A few years ago, it only took a simple spilled glass of water to ruin your smartphone. However, over the last few years, phone manufacturers have increasingly integrated water-resistance technology into smartphones. And because of these initiatives, I no longer reach for my phone as soon as the glass hits the table. Heck, I don’t even get nervous around my swimming pool.
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Water and dust IP ratings: What does IP68 actually mean?
Your phones and devices come with a code to tell you how waterproof it is – but what do these codes mean?
If you want the same worry-free benefits when carrying your smartphone around water, you’ll want to look for an IP68 rating when selecting a new handset. The common waterproofing technology for smartphones, this magical, four-character alphanumeric abbreviation, translates into peace of mind that your phone is water and dust-resistant enough to submerge your phone in water for an extended period with limited to no lasting damage.
After testing five of the best IP68 phones on the market, we’re happy to report that you don’t have to sacrifice superb smartphone performance for extra durability. To help you decide which waterproof handset is right for you, here’s a roundup of our tried and true choices, starting with our first choice, the epic Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Best waterproof phones: Our top picks
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
1. Best waterproof phone for premium users
Samsung’s newest and feature packed offering
$1050 $1200 Save $150
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra has everything but the kitchen sink when it comes to features you’d want in a smartphone, including an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
- Fantastic display
- Camera is impressive in all modes
- Fast and fluid performance
- Quality build
- Some of the software changes muddy Android
- Charging could be faster
- Pricey
- Speaker location not great for gamers
Samsung’s high-end smartphone, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, packs a punch when it comes to performance, display size and battery life. But it also boasts an IP68 rating, which Samsung lists as capable of surviving being submerged in 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes on the phone’s spec sheet. And that’s with the S Pen silo for Samsung’s stylus.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review: A masterclass in refinement
It’s an evolution of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but there are some core updates that really make the S23 Ultra fly.
Of course, you’ll get more than a waterproof phone with the S23 Ultra. The S23 Ultra has three rear-facing cameras, with up to 100x digital zoom, and a 12MP front selfie camera. The aforementioned S Pen lets you draw and write notes on the display of the phone, or control your phone from across the room with a flick of the wrist.
You can pick from 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage and several color options, such as green, phantom black, lavender or cream.
Apple iPhone 15
2. Best waterproof phone for Apple users
This iPhone isn’t afraid of the elements
The Apple iPhone 15 is the base model of Apple’s current lineup and features the same hardware as the iPhone 14 but with a faster GPU, upgraded main camera and front camera improvements. It comes in five color options, and is IP68 certified.
- Great design
- Great color options for many tastes
- Excellent display
The Apple iPhone 15 is, without a doubt, your best choice if you want an iPhone. There are several flavors of the iPhone 15, including the regular, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models. They vary in size, specs, and price. However, they are all IP68 certified, so you don’t have to worry about that at least.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review: Effortless performance
The iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers a superb performance and some great upgrades, not just in terms of camera but design too. Here’s my review.
What makes the iPhone 15 the best option for Apple users is that it’s the latest one with great upgrades. It has the best specs on any phone Apple has produced. The more budget-friendly variants, like the base model iPhone 15, have some scaled-back features to drive the price down, but nothing too serious.
We’re big fans of its design and performance. Even the camera is very good. At the low end, you can get an iPhone 15 for $800 directly from Apple and there are almost perpetually mobile carrier deals where you can get it for less or on a payment plan.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
3. Best waterproof phone for Android fans
Google’s cool new camera software on top of IP68 resistance
$799 $999 Save $200
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is the latest flagship from Google. It includes the most updated specs, an amazing camera, and, of course, IP68 water resistance.
- Camera performance
- Great display
- Clean software experience
- Competitive price
- Battery life is merely average
- Snapdragon-powered flagships offer more performance
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is Google’s latest flagship for 2023. It offers a similar set of features from last year’s Pixel 7 Pro, including an outstanding camera, a clean software experience, and a wonderful display.
Google Pixel 8 Pro review: Google just went and reinvented smartphone photography
Is the Google Pixel 8 Pro more than just a vessel for AI?
Google is also committed to seven years of software updates to the phone, so you don’t have to worry about being out of date with a Pixel 8 Pro for a long time. The Android space has stabilized quite a bit in recent years, so the downsides to the Pixel 8 Pro are essentially identical to last year’s phone.
Snapdragon-powered phones simply have more horsepower, although only power users need to worry about that. Google’s latest Tensor chip is no slouch, it’s just not the best one. In any case, The Pixel 8 Pro is an obvious choice, and goes toe-to-toe with any Android phone.
