TOP 12 Best waterproof smartphones of 2022

Previously, waterproof phones were a separate class of devices. Special cases and unusual appearance made them more of a sports than an everyday accessory. But times are changing, and now even an ordinary Samsung Galaxy smartphone can be put under water and nothing will happen. Of course, this cannot be done with every device. I will tell you in this article how to find out whether a device is protected from moisture, for example, the Samsung Galaxy A50 is waterproof or not, as well as what the device protection numbers mean. There will also be examples of waterproof Samsung Galaxy phones that are currently sold in stores.

What are the best waterproof smartphones?

All Apple iPhone 13 models have the same high-quality water resistance, but only one phone can take the crown. That's why we've ranked the iPhone 13 Pro Max number one because it offers the best smartphone experience as well as an IP68 rating. The iPhone 13 is a good alternative if you don't want to pay for Pro features, as was last year's iPhone 12 if you want to save even more.

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The latest models from Samsung and Google - from the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Pixel 6 Pro - have been built to IP68 standard. This means protection against immersion of more than 1 meter - the official depth may vary from phone to phone. IP67 is all up to 1 meter inclusive.

When it comes to cheaper smartphones, unfortunately, most models from Motorola, Nokia and even OnePlus (to a certain extent) tend to forgo true water resistance in favor of water-repellent properties through the application of a nano-coating. This may save you if someone spills a drink on your phone, but it won't help your phone if it sinks to the bottom of the pool. You won't find such devices in our ranking of the best waterproof phones. However, for inexpensive water-resistant phones, check out the iPhone SE (2020) and Google Pixel 5a.

Protection Standards for Shockproof Waterproof Smartphones

Users who believe that a smartphone that meets any level of IP protection should be safely thrown into the pool are mistaken. All waterproof phones can be roughly classified into 2 groups:

• Water resistant . Such devices are not afraid of raindrops, splashes, even water jets. After falling into a puddle or snow, the waterproof gadget will also remain operational.
• Waterproof . These smartphones can also withstand being submerged under water. However, the permissible duration of the dive and the permitted depth depend on the level (degree) of protection.

It is easy to distinguish a waterproof device from a waterproof one - by IP coding. You should only pay attention to the 2nd number, because the first indicates the degree of dust protection. If a smartphone meets the IPx7 or IPx8 standard, it is considered waterproof. If the 2nd digit is 6 or less, the gadget is only waterproof and is not suitable for diving.

A waterproof smartphone is not necessarily waterproof. The device can withstand a long immersion to a significant depth, but be disabled by a powerful jet of water.

Most waterproof smartphones have IP68 protection. This encoding means that the gadget can be immersed to a depth of 1 meter and kept there for half an hour. A device that meets IP67 will no longer cope with such a load - it will last only a few minutes when immersed to a depth of 0.5 meters.

No protection will help if you drop your phone into the open sea - for example, from a yacht. The depth of immersion will be too significant, and salt water has a much more harmful effect than fresh water.

Smartphone protection is usually comprehensive . It's illogical to create a waterproof smartphone that is vulnerable to, say, sand. Therefore, models rated IP68 or IP67 are considered not only waterproof, but also dustproof and shockproof. We will now present the most worthy, in our opinion, of waterproof gadgets.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Best waterproof phone

9

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 6 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.7-inch OLED (2778 x 1284) Rear camera: 12 MP wide-angle (ƒ/1.6), 12 MP ultra-wide (ƒ/2.4), 12 MP telephoto (ƒ /2.2) Front camera: 12 MP (ƒ/2.2) Processor: A14 Bionic Battery life (hours:minutes): 12:16

pros

• Best-in-Class Cameras
• Best performance of any phone out there
• Amazing battery life

Minuses

• Slow charging

As you'd expect from a luxury smartphone like the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it will keep your phone dry. Apple promises that with an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, all of its new phones, including the iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, will withstand submersion in 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. This should be enough time to return the phone if you dropped it.

