We’re all guilty of accidently dropping water on our phones and then rapidly trying to wipe it off, hoping there’s no damage. To err is human, and to invest in a waterproof or water-resistant phone is smart. The best phones today offer protection against moisture, which means your phone incurs no damage when exposed to water. However, there’s a distinction to be made between water resistance and waterproofing. When looking for the top phones to buy, know the difference between the two and which one is the right product for you.
What is a Waterproof Phone?
A waterproof phone is completely impervious to water. It can remain submerged in water without getting damaged. Even though most top phones 2022 claim to be waterproof, they are usually water resistant.
What is a Water-resistant Phone?
Water resistance provides your phone with protection against dust and water; however, it is not as effective as waterproofing. This means that your phone won’t be damaged with a few drops of water but it is not recommended to take your phone for a swim with you.
What Is the Difference?
The main difference between waterproofing and water resistance is the IP rating. Ingress Protection rating basically tells us how well the phone’s structure prevents unwanted stuff like dirt, water and dust from damaging it. When you’re checking for a waterproof phone, look for the letters “IP” followed by a 2-digit number, for example, IP56 or IP65. The first number indicates the phone’s ability to resist particles like dust, and the second number indicates the ability to resist water. The higher the numbers, the higher the resistance offered by the phone.
When a phone claims to be waterproof, ideally it should have an IP rating of 7 or 8. This means that your phone can remain submerged up to 3 metres under water for 30 minutes without getting damaged. However, as the IP rating decreases, the amount of water that the phone can remain submerged in without getting damaged, also decreases. Phones with ratings lower than IP7 or IP8 are water resistant, not waterproof. For example, with an IP rating of 5, your phone can resist water droplets or splashes easily but if dropped into a pool, it would incur damage.
Which One Is the Better Option?
The real difference between a waterproof phone and a water-resistant phone is basically the level of protection. Even though waterproofing is the ideal option since it offers complete protection from water, there are not enough options in the market to choose from. Most of the smartphones offered in the market are water-resistant.
Here are the best water-resistant phones in the market, offering high IP ratings:
Mi 11 Ultra
With an IP68 rating, the Mi 11 Ultra can resist water up to 1.5 metres for at least 30 minutes. No wonder it tops our list of water-resistant phones this year. But this is not all it does! Water resistance is simply one of its useful features.
This device comes with a 6.81-inch QHD+ AMOLED display, which makes it a little heavy on the pocket, but in exchange, you get a premium viewing experience. It comes with an island camera at the back, which houses three sharp lenses capable of producing 1 billion colours. The selfie camera too produces the same number of colours.
Adding to the water resistance, top-quality display, and camera is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, capable of running at 2.8 GHz speed. So, whether you love gaming, watching films and series or simply forgetting to take your phone out of your pocket while diving in the sea, the Mi 11 Ultra will support you regardless.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Introducing the S22 from Samsung’s flagship series with an IP rating of 68, which can go the same depth for the same time duration as the Mi Ultra. However, this phone comes with a better camera, higher screen resolution, premium body, and exceptional storage of 512 GB RAM. And they charge you higher for these prime features.
Unlike its competitors, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with an exceptional 108-megapixel primary camera with auto focus, phase detection and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). This water-resistant phoneis also entirely resistant to dust and carries a jumbo 5000mAh battery with wireless and wired charging.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite
If you’re looking for a high IP-rated phone on a budget, consider Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite. Priced as low as Rs. 16,999, this water-resistant phonehas an IP rating of 53, which does make it safe from generous water drops and dust. However, you cannot submerge it up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. Avoid submerging it under water altogether.
At a pocket-friendly price, this phone provides a 64-megapixel primary camera and a 16-megapixel selfie camera. It comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader with a fast charging 4250 mAh battery.
Apple iPhone 14
Whether you buy the “vanilla” iPhone 14 or go for its more expensive variants, such as the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, you get a high IP-rated model. The IP rating on all iPhones stands at 68, which means you can entirely submerge it in water and go as deep as 1.5 metres for at least 30 minutes.
Yes, this phone is pricey, but the manufacturer has priced it competitively as compared to its primary rival, which is the Samsung S22. This starter iPhone 14 costs less than the latest S22 model. It comes with a 6.1 (1170×2532) pixels premium display, 6GB RAM and a 3279 mAh fast-charging battery.
Yes, you can accidentally take it in the shower or cover it with dust, and it will come out working. However, in the former incident, you must dry off all the crevices of your phone by either putting it in a rice box or using a blow dryer from a distance.
Parting thoughts
Buying the best phones in 2022 with water-resistant features is a good smartphone tip. However, it can prove to be a little heavy on your pocket. Choose Tata Capital’s easy consumer durable loans and mobile loans to purchase the best smartphones. We offer flexible EMI mobile options on our consumer durable loans. To purchase the best phones of 2022, visit Tata Capital today!
16 November 2022
6 mins read
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