One of the most sickening feelings in technology is hearing your phone slip out of a pocket and into a bath, a drink, or worst of all, the toilet.
In the past, this would have been an instant death for the device, as the water would fry the electrical circuits. Fortunately, this is no longer so true these days, as waterproofing, or rather water resistance, has improved significantly.
But not all phones are equal. So here’s a look at how you should expect your device to behave if it decides to go swimming.
Is my phone waterproof?
The waterproofing isn’t entirely accurate here, as that would suggest you could take it swimming and it would be fine.
The truth is that phones are water resistant. There is a difference, as the latter means that a device will be safe in water but only for a certain duration and at particular depths. Go outside of these parameters and water will still do its damage.
Hence why we say water resistant rather than waterproof.
How waterproof is my phone?
The way water resistance is measured on phones is through what’s called an IP rating.
You’ll see them listed on the boxes and advertisements of most new phones, with IP68 being the most common on flagship phones.
The number means two things: The first number (in this case, 6) indicates the protection of the phone against dust and other particles entering the device. 6 is the highest currently measured.
The second number (in this case, 8) represents water protection, with 8 being the highest current number on a phone. So by this estimate, IP68 is almost impregnable? Well, not quite.
While the score of 6 for dust means it should be safe, the score of 8 for water comes with conditions. To achieve a score of 8, the phone must be protected against continuous submersion beyond one meter for up to 30 minutes, with the exact depth specified by the manufacturer.
This means that an IP68 rated device can be taken to the beach without fear of sand getting inside, and it can stay underwater for up to half an hour provided it does not exceed not a meter deep and should resurface unscathed.
These numbers generally apply to fresh water, as salt water, soft drinks, and swimming pools all contain additional elements (salt, sugar, chlorine) that are more harmful.
You can learn more about the specifics of this rating system in our IP Ratings guide.
Another thing to consider is that water resistance weakens over time as seals start to break down, so an old phone that started life with an IP68 rating might no longer be as good. waterproof after several years.
There’s also the fact that any repairs carried out by third parties (or yourself) could void the waterproof rating, as the seals may have been broken.
Can my phone be waterproof without an IP rating?
Some manufacturers don’t bother getting an IP rating because it can be an additional cost that is then passed on to their customers.
So you sometimes see budget or mid-range devices listed as water resistant, but don’t list an IP rating.
However, it is important to note that IP ratings are validated by a third-party company following rigorous testing. If a company claims water resistance without having any, you’ll have to take their word for it.
If in doubt, read the fine print before submerging your phone in water.
Do I need a phone with an IP68 rating?
Everything depends. A phone with an IP67 rating, such as the Google Pixel 8a, is still capable of surviving submerged for up to 30 minutes in depths of up to one meter.
So if you just want a device that can survive the rain and not get damaged if you spill a glass of water on it, then an IP67 rated phone would be suitable.
How does water damage a phone?
Since phones are electrical devices, contact of water with charged components can cause short circuits that damage these parts. This may cause the device to not work at all or cause many other problems.
Depending on the type of liquid, there are additional concerns. Salt water can corrode the phone’s interior, soap from a bath can wreak havoc on circuit boards, while chlorine from a swimming pool can damage components and seals.
Basically, keep your phone away from water if possible. It’s not a good match.
Are iPhones waterproof?
If you have an iPhone 12 or later, it will have an IP68 rating, which Apple says means it can withstand submersion in water up to six meters deep for up to 30 minutes.
The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max also had an IP68 rating, but this was slightly less effective, allowing them to survive in water up to four meters deep for 30 minutes, while the iPhone 11, XS and XS Max could only manage two meters. .
Before that, Apple introduced water resistance with the iPhone 7 line of models, which came with an IP67 rating indicating they could survive total immersion in liquids at depths of up to four and a half feet. minutes maximum. This continued on the iPhone 8 series as well as the iPhone X and XR.
Are Samsung phones waterproof?
Samsung makes an extraordinary number of phones every year, but the good news is that many of them have IP ratings.
The flagship Galaxy S series has been IP68 certified since the launch of the S7 series. The same has been true for the Note series since the release of the Note 8 range.
Samsung’s foldable models began offering an IP8 rating with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, which goes up to the current Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. This offers the same level of protection against water. water (up to 1.5 meters). depths for up to 30 minutes), but the design means dust protection doesn’t do the trick.
Even the modest Galaxy A series gets some protection, with the current Galaxy A35 sporting an IP67 rating, as does the Galaxy A55, but the dirt-cheap Galaxy A15 falls short.
Are Android phones waterproof?
With so many Android models available and new ones arriving every day, there’s no way to cover the permutations.
But, as a general rule, almost all flagships come with IP68 rating these days, and there are a handful of mid-range phones that offer the same. The good news is that you now know what to look for, so you’ll be able to determine how safe the phone you’re considering purchasing will be around water.
Ready to buy a water-resistant phone? Check out our roundup of the best smartphones overall, the best mid-range smartphones, and the best budget smartphones to put your new knowledge to use.
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