These impressive water resistance specs are complemented by the best phone cameras and performance of any phone we've tested, a fantastic new 120Hz display, and improved battery life. Although the iPhone 13 Pro is almost identical to the Pro Max, the larger smartphone still takes the top spot. Its larger display and longer battery life may be the only differences, but it's enough to make it the best iPhone experience you can get right now.

Read more - full iPhone 13 Pro Max review

2

How to protect your phone from moisture

If you were looking for an answer to the question of whether there is protection against water and dust in the Samsung Galaxy A70, and found a negative answer - and it really isn’t there - then don’t despair. There are several “tricks” on how to protect your smartphone from moisture, even if the manufacturer did not provide for this:

• Temporarily protect your phone from sand, dust and liquids by placing it in a zip-lock.

• Place plugs on all open phone ports.

• Waterproof case for Samsung Galaxy standard IP68.

• Buying a special case is expensive, but provides absolute protection for your phone, for example for extreme sports.

Now you know how to identify a waterproof Samsung smartphone and, moreover, how to protect your phone, even if it does not have this function. Remember that it’s still not worth testing a smartphone by putting it under water. Even if according to its characteristics it should withstand it. But, knowing which Samsungs are waterproof, you can definitely feel calmer - for example, during precipitation.

iPhone 13

The best waterproof phone for most people

8.9

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 6 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.1-inch OLED (2532 x 1170) Cameras (rear/front): 12 MP main (f/1.6), 12 MP ultra-wide (f/2.4) Front camera: 12 MP ( f/2.2) Processor: A15 Bionic Battery life (hours:minutes): 10:33

pros

• Great photography options
• High performance
• Bright screen

Minuses

• No 120Hz refresh rate
• Slow charging

Even though it lacks some features, the iPhone 13 is still on par with its Pro siblings in terms of water resistance. It's capable of surviving half an hour underwater at a depth of 6 meters, and like last year's iPhone 12 series, it uses a Ceramic Shield display that should prevent the screen from being damaged if the phone were dropped on solid ground rather than in water.

The iPhone 13 doesn't have the same 120Hz display as the Pro models, and again lacks a telephoto lens and a LiDAR sensor. However, the screen image quality, powerful chipset and overall performance remain the same. The only real limitation of the iPhone 13 is its disappointing charging speed, which is easily surpassed by most non-Apple phones.

Read more - full iPhone 13 review

3

Huawei P30 Pro 8/256GB (IP68)

Huawei is in no hurry to withdraw Huawei P30 Pro from sale. And don't worry - this is still one of the best smartphones on the market.

The main thing about it is a camera with 3 modules: wide, ultra-wide, telephoto + ToF. For a long time, the P30 Pro held the title of the best camera phone in the world, and even today it shows an extremely high level of shooting quality.

As befits a flagship, the smartphone received all the best: HiSilicon Kirin 980 chip, 8 GB of RAM, fast and wireless charging, a chic OLED screen, and an on-screen scanner. The only thing missing from complete happiness is stereo sound.

• Screen diagonal: 6.47 inches

• Screen resolution: 2340×1080

• Weight: 192 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 980

• Memory capacity: 256 GB

• RAM capacity: 8 GB

• Battery capacity: 4200 mAh

• Rear camera: triple 40/20/8 MP

• Front camera: 32 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The best waterproof phone for Android fans

8.8

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 5 feet (1.5 meters) for 30 minutes Display: 6.8-inch OLED (3200x1400) Main camera: 108 MP main (ƒ/1.8), 12 MP ultra-wide (/2.2), 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom (ƒ/2.4), 10MP telephoto with 10x zoom (/4.9) Front camera: 40MP (ƒ/2.2) Processor: Snapdragon 888 Battery life: 11: 25

pros

• IP68 waterproof up to 1.5 meters
• S Pen support
• Adaptive display refresh rate

Minuses

• Bulky
• No microSD slot

Like other Galaxy flagships, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is IP68 water-resistant. Therefore, you can drop it to a depth of up to 1.5 meters without any problems. But the real value of this phablet lies in other features - it's the first phone outside the Galaxy Note line to support Samsung's S Pen. You'll also find two telephoto lenses on the back of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which will help you capture more detail when you zoom in on the frame.

