It wasn’t way back {that a} dunk into the bathroom or pool spelled nearly sure doom for a smartphone. Positive, there have been strategies that may help dry out the phone, nevertheless it was at all times an anxiety-ridden expertise when your cellphone received moist. That is why, by and enormous, most producers nowadays embrace some form of IP water and mud resistance ranking.
1:02
Water and dust IP ratings: What does IP68 actually mean?
Your telephones and units include a code to let you know how waterproof it’s – however what do these codes imply?
Nowadays, IP68 smartphones are pretty commonplace. For many who do not know IP ratings, the “6” and “8” within the IP ranking are for mud and water resistance, respectively. The six signifies that it is dustproof, whereas the eight signifies that the machine may be repeatedly submerged in a particular depth of water for a particular period of time.
After testing 5 of the perfect IP68 telephones available on the market, we’re completely satisfied to report that you do not have to sacrifice very good smartphone efficiency for additional sturdiness. That will help you resolve which waterproof handset is best for you, this is a roundup of our tried and true decisions, beginning with our first alternative, the epic Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely.
Finest waterproof telephones: Our high picks
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
1. Finest total waterproof cellphone
It would not get a lot better than this
$1270 $1420 Save $150
The Galaxy S24 Extremely is the perfect total waterproof cellphone. It comes with a gaggle of options, top-end specs for 2024, and glorious battery life. It’s going to play all of the video games, carry out all of the duties, and extra whereas resisting a watery grave.
- IP68 ranking
- High finish specs for 2024 smartphones
- Spectacular display, efficiency, and battery
- It is costly
- Regardless of its titanium branding, it is nonetheless vulnerable to drops
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely is our first alternative for waterproof telephones. It comes with the usual IP68 ranking, which ticks the checkbox for this checklist, and it has much more. Samsung moved to a flat show this yr, which is able to imply customers have much more choices for Galaxy S24 Ultra screen protectors.
10:24
I spent 2 weeks with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it’s impressive(ly boring)
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Extremely checks the entire packing containers for a contemporary flagship cellphone, together with Galaxy AI. This is our full evaluation of Samsung’s finest.
Plus, its maxed-out specs ship nice efficiency, battery life, and show high quality. The cellphone had just a few stumbles out of the gate, which Samsung is fixing. One such instance is the S24 vividness tool to juice the show saturation.
Nevertheless, this monstrous cellphone will price you a reasonably penny because it routinely goes for north of $1000. Those that need the waterproof and Samsung constructed high quality can take a look at the opposite S24 fashions as all of them have IP68 scores.
Apple iPhone 15
2. Finest waterproof cellphone for Apple customers
This iPhone is not afraid of the weather
The Apple iPhone 15 is the bottom mannequin of Apple’s present lineup and options the identical {hardware} because the iPhone 14 however with a sooner GPU, upgraded important digital camera and entrance digital camera enhancements. It is available in five color options, and is IP68 licensed.
- Nice design with good shade choices
- Wonderful efficiency
- Wonderful show
- No enjoyable, upgraded design
- Greater-tier variants can get costly
The Apple iPhone 15 is, indubitably, your best option in order for you an iPhone. There are a number of flavors of the iPhone 15, together with the common, Plus, Professional, and Professional Max fashions. They differ in measurement, specs, and worth. Nevertheless, they’re all IP68 licensed, so you do not have to fret about that not less than.
Apple iPhone 15: A stealth choice
There may be each cause to purchase this iPhone, and that applies even when you’ve got an iPhone 14. This is why the iPhone 15 is a wonderful alternative.
What makes the iPhone 15 the most suitable choice for Apple customers is that it is the newest one with nice upgrades. It has the perfect specs on any cellphone Apple has produced. The extra budget-friendly variants, like the bottom mannequin iPhone 15, have some scaled-back options to drive the worth down, however nothing too severe.
We’re huge followers of its design and efficiency. Even the digital camera is superb. On the low finish, you may get an iPhone 15 for $800 instantly from Apple and there are nearly perpetually cell service offers the place you may get it for much less or on a fee plan.
Google Pixel 8 Professional
3. Finest waterproof cellphone for Android followers
Google’s cool new digital camera software program on high of IP68 resistance
The Google Pixel 8 Professional is the newest flagship from Google. It contains the newest Google-made Tensor GPU, an incredible digital camera, and, after all, IP68 water resistance. It’s going to do what you want it to do.
