Manufacturers have been exploring ways to make their products more resistant to dirt, shock, extreme temperatures and moisture for years – GoPro cameras were born out of such a need – and nowadays there are established methods that help guarantee such tech is more resilient. Originally, you had to look at the likes of LifeProof and other specialist phone case makers to gain the necessary protection against the elements for your mobile; adding bulk to their otherwise sleek, lightweight designs and complicating access to ports and controls in the process. More recent phones – particularly those in the flagship space – have benefitted from internal design changes and additions that help make them hardier, without impacting their overall dimensions or aesthetics. Motorola and Sony have led the charge in the mobile space when it comes to water-resistant phones. The use of both seals and hydrophobic coatings are essential to keeping your tech water and dust-free, and nowadays everyone from the likes of Apple and Samsung to OnePlus offer up at least one device with certified levels of ingress protection (also known as IP ratings). Based on the capabilities of the phone in question and the degree to which they are able to withstand contact with water (and dust), we’ve assembled a list of the best water-resistant phones you can get your hands on right now. As mentioned, most reside within the flagship space but competent ingress protection has made its way into the mid-range market too, so keep your eyes peeled for more affordable devices that also cite an IP rating if you can’t find what you’re looking for here.
Best waterproof phones 2022
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Brilliant display Superb cameras Top-tier performance Improved battery life
Cinematography Mode and HDR algorithm need work Pricey
Like 2020’s quartet, the iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro (our favourite of the four) and iPhone 13 Pro Max all feature the same industry-leading water resistance; rated against up to six metres (approximately 19.7 feet) of fresh water, for up to 30 minutes. All four devices offer class-leading performance and superb cameras to boot. The iPhone 13 Pro (and 13 Pro Max) also showcase ProMotion tech for the first time on any iPhone, with a super-smooth 120Hz variable refresh rate display.
Gorgeous design Great display Excellent performance Solid cameras
No high refresh rate display Pricey
The standard iPhone 12 is our preferred pick of the range, as it’s not only a nice jump up from the iPhone 11 but also doesn’t lose out on all that much compared to the pricier iPhone 12 Pro. Highlights include its iPhone 5-inspired design, its Super Retina XDR OLED display, Apple’s A14 Bionic chip and Dolby Vision HDR video recording.
Good software support Solid battery life Great cameras
No 5G Ageing hardware
Beyond that, while we’re not fully on board with the 11 Pro’s ‘Pro’ naming, there’s no doubt that, at launch, this was the best iPhone you could opt for, and is still a great buy today, especially thanks to Apple’s practically unrivalled long-term software support. We like the matte finish, which provides more grip than standard glass and helps negate fingerprints. The OLED screen is stunning, especially with iOS’ Dark Mode, the cameras are excellent, performance is slick and battery life is better than any previous iPhone generation; there’s a lot to like. Still, it’s a lot more expensive than the regular iPhone 11, which has the things that most people want and doesn’t really break any new ground. It’s not even 5G capable (again, look to the newer iPhone 12/13 lines, if that’s the sort of functionality you’re looking for).
Good software support Solid battery life Great cameras
No 5G Ageing hardware
While not quite as well-adapted as its Pro-branded siblings, the base iPhone 11 still totes above-average water resistance that works at up to 6.5 feet/2 metres of fresh water for 30 minutes. The iPhone 11 didn’t need to rewrite the smartphone rule book to be a winner. It simply needed to build on the success of the XR and it did exactly that. It features a nice design which comes in various colours. Face ID is improved over the XR and the telephoto lens has been swapped for a more useful wide-angle lens. The screen still isn’t OLED (check out the iPhone 12 or 13, if that’s what you’re after) but offers a decent experience anyway and performance is still top-notch – even when playing demanding games. All of this for a lower price than the iPhone XR, when it first arrived. Apple did it again.
