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Is Samsung S21 Waterproof?

February 10, 2021

One of the first questions people ask Google when a new phone is being launched is whether the phone is waterproof or not. For some reason, this has become a very important feature in the eyes of many smartphone aficionados. If you ask us, there is absolutely no need to subject your smartphone to a liquid environment – on the contrary, you should keep it as far away as possible.

Be that as it may, it is nice to know whether the phone is water-resistant simply for one reason – accidents happen! People are clumsy, especially with smartphones, and that claim can be supported by any tech service around you. Just ask them how many phones they have to fix every day, just because someone was careless or clumsy. In case you are afraid that you might drop your phone in the water, it is good to have a phone that will "survive" such a tragedy.

So is Samsung S21 waterproof? Let's find out!

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is waterproof!

The answer is - yes! Well, more or less so. This is what you need to know.

The Galaxy S21 is IP68 rated, as are the Galaxy S21 Plus and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. But Samsung's cheapest phones, like the Samsung Galaxy A51, are neither IP-rated nor officially classified as waterproof. However, as some tests have shown, the Samsung Galaxy A51 really is waterproof. But back to the point.

With an IP68 rating, you are basically covered for immersion in water that is around 1.5 meters deep, and for about 30 minutes, at least that’s what Samsung has claimed about the new S21 series. A bigger depth or longer exposure can cause the phone to break, therefore, as always, it's best NOT to get it wet, although that will probably be fine.

Again, you don't want to mess around with water and your phone, it's still a piece of electronic technology after all. And in the case of the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra – very expensive pieces of electronic devices!

Still, if the worst happens and you drop your Galaxy S21 in the swimming pool, river, sea, or ocean (or maybe even your toilet, it happens) you'll be fine. Heck, with an IP68 rating, you could even use it to take pictures underwater as long as you don't go too deep.

However, our advice, once again as we cannot stress this enough, is to treat your phone like it's not waterproof, even when it is. Why?

Although the phone may "survive" underwater for some time, a few long-lasting negative effects may appear. For example, in one test, the iPhone XR, which is rated as waterproof, got a little wet and the FACE ID camera got all fogged up, which basically ruined the whole phone! It still worked, but why risk?!

Don't assume that just because your phone is IP rated you can do whatever you want with it. If you're going to spend a ton of money on a phone, even if it's waterproof, do your best to keep it as far away from water as possible.

What IP ratings mean

When we talk about waterproof hardware, we are often referring to its IP rating. They are the initials for Ingress Protection and are usually followed by a number, which refers to its ability to resist water and dust. Specifically, the first digit refers to the protection of solid particles and the second digit, to the liquid.

The IP numbers that start with a six show that the device has complete protection against dust and that it will be protected from particles since none will be able to get inside. It is the highest classification available today and is considered as such: "dust resistant".

To meet the IPx8 standard, the device must continue to function normally after being left in the water “continuously,” although the exact details are generally up to the manufacturer. For example, as mentioned earlier, Samsung says that the Galaxy S21 "can be submerged in 1,5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes." With an IP68 rating, depth and protection will vary for a short time.

Here's a full breakdown of what all the IP codes mean, in case you'd like to check out other ratings. While we call these phones "waterproof, It's worth noting if they will stay that way for a limited time at best. They are technically waterproof, though not "forever." In other words, we don't recommend that you deliberately submerge any of them, or keep them in a pocket while doing water sports, especially for a long time. In any case, it will always be great not to have to worry if an accident occurs.

How to further protect your S21

There are lots of protective accessories that can help with defending your phone against damage – phone cases, wallets, screen protectors, etc. Since its release, the S21 series has seen numerous protective accessories flooding the market. And that should not come as a surprise as the S21 series is currently arguably the cream of the crop on the smartphone market, and many manufacturers will look to earn some money on the hot stuff. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that as those products do work and people do want to further protect their phones. Win-win!

One item for Galaxy S21 has caught our eye recently, and we will recommend it to everyone who owns the phone. It’s the i-Blades smart case that fully protects the phone, plus adds more firepower to it! How?

The case is empowered with the newest technology, and will therefore add extra storage space (from 16 to 128 GB, depending on your taste) and more battery life (serving as a power bank) when wrapped around the phone. Of course, the phone is protected from all sides, especially the screen, which is a part most susceptible to water damage. For more information, check this out.

Final words

All in all, the newest Samsung smartphone series didn’t disappoint in terms of water (and dust) resistance, and anyone who buys any of the three phones will feel a bit safer, no matter how clumsy they are.

Do we recommend the new S21 series for people wanting waterproof phones? Definitely yes!