There are a few ways you can test if your phone is waterproof. The most accurate way is to use a professional water resistance testing device, but these can be expensive and aren’t readily available to consumers. For a quick at-home test, you can try submerging your phone in water for a short time or using a waterproof testing app. Keep in mind that while these methods may give you an idea of water resistance, they don’t guarantee your phone is fully waterproof. Proceed with caution and at your own risk.
What Does Waterproof vs Water Resistant Mean?
Waterproof and water resistant do not mean the same thing when it comes to smartphones. Here’s the key difference:
Waterproof: Waterproof means the device can be fully submerged in water to a certain depth, for a certain period of time, without taking any damage. Waterproof ratings are measured in meters (m) to indicate how deep a device can go.
Water resistant: Water resistant means the device is designed with some water protection in mind and can withstand splashes or brief immersion in water, but cannot be fully submerged for an extended period of time. Water resistant ratings are measured in IP codes.
So a waterproof phone is fully sealed against water and can handle being underwater, while a water resistant phone can survive spills and splashes but not being submerged. Most modern flagship smartphones are water resistant, not completely waterproof.
IP Water Resistance Ratings
Many smartphone manufacturers use Ingress Protection (IP) ratings to indicate a device’s level of water and dust resistance. Here’s what the IP codes mean:
IP67: Dust tight, protected against immersion in water with depth between 15cm and 1m. Survive submerged for 30 minutes.
IP68: Dust tight, protected against long periods of immersion in water deeper than 1m. Survive submerged beyond 30 minutes, some up to 1-2 hrs.
IPX7: No rating for dust, protected against immersion in water with depth between 15cm and 1m. Survive submerged for 30 minutes.
IPX8: No rating for dust, protected against long periods of immersion in water deeper than 1m. Survive submerged beyond 30 minutes.
So if you see an IP67 or IPX7 rating, the phone can withstand being submerged in 1 meter of freshwater for 30 minutes. IP68 and IPX8 ratings offer even better waterproofing against deeper water.
Quick At-Home Water Resistance Tests
If you want to test your phone’s water resistance yourself, here are a few simple methods:
1. Waterproof finger test: Place a tissue or paper towel over the phone’s ports (charging, headphone jack, etc). Submerge in a bowl or basin of water for 30 seconds up to 1 minute. The tissue should stop water from entering the ports. Shake off excess water and check if any got inside.
2. Shower test: While holding your phone, stand under a light shower stream for a few minutes, randomly rotating and moving the phone to hit it from all angles. Avoid directly spray at high pressure. After, check for any water ingress.
3. Sink submersion: Fill a basin or sink with room temperature clean water. Gently submerge your phone 6-12 inches down and leave it there for 30 minutes. Retrieve it carefully and inspect for any interior water damage.
4. Pool/tub test: Similarly, you can submerge your phone in a swimming pool or bathtub for 30 minutes to test its water resilience at deeper depths.
These tests allow you to check short-term water resistance without specialist equipment. However, they don’t guarantee long-term durability if constantly exposed to water. The quickest way is the sink submersion test for 30 mins.
Waterproof Testing Apps
Some mobile apps claim to test your smartphone’s water resistance using built-in sensors and tools. Here are some popular options:
Water Resistance Tester: Uses acoustic technology to detect moisture in the headphone jack and charging port by playing a sound and analyzing the reverberation pattern. Provides a pass/fail score.
Waterproof Test: Instructs you to place the phone in a bowl of water, then uses the speaker and microphone to transmit and listen for gurgling sounds indicating water ingress.
Water Alert: Monitors humidity levels inside the phone and alerts you if liquid is detected, before failure occurs. Can’t initiate a real water resistance test.
Rice Test: Not technically an app, but the “bag of rice test” has you sealing the wet phone in rice to absorb moisture. Check after 48 hours if water damage is gone.
These apps provide quick at-home testing without dunking your phone, but their accuracy is questionable. The acoustic methods rely on sounds which don’t necessarily prove water can’t enter. Professional lab testing is still the gold standard.
Professional Water Resistance Testing
For guaranteed and accurate testing of your smartphone’s water resistance rating, professional laboratories use sophisticated equipment:
Water immersion testing machines: Fully submerge and circulate phones in water tanks under controlled conditions matching the IPX7/IPX8 ratings. Devices are monitored for any signs of water ingress.
Water spray Nozzles: Phones are placed on a rotational platform and blasted from multiple angles with high-powered water jets to simulate rain and splashing. Internal sensors detect leaks.
Humidity chambers: Phones are placed in climate controlled chambers with programmed temperature and humidity levels to create condensing conditions and check for moisture penetration over time.
Pressure testing: Phones are subjected to high water pressure in bars (1 bar = 14.5 psi) to overwhelm the seals beyond rated specifications and validate maximum resistance.
Salt mist chambers: Salt fog is sprayed to evaluate corrosion resistance as salt water is more conductive than freshwater and can penetrate easier.
Professional hydrostatic pressure, condensation, splash, submersion and salt mist testing provides definitive validation of IP ratings and 100% water protection. But the equipment is expensive and access limited for most consumers.
Should You Use Your Phone in Water?