Excellent camera Phenomenal display Stylus support
Bulky Expensive Slower charging
In the case of the latest Galaxy S22 Ultra, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, in terms of what’s on offer. Those familiar with 2020’s Note 20 Ultra will notice a strong resemblance when looking at this year’s top S22; not least because it doesn’t look anything like the other two phones that it launched alongside (the S22 and S22+). Like the Note, that distinct design also facilitates an integrated S Pen stylus (for the first time on a Galaxy S device), upping the phone’s productivity potential, while similar camera hardware to last year’s Ultra impresses with greater image quality and functionality. A stunning 6.8in 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display and Samsung’s rich One UI 4.1 user experience are also bolstered by long-term software support that surpasses even Google’s own Pixels.
120Hz display Superb cameras Slick OS Greatly improved battery life
Biggest, thickest, heaviest Pixel yet Awkward fast charging
The more versatile camera system offers astounding dynamic range and showcases smart new features like Magic Eraser, while the new Google Tensor chip offers more than enough grunt to handle the most demanding mobile apps and games, while also boasting a specialised skill set for machine learning and AI tasks. A huge 5003mAh battery also ensures some of the best battery life on a Pixel ever, even if fast charging is a bit of a mess.
Best-in-class screen Versatile cameras Unique design
No periscopic zoom Expensive
A sizeable 5000mAh also delivers great longevity – especially for a flagship – helped by rapid 80W fast wired charging (and 50W wireless charging). As ever on a top-tier Oppo, the 50Mp-led camera system is superb, provided you’re happy to live without a periscopic zoom lens, and the phone’s design is unique too, with a seamlessly sloped camera module built right into the ceramic of the device’s body. Being a flagship, you can also expect great performance from its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Just give your bank account a heads up before coughing up.
Elegant folding design Great performance More affordable than ever
No telephoto camera Middling battery life Still needs to be tougher
The Z Flip 3 is a beautiful expression of the evolution of foldable smartphone tech and somehow manages to incorporate IPX8-certified water resistance into its design (which does mean it still lacks ingress protection against dust and grit). Battery life and the dual cameras could be better but despite flagship-class performance in an incredible design, the Flip 3’s pricing also proves that foldables can tango in the same space as conventional smartphones without any major sacrifices.
Outstanding hardware Stunning screen Super-fast charging
Ugly camera module Weak long-term update support
As such – provided you’re comfortable with the size, weight and its plateau of a camera bump – the Mi 11 Ultra is still a worthy pick, packing in some superb snappers, accompanied by a rear display that shows you the time, notifications and even doubles as a viewfinder. Powerful internals still offer up top-quality performance, including super-fast wired and wireless charging, as well as a stunning 6.81in WQHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display; protected by the latest Gorilla Glass Victus.
Good small Android phone Crisp 120Hz display Great performance
Underwhelming battery life Mediocre design Poor heat management
Asus surprised us with the more modest version of its 2021 ZenFone flagship. While the ZenFone 8 loses out on its sibling’s iconic flipping camera, it makes up for it with an impressive pocketable design, led by a 5.9in 120Hz AMOLED display. It also folds in flagship-level performance and a suitable solid duo of rear-facing cameras. Battery life could be better, as could heat management but it’s still a worthwhile pick in our eyes.
Best-in-class ingress protection Stress-tested rugged design Thermal camera
Niche appeal Underwhelming performance Reduced battery capacity
It boasts both IP68 and IP69 ingress protection, meaning it’s rated to stand up against high-force water jets (part of IP69), as well as submersion in fresh water of up to 1.5m for up to 30 minutes (part of IP68). Beyond this standout feature, the S62 Pro’s ruggedised body is also Mil-Spec 810H-tested against high impact and temperature extremes. There’s Gorilla Glass 6 to protect the 5.7in Full HD display and an aluminium casing with non-slip TPU rubber on the rear; even with wet hands or gloves, this phone is easy to handle. The rounded edges are also aluminium, fixed into place with three screws on each side. CAT dropped the laser distance measurement and air quality monitoring of the S61, but the S62 still features a thermal-imaging camera, which is better integrated into the design. The cameras still protrude from the rear somewhat, however, and the battery capacity has dropped from 4500mAh to 4000mAh. Powering the show is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core chip, which proved rather underwhelming, look beyond this, however, and the S62 Pro is a fine example of a rugged phone.