- Digital camera efficiency
- Nice show
- Clear software program expertise
- Battery life is merely common
- Snapdragon-powered flagships supply extra efficiency
The Google Pixel 8 Professional is Google’s newest flagship, launched Oct. 2023. It provides an identical set of options to the earlier yr’s Pixel 7 Pro, together with an excellent digital camera, a clear software program expertise, and an exquisite show.
Google Pixel 8 Pro: Google just went and reinvented smartphone photography
Is the Google Pixel 8 Professional greater than only a vessel for AI?
Google can also be dedicated to seven years of software program updates to the cellphone, so you do not have to fret about being old-fashioned with a Pixel 8 Professional for a very long time. The Android area has stabilized fairly a bit in recent times, so the downsides to the Pixel 8 Professional are primarily an identical to final yr’s cellphone.
Snapdragon-powered telephones merely have extra horsepower, though solely energy customers want to fret about that. Google’s latest Tensor chip isn’t any slouch, it is simply not the perfect one. In any case, the Pixel 8 Professional is an apparent alternative, and goes toe-to-toe with any Android cellphone.
Google Pixel 7a
4. Finest finances waterproof cellphone
It does extra for much less whereas additionally staying dry
The Google Pixel 7a is a strong, cheap smartphone that handles the weather comparatively effectively. It sports activities an IP67 ranking, which is able to preserve it secure from the occasional dunk into water and is available in at beneath $500 MSRP.
- Nice digital camera efficiency, no matter worth level
- Surprisingly good design and construct high quality
- Clear software program expertise with constant updates
- Show may very well be brighter
- Costlier than prior Google Pixel “a” telephones
It is tough to say adverse issues in regards to the Google Pixel 7a. It prices $500, has the identical flagship-level processor because the common Pixel 7 collection, and takes glorious photos. By way of worth, there aren’t many telephones available on the market that may boast the talents of the Pixel 7a.
8:38
Google Pixel 7a: Mid-range might
Google’s up to date mid-range cellphone boosts the standard over the earlier iteration — however its greatest competitor could be from Google itself.
It additionally comes with IP67 water and mud resistance. Which means it’s going to take a dunk, however you should not preserve it underwater for a very long time. The Pixel 7a is certainly costlier than the 6a or prior units within the lineup. Nevertheless, Google packs a number of worth in there. The digital camera efficiency is great and competes with telephones at twice its worth level.
Whereas the Tensor G2 is not the latest child on the block anymore, it is nonetheless able to good efficiency. It is not fairly IP68 rated, however telephones this cheap with IP68 scores normally do not have this degree of usability. Simply do not go away it underwater and you will be high-quality.
Asus Zenfone 10
5. Finest compact choice for a water-proof cellphone
Sturdy and pocketable machine
The Zenfone 10 delivers flagship efficiency, has an important show and digital camera, however squeezes it into a snug one-handed, compact type that boasts IP68 and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Compact and sensible design
- Flagship velocity and efficiency
- Nice major digital camera with glorious stabilization
- Rear texture will not be to everybody’s style
- Ultrawide digital camera is not superb
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a cellphone that is smaller and simpler to handle with one hand, then maybe the Asus Zenfone 10 is the place it is at for you. As a substitute of an enormous show just like the Pixel 7 Professional or S23 Extremely provides, the Zenfone 10 has a good 5.9-inch show that is a lot brilliant and clear.
Asus Zenfone 10: The compact phone of your dreams
With its small measurement, tactile again and daring design, the Asus Zenfone 10 is a compact dream.
It boasts an IP68 ranking, which Asus lists within the small print on the Zenfone 10’s website as having the ability to stand up to being submerged at a depth of 1.5 meters in “faucet water” for half-hour. This is a enjoyable truth in regards to the Zenfone 10: It has a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired headphones and continues to be waterproof — a double rarity.
The Zenfone 10 is available in some enjoyable colours too, together with eclipse purple, midnight black, aurora inexperienced, comet white and starry blue.
Sony Xperia 1 V
6. Finest premium waterproof smartphone
Regular, highly effective, versatile
$1198 $1398 Save $200
The Sony Xperia 1 V is an costly, however succesful smartphone. It sports activities a really unbelievable OLED show, good battery life, and some of the versatile digital camera programs of any smartphone. It is costly, however premium smartphones usually are.
- Wonderful design with textured again and grooved sides
- Flagship-level efficiency to match the nice OLED show
- Versatile digital camera system
- It is costly
- Versatile cameras include difficult software program
Enjoyable truth, Sony was one of many first smartphone OEMs to incorporate IP scores with its smartphones, with the Sony Xperia Z1S being notable for its water resistance. The Sony Xperia 1 V continues that custom with an attention-grabbing, however nonetheless very waterproof IP65/IP68 ranking. On high of that, the Xperia 1 V comes with flagship-level specs, an excellent show, and a novel digital camera system.
