At no point does this article mention the minor detail that iPhones haven been completely waterproof for generations now.
> That is because devices are increasingly able to withstand getting wet.
> All Apple devices from the iPhone 12 onwards are able to withstand immersion up to a depth of six metres, for up to half an hour.
> But with cost-of-living pressures driving growth in the global second-hand mobile market, it is likely that many people will need advice on what to do - and what not to - with a soggy smartphone for some time yet.
Maybe so but when I went into Apple store to get a free battery replacement under warranty because they had a recall, the Apple employees specifically check for water exposure[1] and if it's ever been wet, they consider it "damaged" and won't do the free battery swap.
It's nice that one can accidentally fall into a swimming pool with the phone in the pocket and it won't get broken. However, one can't be totally nonchalant about letting it get submerged because it will void its warranty status.