How Waterproof Is My Smartphone 2025?
If you have a later iPhone 13, Galaxy, or other water-resistant smartphone, like the iPhone 12 or Galaxy S22, you've probably wondered, "Is my phone actually waterproof?"
In a nutshell, the answer is no.
That's not to imply that any amount of liquid will hurt your phone; these phones are built to withstand a brief submersion without shorting out. But there are a few things you should know before duck taping it to your head like a GoPro while snorkeling off the coast of Fiji.
Waterproof does not imply water resistance.
It's a crucial distinction, and one that phone manufactures are well aware of: none of them explicitly state that your phone is waterproof. Even testing of the device's water resistance are carried out under extremely strict conditions.
This is due to the fact that the technology underlying smartphones hasn't changed overnight – your phone is still a highly sensitive bundle of wires and circuits ready to fry at the first drop of water. What has changed is the ability of phone manufacturers to secure it.
At the end of the day, businesses are still doing it the old-fashioned way, with a slew of seals and gaskets designed to keep water out of the gadget. It's similar to how a plumber prevents your sink's pipes from leaking.
But here's the thing: no seal is flawless. It's likely that some water will get past the rubber gaskets or glue seals and cause damage to your phone.
It's important to recognise your resistance levels.
If you did your homework, you'll notice that your gadget was given an IP or Ingress Protection Rating. While it may appear to be the least exciting aspect of your phone's specifications, it's crucial to understand that this is a standard established by the International Electrotechnical Commission, or IEC.
The IP ratings are made up of two numbers, the first of which ranges from 0-6, indicating how well the phone protects against solid foreign things like as dust and dirt. The second number, which ranges from 0 to 8, indicates the phone's resistance to liquids.
The Samsung S22, for example, is rated IP68, which means it has the best ratings for dust and water resistance. The iPhone 13, on the other hand, is rated IP67, which means it is dust-proof (6) and can be immersed in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes (7).
Naturally, all of this should be taken with a grain of salt. Companies that test a device's water resistance may gently submerge it in fresh water, which is far different from what would happen if a friend pushed you into a pool or if the tide surged in unexpectedly at the beach and swamped your phone in seawater.
The water and dust resistance of a phone degrades with use - even merely resting on the shelf can reduce its ability to keep out the bad things.
Keep an eye on your warranty.
Despite the fact that the phones are advertised as water-resistant, the warranties do not cover water damage. To prevent clients from lying, they have small stickers on the phones that change color when they come into touch with a liquid.
It makes sense — there's no way of knowing whether water damage was caused by misusing a gadget, such as burying it in liquid for longer and deeper than the IP rating allows.
If customers say that the water-resistant features failed to operate, most businesses will at least try to work with them and evaluate the phone. Even still, Apple is eager to stress out that liquid damage is not covered under its guarantee.
Keeping your phone dry
All of this is to indicate that you should keep your expectations in check and strive to be careful with your device. Trust your intuition if it seems counter-intuitive to throw your phone into the pool to make your pals laugh. It's not a good idea to chuck your phone into anything.
Even while businesses are making enormous progress in waterproofing techniques these days, the fact that their warranties do not cover water damage should be enough to discourage you from testing your device's water resistance unnecessarily.
It's better to constantly be prepared for any water condition, in addition to keeping your phone dry. If your phone falls into water and you need to conduct some fast "CPR," we don't recommend placing it in rice. You may find a step-by-step instruction to dealing with a water-damaged gadget here.
What can GDome can help you with?
We can offer you a fully waterproof housing for your phone that will keep it completely dry and away from corrosive salt in the water. From a iPhone 13 to a Samsung S22, we have you covered!