Best Waterproof Phones of 2019: Find Your Favorite Top Waterproof Mobile

The waterproof mobile is now something that is seen as pretty standard across the board and it makes sense. Have you ever been in a situation where you know that if you had a waterproof phone, you wouldn’t need to worry about it? Especially if you’re living in a country that is partial to wet and rainy weather, the waterproof smartphone can be a life saver.

Of course, it’s still something that’s advertised in a lot of top products, but it’s something that can almost come as standard in the hunt for the most durable phone. It should be shock resistant, it should not break as soon as you drop accidentally drop it, and obviously, if it falls in water or something similar, it should be protected. Given the amount of money that consumers spend on the phone, you should demand it.

While we’re on the same page about how protected a waterproof phone can be, have you ever wondered about which ones are the best? Some phones are completely waterproof, and some are merely water resistant phones. What’s the difference? How do they measure up, and which ones are actually the best?

Let's dive in the best waterproof phones list to know what's top in 2019: 

Best Waterproof Phones in 2019

1. BlackView MAX 1 Six-inch Waterproof Phone

Screen size: 6.1-inch

Operating System: Android 8.1

Processor: Octa-core

Memory: 6GB

Storage: 64GB

The Blackview MAX 1 water resistant Projector phone is exactly what it says that it is. A durable waterproof phone with a 6.1” screen that you can project a screen of up to 200 inches on a suitable surface. It has 6GB of memory along with 64GB of storage space, so you can keep everything you need right on it.

The 16MP camera does well to capture images out in the open, and it is built with a dual gorilla glass design, making the phone feel rugged and protected.

2. EL W6 4G Network Waterproof Phone

Screen size: 4.5-inch

Operating System: Android 6.0

Processor: Quad Core

Memory: 1GB

Storage: 8GB

On the smaller side of things, if you’re just looking at something of a temporary item, then the EL W6 waterproof phone could be for you. It still has a Quad Core CPU running at 1.5GHz, and running on Android 6.0, quite outdated, but an incredibly stable operating system. Interestingly, the EL W6 has dual SIM slots, GPS and a front and back camera. It has a lot of the bells and whistles that other smartphones have too.

3. Google Pixel 3 Flagship Phone

Screen size: 5.5-inch

Operating System: Android 9.0

Processor: Octa-core

Memory: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

The flagship from Google is a great item, there’s no denying it. With its built-in IP68 rating, it’s also one of the more expensive most durable waterproof phones on the market. The handsets do look a little plain, but being from Google, they’ll be the first ones to be treated to the brand-new Android update.

Aside from that, the phone offers a brand name like Google behind it, so if that’s not a reason to go for it, then what is?

4. Ulefone Armor 6E Android Waterproof Phone

Screen size: 6.2-inch

Operating System: Android 9.0

Processor: Octa-core

Memory: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

Ulefone’s Armor 6E is another fantastic entry into the rugged phone market. You’ll be able to go anywhere with this one, as you have triple cameras, including a back facing 16MP camera, a screen resolution of 2246×1080, and an octa core to boot.

The Amor 6E waterproof phone doesn’t mess around in the specifications game as it packs a Helio P70 CPU and 4GB of ram with up to 64GB of storage space. It has face detection, fingerprint sensors, NFC, and much more. Finally, the phone is protected by strong Gorilla Glass and offers standard Qi 10w wireless charging.

5. Apple iPhone XS IOS 12 Smart Phone

Screen size: 5.8-inch

Operating System: iOS 12

Processor: Hexa-core

Memory: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

Apple may always struggle with its naming conventions, but this is the only waterproof phone in the list with a Hexa-core. It offers an IP68 protection certificate, so you can take it in water for a little while. It has FaceID as standard and also allows users to make use of the HDR settings to truly get clearer, and sharper images. Apple is as Apple does though, and this one is expensive.

6. BlackView BV5500 Waterproof Phone

Screen size: 5.5-inch

Operating System: Android 8.1

Processor: Octa-core

Memory: 2GB

Storage: 16GB

The BV5500 has been built with durability at it’s core and has been built to withstand drops, dust, vibrations and extreme temperatures. It has a full rubber shield bod that wraps around it, making it tough and durable.