The 6.8-inch AMOLED screen has a dynamic refresh rate that adjusts based on what you're doing. Scrolling web pages can maximize the refresh rate to 120Hz, for example, for a smoother browsing experience. The phone lasted up to 11.5 hours in our battery test, although we got this result with the display's adaptive refresh rate turned off.

In short, for Android fans, this is the best waterproof phone you can buy, not just for its IP68 rating, but for everything else it's capable of.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphone review

4

Samsung Galaxy S10 8/128GB (IP68)

Surprisingly, the Galaxy S10 is sold in parallel with the more recent S20 generation model. And even more surprising is the fact that the cost of the Galaxy S10 may be even higher than the Galaxy S20, but this, of course, depends entirely on the store.

The Galaxy S10 has a different body design - more angular, and the rear camera module is made in the form of a horizontal strip. The camera itself received three modules: wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle and telephoto. It takes excellent pictures, but a little worse than the S20.

There is fast and wireless charging, excellent speakers, a powerful platform based on the Samsung Exynos 9820 processor and 8 GB of RAM.

• Screen diagonal: 6.1 inches

• Screen resolution: 3040×1440

• Weight: 157 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Exynos 9820

• Memory capacity: 128 GB

• RAM capacity: 8 GB

• Battery capacity: 3400 mAh

• Rear camera: triple 16/12/12 MP

• Front camera: 10 MP

• Memory card support: yes

iPhone 12

Better water resistance for less money

8.7

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 6 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.1-inch OLED (2532x1170) Main camera: 12 MP (/1.6), 12 MP (ultra-wide) (/2.4) Front camera: 12 MP (ƒ / 2.2) Processor: A14 Bionic Battery life: 8:25

pros

• Same reliability as iPhone 12 Pro models
• Impressive dual cameras
• Attractive design

Minuses

• Battery life is below average

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini are cheaper than Apple's iPhone 12 Pro models, but Apple hasn't skimped on the durability of its less expensive phones. Like the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone 12 can withstand 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. And it also features a Ceramic Shield display, which increases the chances that your phone will survive a drop.

The highest performance of iPhone 12 is provided by the A14 Bionic chip. The smartphone also takes great photos, despite lacking the telephoto lens you'll find on the Pro models.

If we have a complaint about the iPhone 12, it's its lack of battery life, which we attribute to the demands of 5G connectivity. Otherwise, Apple has implemented a beautiful and reliable device in the iPhone 12.

5

Blackview BV9100 (IP68/IP69K)

A smartphone with one of the most powerful batteries in the world - 13000 mAh! That is, it uses a battery approximately like 3-4 traditional smartphones. There's also a shock-resistant case, so don't be surprised by the 400g-plus weight. There is fast charging; without it, the smartphone would take a very long time to charge.

This is an inexpensive device, its characteristics are good: a 6.3-inch high-resolution IPS matrix, MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) chipset, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM, there is even an NFC module.

The front camera is double, the second module is used to blur the background.

• Screen diagonal: 6.3 inches

• Screen resolution: 2340×1080

• Weight: 408 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765)

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 13000 mAh

• Rear camera: dual 16/0.3 MP

• Front camera: 16 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Google Pixel 6 Pro

Premium camera for Android

8.6

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 1.5 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.7-inch OLED (3120x1440) Rear cameras: 50 MP main (ƒ/1.85), 12 MP ultra-wide (ƒ/2.2), 48 MP telephoto (ƒ/3.5) with 4x optical zoom Front camera: 11.1 MP (ƒ/2.2) CPU: Tensor Battery life (hours:minutes): 7:49

pros

• Incredible cameras
• Tensor works well
• Beautiful new design
• More affordable than other flagships

Minuses

• Less battery life than competitors

If you're looking for the best Android camera, then the Pixel 6 Pro is for you. Not only is it IP68 waterproof, but it also has a completely new Tensor chip and new design. In fact, the Pixel 6 Pro is the best phone Google has ever made.