Even if you verify your phone is water resistant, you should not intentionally use it underwater. Here are some risks to keep in mind:
– IP ratings are based on freshwater testing. Saltwater, chlorinated water, soapy water, and other liquids may corrode seals and allow damage over time.
– Water pressure increases the deeper you go, exceeding rated limits and forcing water past seals.
– Opening ports or flaps while wet defeats their water protection and allows water entry points.
– Battery compartments can leak or short circuit if the phone takes in water.
– Water resistance degrades over time as seals and adhesives wear out. Older phones lose their protection.
– Repeated submersion for testing pushes limits and reduces lifespan of water protection features prematurely.
For lightweight activities like taking calls in the rain or listening to music poolside, a water resistant phone should suffice if used properly. But you shouldn’t intentionally swim or dive with your phone unless certified waterproof at appropriate depths. Ultimately it’s best to play it safe and keep phones away from water whenever possible.
Maintenance Tips for Water Resistance
To help maintain your smartphone’s water resistance over time:
– Keep the ports, flaps and rubber gaskets clear of debris which can impact sealing.
– Avoid chemicals and soaps which can reduce gasket lubricity and cause them to dry out.
– Don’t open the phone or ports while wet or expose internal components to moisture.
– Thoroughly dry phone with absorbent, lint-free cloth if it gets wet. Don’t charge until residual moisture is removed.
– Avoid sudden temperature changes which can create condensation and moisture inside the phone.
– Replace adhesive strips around sealed areas if they detach to maintain tight bonds.
– Have phone’s water resistance tested annually and reapplied if neccessary.
With proper care and maintenance, a water resistant phone can retain its protection over years of use. But intentional submersion should still be avoided. Ultimately no phone is immune to long term water damage.
Signs of Water Damage
If liquid has managed to get inside your phone, here are symptoms to watch out for:
– Visible condensation or moisture under camera lens or display glass.
– Muffled or gurgly sounding speakers and microphone.
– Glitchy or unresponsive touchscreen.
– Charging port not working reliably.
– Headphone jack malfunctioning or only working in one orientation.
– Fogging or streaks inside camera lenses.
– Oxidation or corrosion around ports, screws, and openings.
– General erratic electronic malfunctions, crashes, shutdowns.
– Burning smell or smoke coming from phone.
Not all water damage is immediately fatal, but it inevitably causes oxidation and component failure over time. Any signs of water ingress mean a loss of water resistance that should be addressed quickly to prevent permanent damage. Even a phone rated IP68 is not immune to liquid damage if seals fail.
Drying Out a Wet Phone
If your phone gets exposed to moisture, prompt action can reduce damage:
– Immediately power off device and do not attempt to charge, which can short circuit components before drying.
– Remove any cases, covers or wet accessories to prevent trapping liquid against the phone.
– Use a microfiber cloth to gently blot or wipe off excess water, especially around openings.
– Absorb remaining moisture with dry rice in an airtight bag or container for at least 48-72 hrs.
– You can also use a desiccant drying pack specifically made for electronics.
– Do not use hairdryers or other heat which can crack seals and components through thermal shock. Air dry only.
– Check for moisture in ports and audio before attempting to power on again. Extended drying may be needed if water is detected internally.
– Once fully dried out, inspect for any corrosion and functionality testing before continued use. Damage may have still occurred.
Quick action helps reduce the likelihood of permanent water damage. But if liquid entered internal components, corrosion and malfunction may still gradually occur. Internal moisture sensors and indicators should be checked even after external drying.
Waterproof Phone Case Options
For lightweight protection from rain/splashes during activities, consider these affordable waterproof case styles:
Pouch cases: Basic flexible plastic pouches that fully seal your smartphone like a ziplock bag. Offer basic water protection for $10-30.
Rugged/tough cases: Durable rubber and plastic covers that encapsulate your phone while keeping port access. Best for active use protection. Cost $30-60.
Floaty cases: Light foam cases that wrap around or stick onto a phone and float if dropped in water, preventing sinking. Great for pool/beach use.
Armband cases: Stretchy neoprene bands with clear phone windows, allowing exercise with phones. Sweat and light rain resistant.
Clear disposable cases: Cheap polyethylene bags to slip a phone into for temporary water barrier during light activities or emergencies when you need to use phone in rain.
While helpful for occasional, low-risk use, most consumer phone case water protection has limits compared to factory water resistance. They buy you time to retrieve a dropped phone, but aren’t suitable for intentional immersion.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some key takeaways on testing your smartphone’s water resistance:
– No at-home tests guarantee waterproofing. Submerge with caution and at your own risk.
– Water resistance ratings like IP67 offer temporary protection against spills and splashes but not complete waterproofing.
– Professional hydrostatic pressure testing is required to validate ratings and 100% water protection for intentional immersion.
– Even with accurate testing, avoid unnecessary underwater use which reduces lifespan of water seals.
– Immediately dry phone and check for interior moisture if exposed to liquid to reduce corrosion damage.
– Affordable waterproof cases add temporary protection but have limited submersion capability compared to IP or ATM ratings.
While testing water resistance has some benefits, the risks of liquid damage outweigh the rewards in most cases. Ultimately cautious use of electronic devices near water is recommended over intentionally submerging them unless certified waterproof at the required depths. No phone is immune to its kryptonite – H20.
