It wasn’t way back {that a} dunk into the bathroom or pool spelled nearly sure doom for a smartphone. Certain, there have been strategies that may help dry out the phone, however it was at all times an anxiety-ridden expertise when your telephone received moist. That is why, by and enormous, most producers today embrace some kind of IP water and mud resistance ranking.
1:02
Water and dust IP ratings: What does IP68 actually mean?
Your telephones and gadgets include a code to inform you how waterproof it’s – however what do these codes imply?
Today, 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 implies that it is dustproof, whereas the eight implies that the machine might 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 blissful to report that you do not have to sacrifice excellent smartphone efficiency for further sturdiness. That will help you resolve which waterproof handset is best for you, here is a roundup of our tried and true selections, beginning with our first selection, the epic Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely.
Greatest waterproof telephones: Our high picks
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
1. Greatest general waterproof telephone
It does not get a lot better than this
$1270 $1420 Save $150
The Galaxy S24 Extremely is the perfect general waterproof telephone. It comes with a gaggle of options, top-end specs for 2024, and wonderful 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 screen, 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 selection 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 can 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 all the bins for a contemporary flagship telephone, together with Galaxy AI. This is our full overview of Samsung’s finest.
Plus, its maxed-out specs ship nice efficiency, battery life, and show high quality. The telephone had a number of stumbles out of the gate, which Samsung is fixing. One such instance is the S24 vividness tool to juice the show saturation.
Nonetheless, this monstrous telephone 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 try the opposite S24 fashions as all of them have IP68 rankings.
Apple iPhone 15
2. Greatest waterproof telephone 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 quicker GPU, upgraded predominant digicam and entrance digicam enhancements. It is available in five color options, and is IP68 licensed.
- Nice design with good shade choices
- Glorious efficiency
- Glorious show
- No enjoyable, upgraded design
- Larger-tier variants can get costly
The Apple iPhone 15 is, surely, your best option if you need 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 dimension, specs, and worth. Nonetheless, they’re all IP68 licensed, so you do not have to fret about that a minimum of.
Apple iPhone 15: A stealth choice
There’s each purpose to purchase this iPhone, and that applies even if in case you have an iPhone 14. This is why the iPhone 15 is a superb selection.
What makes the iPhone 15 the best choice for Apple customers is that it is the newest one with nice upgrades. It has the perfect specs on any telephone 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 critical.
We’re massive followers of its design and efficiency. Even the digicam is superb. On the low finish, you will get an iPhone 15 for $800 immediately from Apple and there are nearly perpetually cell service offers the place you will get it for much less or on a cost plan.
Google Pixel 8 Professional
3. Greatest waterproof telephone for Android followers
Google’s cool new digicam software program on high of IP68 resistance
The Google Pixel 8 Professional is the most recent flagship from Google. It contains the most recent Google-made Tensor GPU, a tremendous digicam, and, after all, IP68 water resistance. It’s going to do what you want it to do.
- Digicam efficiency
- Nice show
- Clear software program expertise
- Battery life is merely common
- Snapdragon-powered flagships provide extra efficiency
The Google Pixel 8 Professional is Google’s newest flagship, launched Oct. 2023. It gives the same set of options to the earlier yr’s Pixel 7 Pro, together with an impressive digicam, 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 telephone, so you do not have to fret about being old-fashioned with a Pixel 8 Professional for a very long time. The Android house has stabilized fairly a bit lately, so the downsides to the Pixel 8 Professional are primarily equivalent to final yr’s telephone.
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 selection, and goes toe-to-toe with any Android telephone.
Google Pixel 7a
4. Greatest funds waterproof telephone
It does extra for much less whereas additionally staying dry
The Google Pixel 7a is a strong, cheap smartphone that handles the weather comparatively nicely. It sports activities an IP67 ranking, which can preserve it protected from the occasional dunk into water and is available in at underneath $500 MSRP.
- Nice digicam efficiency, no matter worth level
- Surprisingly good design and construct high quality
- Clear software program expertise with constant updates
- Show might be brighter
- Dearer than prior Google Pixel “a” telephones
It is tough to say unfavourable issues concerning the Google Pixel 7a. It prices $500, has the identical flagship-level processor because the common Pixel 7 sequence, and takes wonderful footage. 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 telephone boosts the standard over the earlier iteration — however its greatest competitor is perhaps from Google itself.
It additionally comes with IP67 water and mud resistance. Meaning it will take a dunk, however you should not preserve it underwater for a very long time. The Pixel 7a is certainly dearer than the 6a or prior gadgets within the lineup. Nonetheless, Google packs a whole lot of worth in there. The digicam efficiency is superb and competes with telephones at twice its worth level.
Whereas the Tensor G2 is not the most recent child on the block anymore, it is nonetheless able to good efficiency. It is not fairly IP68 rated, however telephones this cheap with IP68 rankings often do not have this degree of usability. Simply do not depart it underwater and you will be tremendous.
