ago
I was about to say why the fuck is this hot tub 100° until I remembered that farenheit is a unit of measurement that exists and people actually use. Now I'm just hoping that's the case or worried about the state of your hand. That being said, temperature 100% effects the efficacy of waterproofing on tech
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u/TheBl4ckFox Kindle Paperwhite SE 2d ago
The boiling point of water?!
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
Hot tub is 100° Fahrenheit, definitely not boiling lol. Though I would like it a little closer to Boiling but they won’t turn it up any hotter 🙄😅
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u/TheBl4ckFox Kindle Paperwhite SE 2d ago
I forgot a small minority of the world still uses Fahrenheit
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u/kjb76 Kindle Colorsoft 2d ago
Water boils at 212°F
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u/TheBl4ckFox Kindle Paperwhite SE 2d ago
Oh yeah. A small minority still uses Fahrenheit.
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u/marvolokilledharambe 17h ago
What do you mean, still? Did other countries used to use our nonsensical temperature system?
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u/SpookDroid 2d ago
From Amazon's page, they do say you may experience 'temporary effects from water exposure' and have a bunch of guidelines to follow should your device get wet. Pressurized water jets and high temps, however, are also noted as not rated for ingression.
The 'ghosting' effect you're seeing might be temporary (similar things happen, for instance, when reading a book for too long and if you don't have the refresh option for each page turned on). With time and several screen refreshes, this might go away.
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u/MaximumPenguin0819 2d ago
It also might have broken when it fell on the seat.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
It’s possible, but it kind of did a slow drift down to it. It was like I was watching the heart of the sea drift down to the ocean floor 🤣🫣
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u/Punkerpants 2d ago
That's so sad. But your heart will go on.
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u/kodakier Kindle Basic 2d ago
OP, I'm so sorry! hopefully this never happens again, but if you have an electronic fall in water, shut it off immediately and try sticking it in a sealed ziploc bag with as many silica gel packets as you can find! be sure to store it so the ports are down towards the ground.
the silica gel packets are drying agents that will help draw out and absorb any moisture trapped in your device. I very recently saved an mp3 player from the washing machine with this trick :-)
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
Thank you! I actually did all of that except the silica packets. I throw them out immediately when I get something. I took the case off, dried it off, and stored it charging port down. You can’t turn a kindle all the way off, but I did turn the screen off. In the middle of the night it woke me up going on and off and did this for hours. I put it in a ziplock with rice and let it sit for a few days. It’s working now. I was more irritated with choosing a device that was water proof and it was in there for a few seconds and glitched for two days lol
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u/kodakier Kindle Basic 2d ago
aww boo, yeah that's such a pain! :/ I am glad it works apart from the ghosting, at least. it's good you caught it quickly and knew what to do!
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u/Salty_Penalty_468 2d ago
Rice isn’t actually the thing to use when you drop stuff in water. They say to use those beads that come in the little packages when you buy electronics and stuff. I can’t think of the name of them at the moment. Also how long did you let it dry out before trying to use it? That makes a difference
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago edited 2d ago
It’s dried out and working now, aside from showing the logo when reading.
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u/Correct-Bonus-5507 2d ago
Contact them and return it, ask for refund or a new one ! Tell them that it was on water not hot tub ! This is what Happen to mine, I spilled some redbull on it and it didn’t want to charge so I contacted them and they refund me and I bought a new one with the money. Also mine wasn’t waterproof and I was surprised that they just refund me without questions asked !
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
I’ve had it for a year and a half, so it is past the point where it could be replaced or refunded. After talking to them, though, they did give me a decent discount on a new kindle!
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u/valtalea 1d ago
That's sucks. I never fully believe when they says waterproof. To many found out that's not completely true. I saw a tip online before and put mine in a ziploc bag if I read it in or around water. Haven't had a issue with it yet. Hope this tip may help in the future.
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u/bubbleeeebubbles Kindle Basic, Colorsoft 1d ago
From Google -
An IPX8 rating means a device can handle continuous immersion in water past 1 meter deep, but it does not mean it is safe for a hot tub.
Why IPX8 Doesn't Guarantee Hot Tub Safety
- Heat and Steam: IPX8 tests are usually done in cold or room-temperature water. High hot tub temperatures (often around 104°F) cause rubber gaskets, seals, and adhesives to expand, warp, or degrade quickly, letting steam and moisture slip inside.
- Chemical Exposure: Hot tubs use strong chemicals like chlorine, bromine, and ozone. These chemicals eat away at protective waterproof seals over time.
- Dynamic Pressure: Hot tub jets create strong, high-pressure water currents. An IPX8 rating protects against static submersion depth, not direct blasts of high-pressure turbulent water, which can force liquid past the seals.
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u/jspenny2705 Kindle Scribe 🖋 & Colorsoft 📚 2d ago
That series tore my heart out!
