Is It Worth Fixing Water Damage on My Mom’s iPad Pro?

I wanted to share my experience with two iPads, specifically the iPDPRO 9.7″, that fell into a bathtub several years ago. I enjoyed listening to music while relaxing in the tub and used a small table to hold my iPads, both protected by third-party cases. Unfortunately, one of the iPads slipped into the water one day, and although I managed to retrieve it quickly, the damage was done. Two years later, the second iPad met the same fate, despite my belief that the case would keep it secure.

After the first incident, I dried the wet iPad with a towel; however, it shut down immediately. The second iPad failed to turn off and “died” shortly after I pulled it from the water. I diligently tried to absorb any leftover moisture from the lighting port using soft paper and a Q-tip to minimize the risk of a short circuit. However, realizing I would soon need a replacement, I decided to buy a new iPad, specifically an 11” M1 model.

The loss wasn’t catastrophic, as I had limited data; I mostly lost about two months of content since my last backup. I accepted the mishaps and placed both iPads in a moderately warm area for about a week. I charged them annually using a 5W charger from my old iPhone, even though they showed no signs of life. Remarkably, after a couple of years, one of the iPads just powered on while charging recently, and to my surprise, it was fully functional and retained all its data.

The other iPad, however, still has a black screen. This experience has taught me that despite severe water damage, perseverance can sometimes yield positive results. I believe waiting a year before attempting to charge was wise, as immediate attempts could lead to dangerous short circuits. It shows that if maintained carefully, recovering data and devices is still possible.

Now, my older iPads, including the first one I purchased in 2012, might serve new purposes, such as remote controls for various devices. They still seem in good condition despite their age, suggesting that the slow charging method may have aided in their recovery.