Getting wet is one of the most frequent ways mobile phones are damaged. Since water is a frequent element found in nature, safeguarding your electronics from it might be challenging. Frequently, spills, moisture, and rains occur on our phones.
If your phone is water-resistant, you won’t have to worry as much about water damage. Therefore, it’s crucial to determine whether your phone is waterproof or not.
There have been many iPhone models launched throughout the years, but only the iPhone 7 and subsequent versions feature some kind of water resistance. A fair rule of thumb for iPhones is that the iPhone 6 and earlier generations shouldn’t be thought of being waterproof. To be clear, earlier versions might be water-resistant, but that doesn’t mean they’re waterproof. They don’t have any official resistance ratings. The level of protection for iPhone models 7 and later varies depending on the model.
In this article, we’ll discuss which iPhones are waterproof and which are not.
Is Your iPhone Waterproof or Water-Resistant?
There are now, like, a lot of iPhones. How many are waterproof, then? In any case, when did phones start to become waterproof?
Just to be clear, there isn’t a waterproof iPhone on the market. A phone will eventually die if it is left in water or another liquid for an extended period of time. Manufacturers frequently use the term “water resistant” instead of “waterproof”.
A gadget is said to be waterproof if it is totally impervious to water. That would imply that your iPhone would work just fine even after you left it in your pool for hours. No smartphone is currently waterproof.
Despite this, your iPhone might be water-resistant. This means that while they are made to a certain extent to tolerate liquid contact, they could nonetheless sustain water damage under specific circumstances.
The durability of a smartphone is described using ratings by the International Electrotechnical Commission. It is defined by a code-named IP Code. Two integers make up the IP Code. The first number indicates how well a device is protected from solid things (from 0 to 6, 0 being not protective at all). The second number, which ranges from 0 to 9, indicates how well a gadget is protected from liquids.
Which iPhones are Water-Resistant?
Since the iPhone 7 series, all iPhone models have been regarded as being dust, water, and splashproof. They are not all equal in this regard, though. For instance, the IP67 rating is present on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE (2nd generation). In other words, they are all anticipated to be able to endure being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of one metre. The 30-minute time limit still applies to all iPhone models, including the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, the iPhone 11 series, and the iPhone 12 series, however, these devices are protected at even greater depths.
Let’s have a look at the IP rating of all the iPhones.
Most Water Resistant iPhones – IP68 Rating(maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes)
The newest iPhones are the most water-resistant iPhones that can be submerged at a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes and still can endure the water. These iPhones include:-
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
Slightly Less Water-Resistant iPhones – IP68 Rating (maximum depth of 4 meters up to 30 minutes).
Some of the iPhones of the iPhone 11 series were less resistant to water than the iPhone 12 and 13 series.
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
Water-Resistant iPhone Below IP68 (maximum depth of 2 meters up to 30 minutes)
The other three devices of the iPhone 11 series were even less water resistant than their counterparts.
- iPhone 11
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XSÂ Max
iPhones with IP67 Rating(maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes)
iPhones prior to the iPhone 11 series were of IP67 rating. You can submerge them at a depth of 1 meter and for up to 30 minutes.
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
The level of protection assigned to a device is temporary, as stated by Apple Support. Your iPhone 13 will be reasonably protected if submerged in water for 20 minutes. However, if you were to repeatedly immerse it in water, it’s probable that the level of protection it offers would gradually decline.
Non-Water-Resistant iPhone Devices
All the iPhones earlier than iPhone 7 are not water-resistant at all. These include iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, SE, 6 (Plus) and 6s (Plus). So, don’t use these devices when you are in rain or around the pool area.
What to do if You Work Around Water Bodies?
There are Cases in the market that are claimed to be waterproof. Waterproof cases are simply more water resistant; they are not truly waterproof. Some can be temporarily used for underwater photography since they are sufficiently more water resistant.
Cases with an IP68 rating with specifications that they function underwater for up to an hour at a depth of 2 metres.
We can all sigh with relief that Apple has improved the water resistance of the iPhones. However, we still can’t be careless about comedically or dramatically putting our phones into sinks or ice buckets.
I hope you got an idea about which all iPhones are Water-Resistant and which are not. So, don’t get just carried away that your iPhone is waterproof. They are not. They are just water resistant.
