5 Best Waterproof Phones in 2024

Phones are evolving every year. We see devices coming out with the latest features almost every other month. It’s come to a point where it’s hard to keep track of all the changes that the manufacturers are bringing with their devices. Waterproofing on smartphone, however, has become one of the most important features over the past couple of years. Today, we see this feature on almost every major flagship smartphone with even Apple jumping onto the bandwagon with the iPhone 7, and more recently with the iPhone X. Companies like Samsung have been doing this for quite some time, however, so it’s not particularly new for the industry.

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At A Glance: 5 Best Waterproof Phones in 2022

• Apple iPhone X, GSM Unlocked 5.8", 256 GB - Silver
  Our Top Pick
• Google Pixel 2
• CAT PHONES S41

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If you’re in the market for a waterproof flagship, we’re going to make your job easier with this article. We’re detailing five smartphones that come with waterproofing by default. These are smartphones that you can get right now from practically any retailer in the U.S. We’re picking these devices based on the hardware they’re packing, so be prepared to shell out the big bucks for these devices. But rest assured, you’re not going to regret your purchase.

Best Waterproof Phones

1. Apple iPhone X

The iPhone X is undoubtedly one of the most popular flagships of 2017 even though it broke cover in the latter half of the year. The demand and the hype for the flagship was so high that Apple could barely keep up. Although there were supply issues plaguing sales as well, the iPhone X is undoubtedly a very popular device. As we have mentioned earlier, this phone comes with waterproofing by default. It is resistant to water of up to 1 meter for 30 minutes (IP67), which is slightly worse than the Galaxy S8 Active, but good nevertheless.

In addition to this, the handset also features a gorgeous 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2546 x 1125, dual 12-megapixel rear cameras, a 7-megapixel front camera, Apple’s custom designed six core A11 Bionic chipset, 3GB of RAM, 64/256GB of internal storage (non-expandable), iOS 11.1, and a 2,716 mAh battery which can last a pretty long time given that the AMOLED display doesn’t drain a lot of battery. It’s a bit pricey, no doubt, but definitely worth it if you’re an Apple fan and expect a no compromise flagship.

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2. Google Pixel 2

Made by HTC, the Pixel 2 is a remarkable smartphone on its own. Much like the iPhone X, the device is also water resistant (1 meter, up to 30 minutes) with an IP67 certification. This is a massive improvement over the predecessor, and a clear sign that Google is watching the market very closely. However, water resistance isn’t its strongest feature. The device also packs a 12.2-megapixel rear camera, which has its own version of “Portrait Mode”, designed to give users perfect images with the bokeh effect they desire. In addition to this, the device also packs an 8-megapixel front shooter, which can put most selfie phones to shame.

The Pixel 2 also comes with a 5-inch 1080p AMOLED display, the octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 64/128GB of non-expandable storage, Android 8.0 Oreo, and a 2,700 mAh battery pack under the hood. It uses a combination of glass and aluminum in its body, which adds to the appeal of this premium 2017 Google flagship. It might have lost the steam in the market owing to the massive popularity of the iPhone X, but it’s a serious contender to be one of the best phones available in the market right now.

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3. CAT S41

The CAT rugged smartphone is the only phone on this list with hardware buttons on the front. The handset broke cover in September last year, at a time when buttonless phones were the norm, but CAT serves a different niche altogether, so they’re not afraid to be bold. The CAT S41 comes with an IP68 rating, and it can last in 2 meters of water for a full hour, which is amazing for a smartphone. Further, the device can sustain drops of 1.8m on solid concrete, making it one of the best rugged phones going around. Naturally, it’s MIL-STD-810G certified as well.

The handset also packs a 5-inch 1080p LCD panel, the octa-core Mediatek MT6757 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, a 13-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel front camera, Android 7.0 Nougat, and a mammoth 5,000 mAh battery. It has all the features that you would want in a premium phone, and some.

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4. LG V30

This is another modern day flagship with virtually no bezels on the front, much like the Galaxy S8 Active, and the iPhone X. In addition to packing a gorgeous design, the LG V30 is also water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes (IP68). It features a 6-inch 2880 x 1440 resolution P-OLED display, a 16-megapixel + 13-megapixel dual cameras on the back, a 5-megapixel front camera, the octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, Android 7.1.2 Nougat, and a 3,300 mAh battery under the hood. The phone is also MIL-STD-810G for durability and ruggedness. The body is made using an aluminum frame, while the front and the back panel are covered with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5. The handset was launched at around the same time as the iPhone X, which explains why it hasn’t made much noise in the industry. But if you’re looking for a premium Android flagship, look no further than the LG V30.

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5. Samsung Galaxy S8 Active

The “Active” variant of the year for Samsung’s primary flagship, the Galaxy S8. While the S8 itself is water-resistant, the Active model brings a couple of notable design changes to the fore, making it stand out among the lineup. However, it’s packing pretty much the same hardware underneath, so you’re not getting anything different in terms of specs. Since Active models traditionally come with physical home buttons, Samsung is utilizing a 3D touch equipped button instead, which will activate based on the pressure of your touch. This isn’t particularly groundbreaking tech, but something worth noting as it’s a first for the Korean manufacturer.

The phone comes with a 5.8-inch 2960 x 1440 resolution Super AMOLED panel, a 12-megapixel f/1.7 rear camera, an 8-megapixel f/1.7 front camera, the octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, Android 7.0 Nougat, and a 4,000 mAh battery. The device also comes with an iris scanner and a rear mounted fingerprint scanner. In addition to the IP68 rating for water/dust resistance, the device is also MIL-STD-810G certified for durability and ruggedness, making it a pretty tough handset overall. The edges of the handset have been designed to sustain accidental drops. The smartphone is available through AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the U.S.

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