From impressive hardware to great software, the Pixel 6 Pro is the ultimate Android experience. Although it can only survive 1.5 meters, it can still cope with drowning. Regardless, it's a great phone, and it's cheaper than other flagships.

Read more - full review of the Pixel 6 Pro

6

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

An affordable, water-resistant Android flagship

8.5

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 1.5 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.7-inch OLED (2400×1080) Main camera: 12 MP main (/1.8), 12 MP ultra-wide (ƒ/2.2), 8 MP telephoto with 3x zoom (/2.4) Front camera: 32 MP (ƒ/2.2) Processor: Snapdragon 865 Battery life: 9:03

pros

• Large 120Hz display
• Powerful triple camera system
• High performance
• Affordable price

Minuses

• 120Hz mode reduces battery life

All Samsung 2022 flagship phones: Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 Plus, Galaxy S20 Ultra are IP68 rated, allowing them to be submerged in water up to 1.5 meters. That's less than the 2 meters offered by Apple's cheapest iPhone 11, although it should be plenty for most people.

But of course, the Galaxy S20 line has a number of other features: battery life, 5G connectivity, a stunning 120Hz screen, and a multi-lens system that's more versatile than the iPhone 11 Pro's triple-lens system (even if it doesn't always give the best photos).

Previously, the downside of Samsung's S20 series was that it was very expensive, especially the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra. But the Galaxy S20 FE changes that, offering an affordable, water-resistant, premium Galaxy phone without breaking the bank. It's even cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S21, which has the same IP68 water resistance as other Samsung flagships.

7

Samsung Galaxy S20FE (Fan Edition) 128GB (IP68)

One of the latest versions of the S20 line, which is called FE, that is, Fan Edition. It costs slightly less than the S20, but is seriously different.

For example, there is a completely different appearance of the back cover - like the Galaxy Note 20 series. The screen diagonal has grown to 6.5 inches, while the resolution is slightly lower. The processor remains the same (Samsung Exynos 990), but the amount of RAM has decreased slightly - 6 GB. The battery capacity is 4500 mAh, there is fast and wireless charging.

If we talk about the camera, it has changed slightly - this is an excellent camera phone.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 2400×1080

• Weight: 190 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Samsung Exynos 990

• Memory capacity: 128 GB

• RAM capacity: 6 GB

• Battery capacity: 4500 mAh

• Rear camera: triple 12/12/8 MP

• Front camera: 32 MP

• Memory card support: yes

OnePlus 9 Pro

8.4

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 1.5 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED (3168 x 1440; 1-120 Hz) Main camera: 48 MP wide (/1.8), 50 MP ultra-wide (tele/2.2) , 8 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical (2.4 / 2.4), 2 MP monochrome Front camera: 16 MP (ƒ / 2.4) Processor: Snapdragon 888 Battery life: 10:40 (120 Hz) / 10: 38 (60 Hz)

pros

• Attractive design
• 120Hz display
• Fast wired and wireless charging

Minuses

• Night photography mode is not very good

The OnePlus 9 Pro is truly impressive. Boasting several high-end specs such as a large 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED display, the latest Snapdragon 888 processor, and 65W wired charging, the phone is a rugged device with an IP68 rating.

Like the Galaxy S20 line, the OnePlus 8 Pro is rated to last for 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1.5 meters. But beyond its reliability, we also appreciate: the gorgeous 120Hz OLED screen, super-fast wireless charging, and fast performance thanks to the combination of Snapdragon 888 and 12GB of super-fast LPDDR5 RAM. We think that for its price, this is the best Android smartphone on the market.

8

Huawei P40 Pro (IP68)

The flagship of the Huawei line, or rather, one of them.

Huawei's flagship devices are known primarily as top-end camera phones. The P40 Pro is no exception - it takes excellent pictures, and the quality of video recording has seriously improved in this generation. The photos are taken by a camera consisting of three modules - main, ultra-wide-angle and telephoto, as well as a depth sensor.

