How to Protect Your Smartphone from Water Damage

Are you worried that your brand new smartphone may be damaged by water? We'll show you some of the most effective methods to protect your phone from water damage.

Now that we're in the middle of summer and about to enjoy summer vacations, the concern is again to protect our mobile phone from one of its biggest enemies during the summer —water.

In summer, we frequent more pools, beaches, rivers, or any other environment that can relieve the rigors of heat. But these places can be a real disaster for your smartphone, and worse, some insurance carriers may not cover your phone if it has suffered from water damage.

How to protect your Smartphone from water damage

To avoid this, there are a number of tips to protect your mobile that you should take into account to prevent your mobile from getting wet or, at the very least, reduce the disaster that would arise from your phone falling into the water this summer.

IP68 certification, total protection for your smartphone

The IP certification indicates that the device is resistant to certain water or dust conditions and, therefore, offers certain protection against these elements.

However, not all IP certifications are equal and their resistance is determined by the two digits that accompany this denomination, in which each of them indicates the degree of protection it offers.

In recent years, many manufacturers have endowed their smartphones with the IP68 certification that guarantees resistance to water immersion and dust protection. We will analyze, in more detail, the meaning of this certification that could lead you to subject your smartphone to conditions for which it is not prepared.

The IP prefix of this certification means International Protection and refers to the international standard IEC 60529 that regulates the protection and resistance of the devices.

This prefix is ​​always followed by two digits. The first of these digits indicates the protection against the penetration of solid particles that is measured on a scale from zero to six, zero being indicative that it does not have any protection, and six the maximum protection against dust particles. Therefore, if your device is IP6X certified, it means that it is completely watertight to the entrance of dust inside.

The second digit, the one that interests you most in the case of protection against water, is indicative of liquid tightness.

In this case, the index goes from zero to nine. Five, for example, being indicative that your smartphone can only withstand splashes, while seven indicates that it would withstand total immersion in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes.

Therefore, if your smartphone has an IP68 certification, it means that it has maximum protection against dust and water, so you can wet your smartphone without damaging it. However, if this certification is lower, you should be more careful when approaching the water with it since it is possible that your smartphone is only resistant to splashing water, so it could end up being damaged and suffer damage when submerged.

In any case, this water resistance is not applicable to seawater because it contains saltpeter and other corrosive elements that can damage the insulating coatings causing breakdowns even in devices with IP68 certification.

Waterproof covers for your smartphone

You can always use the protection offered by waterproof cases. It's true that these protective cases for your smartphone are not the archetype of design and elegance, and in fact they are quite bulky, but they are one of the best ways to protect your smartphone so that it doesn't get damaged the water.

In general, these waterproof cell phone cases are built by combining polycarbonate, silicones and other insulating materials that serve as a watertight shell to protect your smartphone from bumps and splashes.

By installing one of these waterproof cases on your device you can approach the water without fear that your phone will suffer damage if it falls into the water, although you should always make sure that you have installed it correctly and that the rubber and insulating covers of the case are in good condition.

Waterproof Headphones

If you're going to be swimming and need both your phone and your earbuds to be waterproof, there are a few options available to you. You can either get fully immersible earbuds that are wired or wireless.

For those who just need headphones that will hold up in the rain or against excessive sweat when working out, you can invest in earbuds that have a high IPX rating as well. The combination of water resistant earbuds and a waterproof smartphone should allay any concerns you may have about damaging your gadgets.

Stay cool this summer and keep your gadgets safe and fully functioning by following the aforementioned tips. If at all possible, get a phone with a strong IPX rating AND a waterproof case so that you're fully protected.