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Sony’s newest flagship brings some welcome adjustments, however is it nonetheless too costly?
For the cameras, it homes three of them, together with a 48MP important shooter, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide. They’ll shoot 4K video as much as 120FPS and do a number of different neat issues. Nevertheless, it does require a studying curve as a result of Sony’s software program is not essentially the most intuitive.
In any case, this cellphone does a little bit little bit of all the things and would not complain a lot when doing it. The S24 Extremely continues to be higher, however this cellphone is $200 inexpensive than the S24 Extremely, and it solely comes unlocked.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
7. Finest foldable waterproof cellphone
As nice because it will get
$1500 $1800 Save $300
Sure, foldables may be waterproof and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a primary instance. With its beefy specs, IPX8 water resistance ranking, and big inside display, the Z Fold 5 is arguably essentially the most premium choice on the checklist.
- Wonderful shows
- Flagship specs means flagship efficiency
- Folding design has solely gotten higher through the years
- It is not so sturdy in opposition to mud as it’s water
- Nonetheless supremely costly
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the costliest smartphone on this checklist. It is also the one one with a hinge and a number of shows, so not less than it isn’t for no cause. Surprisingly, the Z Fold 5 is waterproof, sporting an IPX8 ranking.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Still the top choice of foldable phone
Samsung’s newest Fold would possibly look iterative, however there are some necessary adjustments within the 2023 flagship.
The “X” there signifies that it has no mud resistance ranking, so whereas it could take a dunk within the pool, it could’t deal with a tough day on the seaside. It is one thing to bear in mind. In any other case, you are getting a high-end smartphone on the bleeding fringe of expertise.
The inner display is principally a pill with the exterior display being ok for primary smartphone wants like calls, texts, social media, and net searching. The specs make it a powerhouse as effectively. Whereas the worth has come down from earlier iterations, it is nonetheless fairly costly, so contemplate rigorously earlier than buying.
The underside line: What’s the perfect waterproof cellphone available on the market?
It relies upon totally on what you need. The most recent iPhones are all waterproof so Apple followers are lined. In the meantime, Android followers have a number of telephones to select from. We expect the Galaxy S24 Extremely covers the bases for the most individuals with a premium design, flagship specs, glorious cameras, and nice battery life. Clearly, for Apple followers, any model of the iPhone 15 will give you the results you want.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
Editor’s Selection
Sturdy and pocketable machine
$1270 $1420 Save $150
Now, that does not imply that there aren’t any different good choices. The Pixel 8 Professional, Pixel 7a, Sony Xperia 1 V, and Galaxy Z Fold 5 are all excellent choices, whereas the Asus Zenfone 10 picks up the slack within the compact smartphone phase. It doesn’t matter what form of waterproof cellphone you need, there may be an choice for you.
How did we select the perfect waterproof telephones?
Pocket-lint has been reviewing telephones as an organization for 20 years, so we all know a factor or two about smartphones. For essentially the most half, almost all smartphones nowadays include waterproof scores. This checklist omitted the non-waterproof telephones and added another, juicy choices. We have now additionally reviewed each cellphone on this checklist.
FAQ
Q: How do I do know if my cellphone is waterproof?
The very first thing it is best to do is go to Google and sort within the mannequin identify of your cellphone together with the phrase “IP ranking” to see in case your cellphone has one. From there, it is simply figuring out that the IP scores imply. If it is an IPX4 or IPX5, it is splash-proof. IPX7 and IPX8 can deal with dunks in water at various depths for various occasions. IPX9, which is uncommon, signifies that a cellphone may be underwater for lots longer.
In case your cellphone would not have an IP ranking, meaning it isn’t licensed as waterproof. Nevertheless, some OEMs, like OnePlus, will say their telephones are water resistant with out looking for out official IP certification. For OEMs like that, your mileage might differ. Telephones with out IP scores or waterproof claims are 100% not waterproof.
Q: Are there any waterproof foldable telephones?
Water resistance on foldable telephones is not quite common, nevertheless it’s slowly changing into one thing we’re beginning to see. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5 and the Google Pixel Fold have been all lately launched and all carry an IPX8 ranking for water resistance.
To be clear, that ranking lacks any certification for mud resistance, however based on Samsung, the IPX8 ranking on its foldables signifies that they “will operate correctly even after being submerged in recent water for as much as half-hour beneath particular situations.”
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