How well can your water-resistant smartphone withstand water?

Jasper21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Content

What is the IP certification of a mobile phone?
IP67 vs IP68 vs IP69: What are the differences?
See the differences between all IP certifications
All IP certifications at a glance
Which mobile phones are waterproof?
The best water-resistant smartphones
Our advice on waterproof mobile phones

A smartphone is partially submerged in blue water with bubbles.

Do you like water sports to take pictures underwater on holiday? Then choose a water-resistant smartphone. Thanks to the various IP certifications, you immediately know whether a device can withstand some rain, or whether you can even dive into the pool with it. In this article, you'll discover everything about water-resistant smartphones.

What is the IP certification of a mobile phone?

The IP (Ingress Protection) certification of a mobile phone displays a degree of water resistance. We deliberately use the term 'water resistance', because no smartphone is 100 percent waterproof to date. Such an IP code consists of 2 digits: the first digit indicates how well the device is protected against dust and dirt, the second digit indicates how well it is resistant to moisture and water. The higher these numbers, the better your smartphone will be resistant to rain, splashes, or even temporary immersion in water.

IP67 vs IP68 vs IP69: What are the differences?

If you're looking for a water-resistant smartphone, you'll often come across the terms IP67, IP68, and IP69. But what exactly do these classifications mean? We’ve listed the differences for you.

IP67

A smartphone with IP67 is completely dustproof and can survive a splash in the sink, toilet, or a heavy rain shower without any problems. If it isn’t deeper than one metre and no longer than 30 minutes under water. Please note that this protection only applies to fresh water; your device may react differently to chlorine or seawater.

IP68

IP68 is even better. Your smartphone is not only completely dustproof but can be underwater up to 1.5 to 3 metres deep and often for longer than 30 minutes. This is useful if you drop your phone in water or are often outside in all weathers. Again, only in fresh water. The exact depth and time that you can keep the device under water can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. So always check the specifications of your device.

IP69

With IP69, your smartphone is not only dustproof, but also resistant to powerful water jets. Think of a heavy rain shower or if you drop your mobile phone in mud and have to rinse it off. This does not mean that it can go deeper under water than an IP68 device, but it does mean that it is better protected against high-pressure water. IP69 is especially useful if you use your phone in extreme or challenging conditions, such as on a construction site.

See the differences between all IP certifications

Property name	Protection against dust	Water resistance	Practical examples
IP67	Completely dustproof	Up to 30 minutes of immersion in fresh water up to 1 metre deep.	Rain shower, splash when washing dishes or accidentally dropping it in water (briefly).
IP68	Completely dustproof	Up to 30 minutes of immersion in fresh water up to 1.5 metre deep. (depending on manufacturer)	Water sports, rainy festivals or use on the beach.
IP69	Completely dustproof	Resistant to submersion and heavy rain showers or splashes of water, even during intensive water sports.	Outdoor activities, rough wet conditions, heavy rain or splashing water.

All IP certifications at a glance

Property name	Definition	Practical significance
IP54	Splash-proof & partially dust-resistant	Can withstand splash water and some dust, not immersion.
IP65	Dustproof & resistant to water jets	Completely dustproof, resistant to water jets, not to immersion.
IP67	Dustproof & immersion up to 1 metre	Completely dustproof, 30 minutes underwater to a depth of 1 metre.
IP68	Dustproof & immersion longer/deeper	Completely dustproof, longer and deeper underwater.
IP69	Dustproof & resistant to high-pressure water jets	Completely dustproof, resistant to powerful water jets and high temperature.

Which mobile phones are waterproof?

Most modern (high-end) smartphones are water-resistant. In this list you’ll find the most popular devices of the moment and their IP certification:

Brand & Model	IP Certification
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra1	IP68
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus	IP68
Samsung Galaxy S25	IP68
Samsung Galaxy S23	IP68
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE	IP68
Samsung Galaxy A55	IP68
Samsung Galaxy A35	IP67
Samsung Galaxy Xcover7	IP68
Google Pixel 9 Pro	IP68
Google Pixel 9	IP68
Google Pixel 8	IP68
Google Pixel 8a	IP67
OPPO Find X8 Pro	IP68
Motorola Edge 60 Pro	IP69
OnePlus 13	IP68
Xiaomi 15	IP68

The best water-resistant smartphones

The best waterproof smartphones of the moment? These include the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (IP68), the OnePlus 13 (IP69), and the Google Pixel 9 Pro (IP68). These smartphones combine powerful performance with reliable protection against water and dust. The new iPhone 16 belongs in this list. It has an IP68 rating and can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes without damage, up to 6 metres deep.

Property name	IP Certification	Maximum water depth & time underwater
iPhone 16 (all models)	IP68	6 metres, 30 min
iPhone 15 (all models)	IP68	6 metres, 30 min
iPhone 14 (all models)	IP68	6 metres, 30 min
iPhone 13 (all models)	IP68	6 metres, 30 min
iPhone 12 (all models)	IP68	6 metres, 30 min
iPhone 11 Pro (Max)	IP68	4 metres, 30 min
iPhone 11	IP68	2 metres, 30 min
iPhone XS (Max)	IP68	2 metres, 30 min
iPhone XR	IP67	1 meter, 30 min
iPhone X	IP67	1 meter, 30 min
iPhone SE (2022/2020)	IP67	1 meter, 30 min
iPhone 8 (Plus)	IP67	1 meter, 30 min
iPhone 7 (Plus)	IP67	1 meter, 30 min

Our advice on waterproof mobile phones

Do you want a smartphone that can withstand a splash of water or with which you can photograph underwater? Then pay close attention to the IP certification. This indicates how well your device is protected against dust and water. Usually IP67 is fine: your phone survives a rain shower and a dive to a depth of one metre. For more security, for example when doing water sports or on a construction site, it is better to choose an IP68 or IP69 device. They can be submerged longer and deeper without damage. By the way, did you know that there are also water-resistant smartwatches[CV1] ? Consider, for example, the waterproof Apple Watch.