Nokia XR21
4. Best budget option for a waterproof phone
Excellent IP rating at a wallet-friendly price
Nokia’s XR21 has a staggering IP69K rating for dust and water resistance, which makes it one of the most waterproof phones we’ve ever seen.
- IP69K rating
- Also MIL-STD-810H certified for drop protection
- Vibrant display
- Long battery life
- Mid-range processor
- It’s getting a little older
The headline says it all, “The Nokia XR21 could be the most waterproof phone we’ve ever seen,” and that’s not hubris. The Nokia XR21 has an IP rating of IP69K, which honestly is something I’d never heard of until now. Remember, all other phones on this list – and the majority of smartphones in general – carry an IP68 rating.
What does IP69K mean? The Nokia XR21 will withstand all the same water exposure that IP68-certified devices will, but will also withstand high-pressure and high-temperature jets. If you’re tough on phones beyond water exposure, you’ll be happy to know that the XR21 is also MIL-STD-810H certified for drop protection without the need for a case. This is truly a phone you can abuse.
At $500, the XR21 is an affordable smartphone with mid-range specifications that include a 6.49-inch display, two rear-facing cameras, and up to two-day battery life, according to Nokia. You have a single color option of black.
Asus Zenfone 10
5. Best compact option for a waterproof phone
Sturdy and pocketable device
The Zenfone 10 delivers flagship performance, has a great display and camera, but squeezes it into a comfortable one-handed, compact form that boasts IP68 and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Compact and practical design
- Flagship speed and performance
- Great primary camera with excellent stabilization
- Inclusion of stock Android alongside Zen UI
- Not too expensive
- Rear texture won’t be to everyone’s taste
- Ultrawide camera isn’t amazing
If you’re looking for a phone that’s smaller and easier to manage with a single hand, then perhaps the Asus Zenfone 10 is where it’s at for you. Instead of a massive display like the Pixel 7 Pro or S23 Ultra offers, the Zenfone 10 has a respectable 5.9-inch display that’s plenty bright and clear.
Asus Zenfone 10 review: The compact phone of your dreams
With its small size, tactile back and bold design, the Asus Zenfone 10 is a compact dream.
It boasts an IP68 rating, which Asus lists in the small print on the Zenfone 10’s site as being able to withstand being submerged at a depth of 1.5 meters in “tap water” for 30 minutes. Here’s a fun fact about the Zenfone 10: It has a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired headphones and is still waterproof – double rarity.
The Zenfone 10 comes in some fun colors too, including eclipse red, midnight black, aurora green, comet white and starry blue.
The bottom line: What’s the best waterproof phone on the market?
There are plenty of waterproof phones available from a wide range of device makers, and truth be told, there isn’t a single top pick. Ultimately, it comes down to whichever phone you like that fits in your budget. For me, that means I’m usually picking between the latest high-end iPhone model and the most expensive recent Samsung phone.
That said, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is an easy top pick for a premium waterproof Android phone, while the iPhone 14 sits comfortably in the sweet spot for iPhone users. Google’s Pixel 7 Pro has a bunch of software tricks you won’t find on other Android phones, and rounding out the top picks is the Nokia XR21 as the best budget option for a waterproof phone, with the Asus Zenfone 10 being the best compact option.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Editor’s Choice
$1050 $1200 Save $150
How I chose the best waterproof phones
I started reviewing smartphones 15 years ago, back before waterproof phones were nothing more than a dream. During that time, I’ve used phones of all shapes and sizes, and fondly remember nervously testing the first waterproof Samsung Galaxy phone. I created a time-lapse video of the phone in a bowl of water to document whatever happened. Spoiler: It survived.
I’ve personally used the Galaxy S23 Ultra, iPhone 14 and Pixel 7 Pro. All three are fantastic phones with waterproof abilities. For the Nokia XR21 and Asus Zenfone 10, both of which are brands that aren’t readily available here in the US, I read my colleague’s reviews and use their recommendations.
How do I know if my phone is waterproof?
The best way to figure out if your phone is waterproof is to put it in a tub of water for 30 minutes and check to see if it’s still working when you take it out. Actually, don’t do that. That’s a horrible idea.
The easiest way to figure out if your phone is waterproof is to look at its specification sheet, which is usually posted on the manufacturer’s website, and look for an IP rating or water/dust resistance rating. It should start with IP followed by two numbers. In the instance of all the devices on this list, that equates to IP68.
Are there any waterproof foldable phones?
Water resistance on foldable phones isn’t very common, but it’s slowly becoming something we’re starting to see. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5 and the Google Pixel Fold were all recently released and all carry an IPX8 rating for water resistance. To be clear, that rating lacks any certification for dust resistance, but it does mean that they’ve been certified to withstand a splash of water, but not being completely submerged in a body of water.
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