One of the most sickening feelings in tech is hearing your phone slipping out of a pocket and plunging into a bath, drink, or worst of all, the toilet.
In years gone by this would have been instant death for the device, as the water fried the electrical circuits. Thankfully, that isn’t as true these days, as waterproofing, or rather water resistance, has improved massively.
But not all phones are created equal. So, here’s a look at how well you should expect your device to fare if it decides to go swimming.
Is my phone waterproof?
Waterproof isn’t quite accurate here, as that would suggest that you could take it swimming and it would be fine.
The truth is that phones are water resistant. There’s a difference, as the latter means that a device will be safe in the water but only for a certain length of time and to particular depths. Move outside of those parameters and water will still do its damage.
Hence the reason that we say water resistant rather than waterproof.
How waterproof is my phone?
The way water resistance is measured on phones is through something called an IP rating.
You’ll see these listed on the boxes and adverts for most new phones, with IP68 most common on flagship phones.
The number signifies two things, the first number (in this case 6) denotes the protection the phone has against dust and other particulates getting into the device. 6 is the highest currently measured.
The second number (in this case 8) represents protection from water, with 8 being the current highest on a phone. So, by that reckoning, IP68 is near impregnable? Well, not quite.
While the 6 score for dust means it should be safe, the 8 for water comes with conditions. To score 8 the phone must be protected against continuous immersion beyond one metre for up to 30 minutes, with the exact depth being specified by the manufacturer.
This means an IP68 rated device can be taken to the beach without fear of sand getting inside, plus it can be underwater for up to half an hour so long as it doesn’t go deeper than a metre, and should resurface unscathed.
These figures usually apply to freshwater, as saltwater, soft drinks and swimming pools all have additional elements in them (salt, sugar, chlorine) that are more damaging.
You can read more about the specifics of this rating system in our guide to IP ratings.
Another thing to consider is that water resistance weakens over time as seals begin to break down, so an old phone that started its life with an IP68 rating might not be as impervious after several years.
There’s also the fact that any repairs done by third parties (or yourself) could render the waterproof rating null and void, as the seals may have been breached.
Apple
Can my phone be waterproof without IP rating?
Some manufacturers don’t bother obtaining an IP rating, as it can be an additional cost that is then passed onto its customers.
So, you sometimes see budget or mid-range devices that are listed as water-resistant but don’t list an IP rating.
However, it’s important to note that IP ratings are validated by a third-party company following rigorous testing. If a company claims water resistance without one, you’ll have to take its word for it.
If you’re in any doubt, read the small print before you take the phone for a dip.
Do I need a phone with an IP68 rating?
This all depends. A phone with an IP67 rating, such as the Google Pixel 8a, is still able to survive being submerged for up to 30 minutes in depths of up to a metre.
So, if you just want a device that can survive in the rain and not be damaged if you spill a glass of water on it, then an IP67 rated phone would be fine.
How does water damage a phone?
As phones are electrical devices, so having water making contact with the charged components can cause short circuits that damage those parts. This can lead to the device not working at all or causing any number of other problems.
Depending on the type of liquid, there are additional concerns. Saltwater can corrode the insides of the phone, soap from a bath can play havoc with circuit boards, while the chlorine from a swimming pool can damage components and gaskets.
Basically, keep your phone away from water if possible. They’re not a good match.
Are iPhones waterproof?
If you have an iPhone 12 or later, then it will have an IP68 rating, which Apple says means it can withstand being submerged in water up to six metres deep for up to 30 minutes.
Apple
The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max also came with an IP68 rating, but this was slightly less effective, allowing them to survive in water up to four metres deep for 30 minutes, while the iPhone 11, XS and XS Max could only manage two metres.
Before that, Apple introduced water resistance with the iPhone 7 range of models, with them featuring an IP67 rating that denoted they could survive total immersion in liquids for depths of up to one metre and a maximum of thirty minutes. This continued through the iPhone 8 series as well as the iPhone X and XR.
Are Samsung phones waterproof?
Samsung makes an extraordinary number of phones each year, but the good news is that many of them feature IP ratings.
The flagship Galaxy S series has had IP68 certification since all the way back when the S7 series was launched. The same is true for the Note series since the Note 8 range was released.
Samsung’s foldable models started offering an IP8 rating with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, which carries up to the current Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. This gives the same level of protection against water (up to 1.5 metre depths for no more than 30 minutes) but the design means that the dust protection doesn’t make the cut.
Samsung
Even the humble Galaxy A series gets some protection, with the current Galaxy A35 featuring an IP67 rating, as does the Galaxy A55, but the super-cheap Galaxy A15 misses out.
Are Android phones waterproof?
With so many Android models out there, and more arriving every day, there’s no way to cover the permutations.
But, as a rule of thumb, pretty much every flagship comes with IP68 these days, and there’s a smattering of mid-range phones that offer the same. The good thing is you now know what to look for, so you’ll be able to work out how safe around water any phone you’re thinking of buying will be.
Ready to buy a water resistant phone? See our round-ups of best smartphones overall, best mid-range smartphones and best budget smartphones to put your new knowledge to good use.
