If you’re prone to dropping your smartphone in water, this list is for you.
Smartphones that can be dropped in the pool, the toilet, or get caught in the rain aren’t as rare as they used to be. More and more smartphone manufacturers are launching phones with IP67 and 68 ratings, meaning your phone likely won’t be rendered useless if it gets submerged in water on accident. While there actually isn’t a smartphone on the market that’s completely waterproof, there are a handful that are very water resistant.
And that’s what we’re here to talk about today. Here is our list of the best waterproof and water resistant Android phones out there.
Editor’s note: We will be updating this list regularly as new devices launch.
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
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Following a successful launch of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Samsung seemed to have a pretty good idea as to what users want in a smartphone. Solid battery life, high-res screens, impressive camera performance and more were all things the company achieved with the 2016 flagships. And while the Note 7 seemed to improve even more in those areas, overheating problems caused the device to enter total recall mode.
Now we get to see what Samsung has in store for us in 2017. It should come as no surprise that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus feature top-of-the-line specifications, great cameras and an all-new design that’s truly futuristic.
This time around, Samsung included a curved screen on both the S8 and S8 Plus, as well as a unique 18.5:9 aspect ratio that allows for a much more comfortable in-hand feel. The company even ditched its famous physical home button and included on-screen navigation keys (finally). These devices come with an IP68 water resistance rating, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor (or Exynos 8895, depending on the region), 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of on-board storage, and one of the latest versions of Android, 7.0 Nougat.
Samsung even launched a few extra accessories alongside the S8 that you should definitely consider checking out. The new Samsung DeX dock lets you use your S8 as a desktop computer, and there’s also a new Gear 360 camera that allows for shooting video in 4K and live streaming to YouTube. Of course, there’s also a new Galaxy S8-compatible Gear VR headset, complete with a controller for easier navigation.
All in all, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are two of the most promising smartphones launching in 2017.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S8
- 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 resolution, 570 ppi
- Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8895 processor (depending on region)
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- 12 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm, 155 g
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
- 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 resolution, 529 ppi
- Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8895 processor (depending on region)
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- 12 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm, 173 g
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LG G6
Throughout 2016, the LG G5 struggled to take on the Galaxy S7, HTC 10 and all the other flagships released that year. It’s not a bad phone, per se, it just lacks the level of polish we normally expect from top-tier smartphones nowadays. The phone would have been more widely accepted if it nailed the modular implementation, but unfortunately the whole module-swapping process was wonky and the three “Friends” that launched with the G5 weren’t all that appealing. With the G6, LG has gone back to the basics.
Certainly the most standout feature on the G6 is its 5.7-inch Quad HD LCD display, with its interesting aspect ratio of 18:9 and rounded corners. It also comes with a Snapdragon 821 processor, 4 GB of RAM, plenty of on-board storage, an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and dual 13 MP rear cameras. It’s worth noting that not all LG G6s are created equal. For example, the G6 that’s coming to the U.S. is the only variant that supports wireless charging, while the Hi-Fi Quad DAC is exclusive to South Korea and certain markets in Asia. What’s more, the G6 with 64 GB of storage is only available in a handful of markets.
This isn’t a phone that introduces a bunch of gimmicky features that you’ll never use. It’s simply a solid, well-built smartphone that nails the main areas users care most about.
Specs
- 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2880 x 1440 resolution, 564 ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
- 4 GB of RAM
- 32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- Dual 13 MP rear cameras, 5 MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,300 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm, 163 g
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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
See more Galaxy S7 photos | See more Galaxy S7 Edge photos
The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge aren’t the biggest and best Samsung phones anymore, but they’re still worth your attention. While they don’t offer removable batteries, Samsung included expandable storage on both handsets in case the 32 GB of on-board storage isn’t enough. Samsung mostly stuck to the same design this time around, though they did shrink down the camera bumps on the back and made the devices a little thicker to make room for larger batteries.
In terms of specs, these are some great smartphones. They come with Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors, 4 GB of RAM, great 12 MP rear-facing cameras and run the latest version of Android. Instead of featuring the same screen sizes this time around though, Samsung kept the S7 at a smaller 5.1 inches, while the S7 Edge has been bumped up to a larger 5.5-inch panel.
They also come with IP68 certification for dust and water resistance, which will allow your phone to survive underwater at a maximum depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. They’re also protected from dust, dirt and sand, all without the need for port caps or covers. Seriously, these are some incredible smartphones.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S7
- 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
- Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
- 4 GB of RAM
- 32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
- 12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, 152 g
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
- 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
- Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
- 4 GB of RAM
- 32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
- 12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,600 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm, 157 g
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Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
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You’re constantly dropping your phone. You always use one of those indestructible phone cases. Your phone has taken a swim more than you have this summer.
Does this sound like you? If so, you should probably pick up the Galaxy S7 Active.
It has mostly all the same specifications as the standard Galaxy S7, but this one comes with a handful of improvements for those who need a more rugged device. It’s IP68 certified for dust proofing and water resistance, and also comes with a MIL-STD-810G certification for salt, dust, humidity, rain, vibration, solar radiation, transport and thermal shock resistance. Oh, and it comes with a massive 4,000 mAh battery that’s extremely difficult to kill in a single day.
It should be noted that there has been some controversy surrounding the S7 Active’s waterproofing, though Samsung claims to have fixed the issues.
Specs
- 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
- Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
- 4 GB of RAM
- 32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- 12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
- Non-removable 4,000 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 148.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm, 185 g
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Sony Xperia XZ
The Sony Xperia XZ comes to market with some powerful specs, a great camera and a new design direction.
It sports a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a powerful Snapdragon 820 processor, 3 GB of RAM and either 32 or 64 GB of on-board storage with microSD expansion. And like most other Sony phones out there the XZ has an IP68 certification, meaning your phone can survive underwater at a maximum depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. It’s also protected from dust, dirt and sand.
One thing to note – if you’re buying the XZ in the US, you won’t be able to use the fingerprint sensor. It’s deactivated in the US for some reason. There are ways around that, though, it just requires a little more hacking than some would like.
Specs
- 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 424 ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
- 3 GB of RAM
- 32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
- 23 MP rear camera, 13 MP front camera
- Non-removable 2,900 mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 146 x 72 x 8.1 mm, 161 g
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So, there you have it – our list of the best waterproof and water resistant Android phones! Did we leave anything out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!