Phone technology has advanced to the point where dropping your device into a small body of water– like a toilet bowl, isn’t a cause for concern, unless the bowl had other contents. In any case, waterproof Android phones have more usage apart from bringing them to the bathroom carefree.
These waterproof Android phones can now double as the perfect camera for beach vacations, and you also won’t have to worry if you get caught in the rain. You do have to take note of the waterproof rating of the phone before diving in.
These are indicated by their IP rating and the most secure right now are in the IP68/IP69 range. These offer waterproofing for a few meters or feet of water for several dozen minutes. Among the IP68/69 Android phones available right now, these are some of the most secure contenders and they also don’t offer a watered-down smartphone experience.
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Google Pixel 7 Pro
PROS
- No mandatory bloatware
- Impressive Google camera
- Equipped with Google's own chipset
- Comes with the latest Android version
- Plenty of RAM
- Light and minimalist
CONS
- Fingerprint sensor and face unlock could use improvement
- Raw Android 13 is still buggy
- Display accuracy could be better
Specs:
- Android Version: Android 13.0
- Screen Size: 6.7 inches
- RAM / Memory: 12 GB
- Chipset: Google Tensor G2 / Titan M2 security coprocessor
- Camera: 48 MP telephoto – 50 MP wide – 12 MP ultrawide [9] – 10.8 MP front camera
- IP Rating: IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
You can’t go wrong with the Google Pixel from the developers of Android themselves. It’s also worth noting that there’s a certain lack of bloatware from Google phones so you don’t need to suffer through that OEM choice.
In terms of toughness, it’s pretty standard. Just don’t soak it too long or don’t take it to the adult pool and everything will be fine.
Performance-wise, it’s one of the best right now with generous amounts of memory and Google’s own proprietary chipset with an octa-core processor. This kind of toughness isn’t something you’d expect from such a minimalist and elegant phone.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S22
PROS
- More reasonably priced compared to other Galaxy models
- Good camera, capable of steady 8K footage
- Impressive screen
- Sleek and minimalistic
- Reasonably sized and can fit comfortably in pockets
CONS
- Still pricey
- Battery doesn't last long
- Samsung bloatware
- Fingerprint reader could use improvements
Specs:
- Android Version: Android 12.0
- Screen Size: 6.1 inches
- RAM / Memory: 8GB
- Chipset: Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) – ROW
- Camera: 50 MP / 10 MP / 12 MP
- IP Rating: IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
We would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra but it costs around the same as the latest iPhone so you might as well go for that one instead since it’s also waterproof. If you’re not willing to spend that much on a smartphone but still want something premium while also being waterproof, then the regular Samsung Galaxy S22 is still great.
It has less RAM and slightly weaker chipsets along with fewer features that make it less competitive to the iPhone compared to its bigger siblings, but it still has that signature AMOLED Samsung screen.
You could even go for the previous Galaxy models from the past three years and they would still be great options since Samsung started waterproofing their phones long ago. But for better peace of mind, you ought to go with the latest tech.
Samsung Galaxy S22
OnePlus 10 Pro
PROS
- Impressive battery life
- Big screen
- Minimalist and sleek
- Good chipset
- AMOLED display
CONS
- Front-cam is off-center
- Poor camera accuracy
Specs:
- Android Version: Android 12.0
- Screen Size: 6.7 Inches
- RAM / Memory: 8 GB
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
- Camera: 48 MP / 8 MP
- IP Rating: IP68 dust/water resistant – T-Mobile only
If you don’t care much about fancy camera features or other gimmicks and just want a straightforward and durable smartphone, then the OnePlus 10 Pro has your back. It’s a phone equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery so it can last more than a day of full use.
Under the hood, it also comes equipped with an impressive chipset which is the same as Samsung’s Galaxy S22 but it’s more affordable. One glaring downside is the camera’s poor performance– color grading isn’t accurate so don’t expect it to capture those beautiful sunsets, it needs more intense light to get everything right.
OnePlus 10 Pro
Ulefone Armor 17 Pro Rugged
PROS
- Rugged and tough
- Impressive battery life
- Military-grade and compliant
- Has an IP69K rating
- Decent chipset
- Affordable
CONS
- A bit heavy
- It will be hard to find screen protectors and casing for this one
Specs:
- Android Version: Android 12.0
- Screen Size: 6.58 inches
- RAM / Memory: 8GB RAM
- Chipset: Mediatek MT8781 Helio G99 (6nm) / Mali-G57 MC2
- Camera: 108 MP / 8 MP
- IP Rating: IP68/IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
The Ulefone Armor 17 pro isn’t just water resistant and waterproof (with some models coming with an IP69K rating), it’s also built like a tank with concrete drop resistance of up to five feet.
More than that, this particular phone model is MIL-STD-810G, meaning it’s ready for use as military equipment. A phone with that kind of rating will surely give you all the peace of mind you can have in case you drop it or water gets too intimate with the device.
Only a handful of phones have this kind of compliance rating, and the best part is that the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro is a budget option.
Ulefone Armor 17 Pro Rugged
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are waterproof phones really waterproof?
To a certain extent, yes. They do indicate their limits for water resistance and waterproofing. Exceed that limit and the water will start seeping in due to the pressure. -
Do waterproof cases work?
They do, but they also bulk up your phone and tend to obscure the screen and the other features.