Asus Zenfone 10
5. Greatest compact possibility for a water-proof telephone
Sturdy and pocketable machine
The Zenfone 10 delivers flagship efficiency, has a terrific show and digicam, however squeezes it into a cushty one-handed, compact kind that boasts IP68 and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Compact and sensible design
- Flagship pace and efficiency
- Nice main digicam with wonderful stabilization
- Rear texture will not be to everybody’s style
- Ultrawide digicam is not wonderful
When you’re searching for a telephone 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 a large show just like the Pixel 7 Professional or S23 Extremely gives, the Zenfone 10 has a good 5.9-inch show that is a lot shiny and clear.
Asus Zenfone 10: The compact phone of your dreams
With its small dimension, 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 web site 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 reality concerning 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 crimson, midnight black, aurora inexperienced, comet white and starry blue.
Sony Xperia 1 V
6. Greatest 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 improbable OLED show, good battery life, and some of the versatile digicam methods of any smartphone. It is costly, however premium smartphones usually are.
- Glorious design with textured again and grooved sides
- Flagship-level efficiency to match the good OLED show
- Versatile digicam system
- It is costly
- Versatile cameras include sophisticated software program
Enjoyable reality, Sony was one of many first smartphone OEMs to incorporate IP rankings with its smartphones, with the Sony Xperia Z1S being notable for its water resistance. The Sony Xperia 1 V continues that custom with an fascinating, however nonetheless very waterproof IP65/IP68 ranking. On high of that, the Xperia 1 V comes with flagship-level specs, an impressive show, and a novel digicam system.
Sony Xperia 1 V: The master camera finally gets night mode
Sony’s newest flagship brings some welcome modifications, however is it nonetheless too costly?
For the cameras, it homes three of them, together with a 48MP predominant shooter, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide. They will shoot 4K video as much as 120FPS and do a whole lot of different neat issues. Nonetheless, it does require a studying curve as a result of Sony’s software program is not essentially the most intuitive.
In any case, this telephone does just a little little bit of every little thing and does not complain a lot when doing it. The S24 Extremely continues to be higher, however this telephone is $200 inexpensive than the S24 Extremely, and it solely comes unlocked.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
7. Greatest foldable waterproof telephone
As nice because it will get
$1500 $1800 Save $300
Sure, foldables might be waterproof and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a chief instance. With its beefy specs, IPX8 water resistance ranking, and large inside display screen, the Z Fold 5 is arguably essentially the most premium possibility on the checklist.
- Glorious shows
- Flagship specs means flagship efficiency
- Folding design has solely gotten higher through the years
- It is not so robust towards mud as it’s water
- Nonetheless supremely costly
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the most costly smartphone on this checklist. It is also the one one with a hinge and a number of shows, so a minimum of it isn’t for no purpose. 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 may look iterative, however there are some vital modifications within the 2023 flagship.
The “X” there implies that it has no mud resistance ranking, so whereas it may take a dunk within the pool, it may’t deal with a tough day on the seashore. It is one thing to remember. In any other case, you are getting a high-end smartphone on the bleeding fringe of know-how.
The interior display screen is principally a pill with the exterior display screen being adequate for fundamental smartphone wants like calls, texts, social media, and internet searching. The specs make it a powerhouse as nicely. Whereas the worth has come down from earlier iterations, it is nonetheless fairly costly, so take into account fastidiously earlier than buying.
The underside line: What’s the perfect waterproof telephone available on the market?
It relies upon totally on what you need. The newest iPhones are all waterproof so Apple followers are coated. 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, wonderful cameras, and nice battery life. Clearly, for Apple followers, any model of the iPhone 15 will be just right for you.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
Editor’s Alternative
Sturdy and pocketable machine
$1270 $1420 Save $150
Now, that does not imply that there are not 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 section. It doesn’t matter what type of waterproof telephone you need, there’s an possibility 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, practically all smartphones today include waterproof rankings. This checklist omitted the non-waterproof telephones and added another, juicy choices. We now have additionally reviewed each telephone on this checklist.
FAQ
Q: How do I do know if my telephone is waterproof?
The very first thing you need to do is go to Google and sort within the mannequin identify of your telephone together with the phrase “IP ranking” to see in case your telephone has one. From there, it is simply understanding that the IP rankings 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 instances. IPX9, which is uncommon, implies that a telephone might be underwater for lots longer.
In case your telephone does not have an IP ranking, which means it isn’t licensed as waterproof. Nonetheless, 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 rankings or waterproof claims are 100% not waterproof.
Q: Are there any waterproof foldable telephones?
Water resistance on foldable telephones is not quite common, however it’s slowly turning 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 just lately launched and all carry an IPX8 ranking for water resistance.
To be clear, that ranking lacks any certification for mud resistance, however in accordance with Samsung, the IPX8 ranking on its foldables implies that they “will perform correctly even after being submerged in contemporary water for as much as half-hour underneath particular situations.”
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