The P40 Pro is also good in other disciplines: it has an excellent OLED screen with an on-screen scanner, a huge reserve of power thanks to the HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G chipset, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of ROM, and fast and wireless charging. The “front” in this generation is double.

• Screen diagonal: 6.58 inches

• Screen resolution: 2640×1200

• Weight: 209 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G

• Memory capacity: 256 GB

• RAM capacity: 8 GB

• Battery capacity: 4200 mAh

• Rear camera: four modules 50/40/12 MP + 3D Depth

• Front camera: 32 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Google Pixel 6

Great cameras and cheaper

8.3

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 1.5 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.4-inch OLED (2400 x 1080, 90 Hz) Rear cameras: 50 MP main (ƒ/1.85), 12 MP ultra-wide (ƒ/2.2) Front Camera: 8 MP (ƒ/2.0) CPU: Tensor Battery life (hours:minutes): 8:13

pros

• Tensor chip makes your phone smarter
• Great photo editing features
• Android 12 - the long-awaited update
• Great price

Minuses

• Battery life may be short compared to 5G

Google went back to the drawing board with the Pixel 6, and the end result is one of the best phones you can buy right now. Not only are the cameras very good, but the hardware and software complement each other so well.

If anything, we have to say that the Pixel 6's battery life isn't the best. However, it's still a great phone with a good display. And with IP68 water resistance, you can be sure your Pixel 6 will survive if you drop it in water.

Read more - full Pixel 6 review

9

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

A stunning, water-resistant phablet with a large screen

8.2

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 1.5 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.9-inch AMOLED (3088×1440) Main camera: 108 MP (ƒ / 1.8); 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom (ƒ/3.0); 12 MP ultra-wide (ƒ/2.2) Front camera: 10 MP (ƒ/2.2) Processor: Snapdragon 865 Plus Battery life: 10:26

pros

• Dynamic 6.9" 120Hz display
• Smooth S Pen operation
• Powerful camera with 50x zoom and laser autofocus
• Very good battery life

Minuses

• Expensive

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, like all other premium Samsung Galaxy devices (as well as the cheaper Galaxy Note 20), has an IP68 water resistance rating and is rated to be submersed in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

What makes it especially impressive is that the Note 20 Ultra has a large hole for the S Pen and we'd normally expect this to be a weak point when submerged in water. The fact that Samsung has gone the extra mile to make the Note 20 as durable as the Galaxy S20 line without compromising the stylus is commendable.

The design of the phablet uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus material, which better protects the device from damage. (The regular Note 20 has Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and reinforced polycarbonate on the back.)

10

Are Samsung Galaxy A52 and A72 waterproof?

Samsung Galaxy A52 and A72 are official models with cool specifications and a mission to take the upper mid-range segment by storm. These are very powerful and attractive devices, but there is one question that worries many people: Are the Samsung Galaxy A52 and A72 waterproof?

Almost all of today's flagship phones offer some form of ruggedization, and many mid-range phones seem to be following in their footsteps. Water and dust resistance are becoming standard in smartphones, and for good reason. You don't want your precious new phone to stop working after a light drizzle or drop... you know where. But let's get back to the question.

Samsung Galaxy A52, Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and Samsung Galaxy A72

Is Samsung A52 waterproof?

Yes! Galaxy A52 is protected from water and dust according to IP67 . This is a step up from its predecessor, the Galaxy A51, which does not have any IP rating at all. The IP67 protection level is one step lower than that of Samsung's flagship phones, but we'll talk about this in more detail below.

Is Samsung A72 waterproof?

Same here - Samsung gives the same IP67 to all of its new A series phones. The Galaxy A72 is truly waterproof . This is a nice feature, especially if you're an outdoor enthusiast, but what exactly does this rating mean?

What does IP67 mean?

IP stands for Intrusion Protection . " Ingress Protection ". Ingress Protection is an international protection rating according to IEC 60529. Simply put, this rating indicates the level of protection against the ingress of solid particles and liquids into the device.

