My phone fell in water — what to do in the first hour

Turn it off immediately, even if it still seems to be working. A phone that's powered on while wet is far more likely to short a component than one that's simply damp and switched off — most liquid damage happens from electricity moving through water, not the water itself.

Don't plug it in to check the battery, don't press the power button repeatedly to "test" it, and don't put it in rice — more on why that doesn't work below. Dry the outside gently, remove the case and SIM tray, and get it to a technician within a few hours if you can.

What we do differently: an ultrasonic clean displaces water and residue from inside the board's connectors instead of just letting it evaporate, which is what actually prevents corrosion from starting days later.