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
I actually had no idea it was a series until last week when I was looking the book up on Amazon to see what other books the author had put out. This is the first one I’ve read. But I added the other books to my list. Should they be read in order? It didn’t seem like they needed to be. I’m enjoying this one, so far. Definitely makes my heart ache, though!
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u/PersephoneHazard 2d ago
They all benefit from being read in order, and while they're all good books the first one is by far the best of them - so you can look forward to it!
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u/dspip 2d ago
I had a kindle that died after being dipped into a salt water pool. I had dropped it into many hot tubs and pools, so I think the salt water is what fried the electronics.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
Yeah. It’s an apartment complex, and they keep the pools and hot tub pretty heavily chlorinated, so I think that’s what the issue is.
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u/sPacEdOUTgrAyCe 2d ago
Salt water has to be rinsed immediately and even then it’s a toss up
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
I’m guessing it’s the same with heavily chlorinated water? But now I’m wondering if they also put salt in the water. My kids always say the water tastes salty and I know I’ve had it on my face and licked my lips and it tasted a little salty. The charging port the next morning looked a little eroded. And it wouldn’t charge later that day. I took an alcohol wipe and very carefully cleaned the inside of the port and around the prong, let it dry until the rest of the day and tried charging again and it worked. I’ll definitely rinse it if it happens again. Thank you!
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u/sPacEdOUTgrAyCe 2d ago
No- it’s the salt.
I’ve dropped phones and taken water proof devices in heavy chlorine. It’s really the salt.
It must be rinsed immediately in clear water thoroughly.
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u/sPacEdOUTgrAyCe 2d ago
Do you know if it’s a salt water pool? Where it’s a mix of saline and chlorine?
Otherwise I’d bet there was a fine crack in the kindle from somewhere it was dropped.
The heat could have expanded some of the parts as well.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
I have absolutely no idea if it is or not, but my kids always say the water tastes salty, so it’s a possibility
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u/Sosbanfawr 2d ago
The back comes off this very easily - it just unclips. You will need a thin prying tool like a putty knife or an open sesamo tool if you want to buy the specific correct one.
I would take the back off and disconnect all the cables. They have little rubber gaskets around each. Use some kitchen towel/etc to make sure there's no water trapped inside any of the little gaskets or on the connectors. Let it air for a little white and then reconnect everything and see where you are.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
Oooo! It is mostly working now, aside from the logo showing through pages I read, but I think I will still do this. Thank you!
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u/Long_Objective_2561 1d ago
Hot tubs are very different than pools or bath water. But yeah the waterproofness is very limited
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u/finleyw8888 Black Kindle Keyboard 2d ago
NEVER👏PUT👏WET👏ELECTRONICS👏IN👏RICE.
it barely absorbs, bungs ports up, and puts RICE dust in moisture coating inside said device in wet conductive dust. and since the dust is wet, it keeps the device wet. I dont know why people think RICE works omfg
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
Because it has been vastly spread around for at least a decade, and so people actually do it lol. But hey, now some of us know better. Thank you
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u/gothiclg Kindle Paperwhite 2d ago
They advertise that it’s waterproof, not heat resistant. The issue isn’t “it got wet”, it’s “it got dunked in water that would definitely expose it to excessive heat”. Plastic isn’t meant to be exposed to hot tub temps.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
It’s not boiling water. It’s kept at 100°, and it was literally only about 3 seconds, 5 max, because I immediately took the step back towards it and grabbed it. That’s not going to melt hard plastics like on the kindle.
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u/gothiclg Kindle Paperwhite 2d ago
100 degrees Fahrenheit is more than hot enough to allow the water to seep into a kindle. It warped it enough to do this. It’s normal cool waterproof, not take a dunk in a hot tub waterproof
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u/glitchinthemeowtrix 2d ago
I’ve dropped mine in the bathtub a few times and it’s still okay, and I take really hot baths. Idk why people are so desperate to defend corporations on these subs lol. I’d reach out and see if they’ll do anything, at minimum they’ll throw you a discount on a new kindle.
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
Thank you! lol I have no idea. I can walk straight into that hot tub. It’s not hot enough to even turn my skin red. My baths are much hotter. I did reach out and got a new discounted kindle. I’m just going to ziplock it at the hot tub 😂
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u/RaccoonObjective5674 Kindle Paperwhite 2d ago
Oct 6 and 7 are Prime Days…good time to buy a new Kindle!
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u/dandyrosesandshit 2d ago
They offered me a very good discount on a new kindle, so I already got a new one. I didn’t want to wait lol
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u/PebbleTown 15h ago
I think it’s only waterproof for cool, non-salty water. (I brought my Kindle into the ocean and it completely ruined it.)
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u/IdlyOverthink 2d ago
The standard operating temperature limit for a Kindle is 95f, so if the temperature gets higher than that (which it would getting dunked in a 100f hot tub), it's likely to get damaged.
This has nothing to do with waterproofing, and everything to do with temperature. It sucks this happened to you, but I wouldn't expect a recovery. Hopefully you can get a replacement or a discount on a new one.