The first number after the IP indicates the degree of protection against particulate matter , and 6 is the highest possible rating. It means "Dustproof. Dust doesn't get inside." The second number indicates water resistance , and in this case, 7 means: “protected from total immersion for 30 minutes to a depth of 15 cm to 1 meter.”

Protection class IP68

IP68 vs IP67

You are already familiar with how IP rating works. The only difference between IP67 and IP68 is the second number - water resistance . IP68 certified devices can withstand prolonged immersion in water under the conditions specified by the manufacturer. In the case of Samsung, this means immersion in fresh water to a depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes.

As you can see, the difference between IP67 and IP68 in this case is not that big.

IP68 rated : - S21 5G, S21+ 5G, and S21 Ultra 5G - S20 5G, S20+ 5G, S20 Ultra 5G, and S20 Fan Edition - S10e, S10, and S10+ - S9, S9+, and S9 Active - S8, S8+, and S8 Active - S7, S7 edge, and S7 Active - S6 Active - Note20 5G and Note20 Ultra 5G, including the S Pen - Note10, Note10+, Note10+ 5G, including the S Pen - Note8, including the S Pen—Note9, including the S Pen

If you really like the Galaxy A52 and A72, then don't be confused by the difference in IP rating. For all practical purposes, IP67 protection will do the job. Samsung advises its users not to use Galaxy phones in the pool or on the beach, so we're talking about protection against accidental drops in water .

The Galaxy S10 is listed as "water resistant" rather than "waterproof" on Samsung's website

Are waterproof phones really waterproof?

Even if your phone has an IP rating, that doesn't mean it's worth diving with.

Most smartphone manufacturers make it clear that their phones are not designed for use underwater. IP protection is an added bonus that should give you peace of mind and deal with stupid accidents. The best way to keep your phone safe is to avoid submerging it in water. Here are some additional tips:

— If your phone gets wet, dry it thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth.

— Do not expose your phone to salty or ionized water. If your phone has been exposed to salt water, rinse it with fresh water and then dry it thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth. Otherwise, when the phone dries out, the salt may accumulate and block the main microphone, earpiece, or external speaker.

— When drying your phone, be sure to wipe the earpiece (top front of the phone), main microphone (bottom of the phone), external speaker (bottom of the phone), and power/accessory interface (USB) connector with a clean soft cloth to remove as much water as possible.

— If you make a call immediately after the phone gets wet, water may enter the microphone, which may reduce the volume of sound heard by the other party. After drying your phone, let it air dry before making a call.

- Physical damage to your phone, such as chips and cracks, can significantly reduce its ability to withstand dust and water.

Galaxy A52 5G Camera Module

Waterproof vs Water Resistant: What's the Difference?

If you look at the technical specifications of modern smartphones, you will notice that most of them have some rating for water and dust resistance, most often IP67 or IP68 (pronounced “IP six seven” or “IP six eight”). This is also known as the international security marking code. The first number indicates the level of protection against dust penetration, and the second number indicates how difficult it is for water to penetrate. The higher the number, the better the device is protected.

What you might not notice is that neither of these phones are advertised as waterproof. They are simply waterproof, but not completely impervious to liquids. In other words, even a phone with an IP68 rating—the highest you'll find on a regular phone—can suffer water damage under certain conditions. It will survive a fall into the toilet, but is unlikely to survive under running hot water (by the way, this is a requirement for an IP69 ).

Why might water protection not work?

If you go to Apple's website and scroll to the bottom of the iPhone XS page, you will find the following disclaimer: “iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are splash, water, and dust resistant and were tested in controlled laboratory conditions to IP68 rating by IEC. 60529 (maximum depth 2 meters up to 30 minutes). Resistance to splashes, water and dust is not a permanent condition and resistance may be reduced through normal wear and tear.”

