Waterproofing is one of the features that many smartphone users look for. After all, everyone wants to experience taking selfies underwater or during the rain.

If you are an iPhone user, you might be wondering what iPhones are waterproof and which ones are not? The short answer---none of them. Then again, no smartphone can ever be called waterproof.

Smartphones have many holes where water can go through, especially when it’s submerged in water. The edge of your phone’s screen, the charging port, and the SIM card slot are some parts where water can go through.

Waterproof vs Water-resistant

Nowadays, many smartphone manufacturers market their devices as waterproof when, in fact, they are just water-resistant. There is a vast difference between the two.

When something is waterproof, there is no chance that water can ever get inside it. Meanwhile, water can still creep into a water-resistant device under certain conditions.

All consumer technology out there is water-resistant and not waterproof.

Most smartphone manufacturers currently use adhesive, glue, and waterproofing gaskets to seal off most of the device’s holes. However, they can only temporarily resist for a limited time and depth.

The water-resistant ratings for smartphones are based on the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard. It usually follows the IP or International Protection format of IPXX. The first X is for the protection against solid particles. Meanwhile, the second X is the protection against liquids.

Currently, the highest water resistance for smartphones is at IPX8. According to Apple’s definition, a device with this rating can be submerged under at least two meters of water for more than 30 minutes.

Water-Resistant iPhone Models

Apple has made over 20 iPhone models since the iPhone 1 was released in 2007.

They released the iPhone 7---the first advertised water-resistant smartphone in 2016. Succeeding iPhone models up to the latest iPhone 12 have water-resistant features.

Below is the list of all iPhone Models that are considered water resistant:

• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPhone SE (Second Generation)

The 12th generation of iPhones has an IP68 rating from the IEC. These units can resist water levels of up to six meters for up to 30 minutes. Following such a trend, you can also expect that the next generation of iPhones to be water-resistant.

Meanwhile, the 11th generation of iPhones has an IP68 rating. However, these devices can only resist a maximum water depth of four meters for up to half an hour, except the iPhone 11. The base model can only resist up to 2 meters in the same period.

Consequently, the 10th generation or X line of iPhones also have an IP68 rating. These models can resist up to two meters of water depth for 30 minutes, except the iPhone X and XR.

All the remaining iPhone models in the list have an IPX7 rating. These models can resist a maximum water depth of one meter for up to half an hour. Meanwhile, base AirPods are not water-resistant, and only the AirPods Pro has an IPX4 rating.

Importance of Knowing of Water Resistant Ratings

There’s a lot of advantage when it comes to water-resistant phones. Not only can you take it underwater, but it also prevents certain situations from damaging your unit.

If you left your water-resistant phone on your pants and it got wet from the laundry machine, there’s a good chance it can survive such an ordeal.

However, water-resistant phones are also tricky to get inside because of all the waterproofing glue and adhesive. In most cases, repairing your phone will likely diminish its water resistance. It would help if you also took extra care when cleaning your iPhone to avoid such issues.

Additionally, your phone’s insurance doesn’t cover water damage. Hence, while it’s advertised as waterproof, you wouldn’t want to expose it to water or rain unless needed.

Finally, the rubber seal and waterproofing glue also degrade over time. In short, a three-year-old phone is not as water-resistant as those which are fresh from the store.

How to Make Your iPhone Waterproof

It would be great if your iPhone is already waterproof out of the box, but that is not the world we live in yet. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can do to make sure that you can protect your iPhone from water and other elements. Here are they:

1. Use a Waterproof Phone Case

Think of it as a watertight container for your smartphone. You can buy these for less than a hundred dollars. There are two types of such water cases---soft cases and challenging cases. They are great for rugged outdoor and daily use as they also allow full access to ports, controls, and buttons. However, they can be bulky, produces muffled sounds.

2. Use a Waterproof Dry Bag or Pouch

It works similarly to a watertight container, but only much lighter. It’s also more affordable than phone cases but offers almost the same amount of protection. However, they are not as durable, and it’s harder to access your phone’s functions.

3. Use Nano Coating

By spraying a hydrophobic liquid on your smartphone’s surface, you can make it impervious to water. The transparent and thin coating allows liquid to roll right off your phone. It can be done by a professional or by yourself using a DIY kit. However, this coating wears out over time and needs reapplying every six months.

4. Use Waterproof Phone Skin

Lastly, you can use this thin film adhesive, which can be applied directly to your phone. It covers most ports and can resist rain, spills, and splashes. However, it’s only a temporary solution as it only lasts for a couple of uses. It can also reduce the sound quality of your device.

Keep Your iPhone Waterproof While Knowing the Risks

While the later iPhone models offer excellent water resistance, it’s also essential to add a layer of protection to them. By using the waterproofing solutions above, you can make your device safer from the elements.

However, you should also consider each option’s risk and weigh in if you need to dip your unit underwater and for how long. Your phone may be water-resistant, but it can never be entirely waterproof.

Checking out android phones? Read ”Pros and Cons of Android” to learn more.