Is The Galaxy S23 Waterproof? What Samsung's IP Ratings Mean

Samsung's Galaxy S23 series flagships come with an IP68 dust and water-resistance rating, but does that mean you can take them for a swim?

Samsung's all-new Galaxy S23 series devices come with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen protection for added durability, but are they also waterproof? Over the past decade, smartphones have become the most ubiquitous gadget imaginable, and are often subjected to conditions that electronic devices shouldn't be subjected to. They are splashed with water at the pool or beach, not to mention getting drenched in rain when users get caught in an unexpected shower. Needless to say, waterproofing goes a long way in making smartphones more durable and user-friendly.

Samsung has equipped its flagship smartphones with water resistance for years, and the Galaxy S23 lineup is no different. All devices in the Galaxy S23 series come with an IP68 rating that denotes resistance to water, dust, dirt, and sand. However, they are not fully waterproof, meaning users should avoid submerging them in water for any length of time. Users should also not try to use the Galaxy S23 to take underwater photos, although it should do just fine if it's accidentally dropped in water.

Related: Galaxy S23 Vs. Galaxy S22: What's New & Improved?

For folks wondering about the IP68 rating and what that means, 'IP' stands for 'Ingress Protection,' and the two numbers denote the exact level of protection. While the '6' in IP68 means that the device is fully sealed against dust, dirt and sand, the '8' denotes that it will be able to survive submersion in up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. It basically means users will be able to take their phone on a beach or hiking trip without any worries, and it will also survive the occasional dunk in water.

IP68 has become the de facto standard for flagship smartphones, with many high-end devices rated similarly to denote water and dust resistance. Devices with the IP68 rating include the likes of the Pixel 7, OnePlus 10, and iPhone 14, meaning all of them offer similar levels of protection from water and dust. However, it is worth noting that IP ratings are not permanent, so the Galaxy S23's water resistance can degrade over time.

Even without any degradation, all models in the S23 lineup have multiple openings in them, like the speaker grill and the USB-C port, which could allow water to get into the phone. While the phone's interior has protection against water damage resulting from such situations, normal wear and tear will result in those protections becoming less effective over time, enabling water to come in contact with critical components and damage the phone. Despite the IP68 rating, Samsung's warranty on the Galaxy S23 devices do not cover water damage, so users will do well to keep their phone as far away from water as possible.

More: Galaxy S23 Ultra Vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Is It Worth Upgrading?

Source: Samsung

Kishalaya has almost a decade's worth of experience in tech journalism, having written thousands of news, guides, features, and reviews for multiple American, Canadian, and Indian blogs. As a senior writer at ScreenRant, he covers everything from consumer electronics to artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies to virtual reality, and electric vehicles to space. Entertainment to him means 90s sitcoms, such as Fresh Prince, Home Improvement, Seinfeld, Friends, That 70s Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, etc. He loves dogs, sports, and pizza (in that order) and can listen to The Doors, Def Leppard, Metallica, and Guns N' Roses all day long. He also loves watching cheesy 90s sci-fi/disaster movies like Independence Day, Armageddon, Twister, Volcano, Dante's Peak, etc.