This doesn't just apply to iPhones. Almost every waterproof phone can lose its intrusion protection over time, simply due to heavy use. Accidental drops, exposure to extreme temperatures, and contact with salt water can cause the adhesive to weaken. Dust particles trapped behind the speaker grille can penetrate the speaker membrane and insulation. And if the phone's screen or glass back is cracked, its water resistance is pretty much gone. Currently, no major brand provides a warranty on the phone if it shows signs of water damage.

Samsung Galaxy S21

Samsung's most affordable waterproof S21 model

8.1

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 5 feet 1.5 meters for 30 minutes Display: 6.2-inch OLED (2400x1080) Main camera: 12 MP main (/1.8), 12 MP ultra-wide (ƒ/2.2), 64 telephoto MP with 3x zoom (/2.0) Front camera: 10 MP (ƒ/2.2) Processor: Snapdragon 888 Battery life: 9:53

pros

• Waterproof IP68
• Excellent 120Hz dynamic display
• Powerful camera zoom

Minuses

• No charger or microSD slot
• Plastic back

To get the core features of the Galaxy S21 line without overpaying, check out the Samsung Galaxy S21. For its price, it features an adaptive display and Snapdragon 888 chipset, just like other, more expensive S21 variants.

Equally important, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is waterproof. Like more expensive versions of this phone, the S21 can withstand 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. This is an especially valuable feature given the Galaxy S21's lower price.

11

What to consider when choosing a smartphone with moisture protection?

If you don’t know how to choose a smartphone with protection from dust and moisture, then you should understand that such devices comply with the generally accepted IP-XX standard, where

1. The first digit of the IP standard argues for the degree of protection against the penetration of small particles of debris and dust;
2. The second digit of the IP standard indicates the level of protection against moisture ingress.

Accordingly, the higher these two numbers, the higher the indicator. Today, the IP-69K standard is considered the maximum, which is implemented mainly in shock-resistant gadgets. Considering the standards and requirements for the implementation of modern gadgets, we do not recommend focusing on models with support below IP-59 if you are afraid of contact with water. If you only need protection from splashes, then there is no point in focusing on the indicated parameters at all.

iPhone SE (2020)

8

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Waterproof: IP67; maximum 1 meter for 30 minutes Display: 4.7-inch LCD (1334×750) Main camera: 12 MP (/1.8) Front camera: 7 MP (ƒ/2.2) Processor: A13 Bionic

pros

• A13 Bionic processor
• IP67
• Inexpensive

Minuses

• Inferior characteristics to newer models

The second generation iPhone SE features the lightning-fast A13 Bionic processor from the 2022 flagship iPhones in the iPhone 8 body. And since it echoes the design of the iPhone 8, it also has the water resistance of the iPhone 8. This phone meets the IP67 specification, which means it can withstand submersion in water to a depth of 1 meter for half an hour.

This may not seem too impressive compared to other devices on this list that are a bit more liquid-resistant. But what makes the iPhone SE's water resistance so special is the phone's competitive price. The iPhone SE is the cheapest waterproof IP phone you can buy. It also supports wireless charging and has an aluminum and glass body, making it extremely premium compared to similarly priced Android phones. Even the Google Pixel 4a, one of the best budget phones, doesn't have an IP rating or wireless charging capabilities.

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DOOGEE S40 3/32GB (IP68/IP69K)

DOOGEE is not a well-known brand, but adventure lovers are aware of it. Yes, it is known primarily as a manufacturer of protected (shockproof) smartphones.

The most amazing thing about this smartphone is not even the shock-resistant case or low cost, but the declared level of protection - IP68 and maximum IP69K.

It is clear that the main characteristics will not be surprising, given the price: 5.5-inch screen with low resolution, MediaTek MT6739 chip, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM. But the battery is powerful - 4650 mAh. There is no fast charging.

• Screen diagonal: 5.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 960×480

• Weight: 238 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek MT6739

• Memory capacity: 32 GB

• RAM capacity: 3 GB

• Battery capacity: 4650 mAh

• Rear camera: dual 8/5 MP

• Front camera: 5 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Google Pixel 5

Waterproof phone with pure Android

7.9

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Waterproof: IP68; maximum 5 feet (1.5 meters) for 30 minutes Display: 6-inch OLED (2340x1080) Main camera: 12 MP wide (ƒ/1.7); 16 MP ultra-wide Front camera: 8 MP (ƒ/2.0) Processor: Snapdragon 765G Battery life: 9:29

pros

• Compact design
• Great camera, now with ultra-wide angle lens
• Long battery life

Minuses

• Poor performance

The Pixel 5 doesn't significantly improve on the IP68 water resistance rating of its predecessors, but it is still one of the best waterproof phones as it can withstand up to 1.5 meters of water.

The Pixel 5 has a 6-inch 90Hz OLED screen and a dual-lens rear camera system. An additional shooter on the back is a 16MP ultra-wide camera, replacing the telephoto on the 2022 model, although high-quality Super Res digital zoom is still available.

The Pixel 5 loses the Soli Motion Sense radar technology and 3D Face Unlock from the Pixel 4, but gains a much larger battery, which will undoubtedly be appreciated by more users. Additionally, the Pixel 5 supports 5G networks in both sub-6GHz and mmWave frequencies, although the Snapdragon 765G processor in Google's latest flagship doesn't deliver the flagship-caliber performance we'd expect given the price.

Sony Xperia 1 II (IP65/IP68)

Some time ago, Sony introduced its new flagship. It couldn’t be easier to confuse it with a smartphone of the previous generation, and all because of the similar design and elongated body: a screen with an aspect ratio of 21:9 is used, hence the elongated body.

The smartphone is powered by the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, the memory capacity is 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of main memory. The battery capacity is an impressive 4000 mAh, there is fast and wireless charging. Traditionally for Sony flagships, the model sounds great from speakers and headphones. By the way, for the latter there is a 3.5 mm jack.

The camera has 4 familiar modules: main, ultra-wide, telephoto and depth sensor. The camera takes pictures at a very decent level.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 3840×1644

• Weight: 181 g

• Number of SIM cards: 1

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865

• Memory capacity: 256 GB

• RAM capacity: 8 GB

• Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

• Rear camera: triple 12/12/12 MP

• Memory card support: yes

How to choose the best waterproof smartphone

If water resistance is the main concern when buying a smartphone, you should pay attention to the IP rating.

In the mobile industry, IP67 certification means your device will be protected from immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. IP68 usually means you get at least 1.5 meters, although some companies like Apple use IP68 to mean durability up to 4 meters. If your phone doesn't have an IP rating or has a water-repellent coating on it, don't expect it to withstand being submerged underwater. Unfortunately, most budget phones tend to make do with this limited form of protection, and even some flagships like the Motorola Edge Plus and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G are among them.

It's also important to note that an IP rating does not mean that water damage within those parameters is covered under your device's warranty. Unfortunately, while many phone manufacturers are too quick to claim water resistance, you won't find one that is confident enough in that claim to actually replace or repair one of their products for free in the event of a drowning.

How we test smartphones

For a smartphone to make it onto one of our best phones lists, it must succeed in several tests that we run on every phone. We conduct some of these tests in our laboratories and some in real-world conditions.

In terms of performance, we rely on synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench 5 and GFXBench to measure graphics performance. These tests allow us to compare the performance of iPhone and Android devices. We also run a real-world video transcoding test on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the result.

To measure the quality of a phone's display, we run lab tests to determine panel brightness (in nits) as well as how colorful each screen is (DCI-P3 color gamut). In these cases, higher numbers are better. We also measure each panel's color accuracy using a Delta-E rating, where lower values ​​are better and a score of 0 is perfect.

One of the most important tests we perform is the battery test. We run a web surfing test on 5G or 4G networks at 150 nits of screen brightness until the battery runs out. In general, a phone that lasts 10 hours or more is good, and anything over 11 hours makes our list of the best phone battery life.

Last but not least, we take the best phones into the field to take outdoor, indoor, and low-light photos at night to see how they perform compared to their closest competitors. We shoot landscapes, food, portraits and more, and let you be the judge of side-by-side comparisons in our reviews.