The BV5500 waterproof phone offers a 5.5” screen, running on one of the latest versions of Android. It has a 2GB memory with 16GB of storage, and while that doesn’t sound like much, the device is priced very reasonably, so it makes sense if you’re a rugged outdoorsy person.

7. Samsung Galaxy S10 Waterproof Android Smart Phone

Screen size: 6.1-inch

Operating System: Android 9.0

Processor: Octa-core

Memory: 8GB

Storage: 128GB

By far the phone with the best specifications, but perhaps also unfairly, one of the newest best waterproof phones, the Galaxy S10 can’t do much wrong. It has twice the memory of it’s competitors and runs with a 128GB storage capacity. It offers a big screen, the latest updates, an IP68 rating and so much more. But again, the price of a flagship model like this could easily break the bank, no matter where you’re sitting.

What is the most durable phone?

   You'll cost less while you get a durable phone. Because it is not easily damaged. The following will show you “What is the most durable phone?” in four parts.

• Waterproof and Water Resistant

Believe it or not, but water damage is one of the most common problems that people experience with their cell phones. That’s why many manufacturers have gone the way of getting their smartphones waterproofed more durable, or at the very least, water resistant.

What is the difference then between the two? Well, waterproof technically would mean that the phone is completely impermeable to water, no matter how long it spends in the drink. Unfortunately, this actually isn’t something that manufacturers are held to by the dictionary definition at least. While they may say a phone is waterproof, there are certain caveats to that, such as how long it can stay submerged, how deep it can be submerged and what kind of water it can fall into.

Water resistant means that a phone would be able to resist the water to a certain degree, but not in its entirety. Different makers of durable phones will throw around different terms about what is waterproof and what is water resistant, which is why it’s important for a rating system. And just like that, the IP rating for phones appeared.

 

• What is the IP Rating

The IP rating for phones stands for the International Protection and is signified by either IP67 or IP68. The first digit in the rating, in this case a 6, would denote the protection that the device provides against solids, such as dust. The numbers only range from 0-6, so having a 6 is the best it can possibly be. It’s great then, that phones are at least IP6 rated, meaning that they are completely protected against contact with dust.

The next bit of difficulty comes in with the liquid rating. These numbers range from 0-9, and in most cases, durable phones are at least IP67 rated, and some of them, are IP68 rated. None of them, yet, are IP69 rated meaning that any phone on the market right now, is still subject to some kind of water damage.

There’s no hard and fast rule for what each rating means as far as liquids go. Can you swim with an IP67 rated phone? The answer is yes and no, really. The general rule of thumb for IP67 is that you can submerse it up to 1 meter of water depth for about 30 minutes each time. With IP68, you can go up to 5 meters, but also still for only 30 minutes. While this may sound great for you and going for a quick dip in the sea might be on your mind, you actually can’t.

There are problems with this school of thinking. The first is that when phones are tested and rated and ultimately given their ratings, the tests are done in a controlled environment, and also in stand-by mode, meaning they aren’t being used at all. So much for taking those amazing underwater pictures, right?

It doesn’t actually end there either. The rating only applies to freshwater too. How often do you swim in freshwater? Most pools are either salted or chlorinated, and the sea is salted too. Good luck with finding a freshwater body of water to swim in… Add to this, the fact that water conducts electricity on your phone, the same way you would touch it to navigate, you’d struggle to operate it underwater.

Having said that, you could probably be okay if someone threw you in a pool or perhaps your phone fell into the sea for a few minutes, but you’d obviously need to fish it out quickly.

 

• Rugged Smartphones

Having a rugged phone is something that’s tough to find, especially when you’re talking about a typical outdoorsy lifestyle. The truth is, that while smartphones have become an extension of the human mind and body, they are still technologically-based, and can’t really play well with water.

 

• Cost Effective Protection for your Phone

Given what life has thrown at us and how fast manufacturers are making phones these days, is it possible to always stay ahead of the curve? You may think that durable phones from Sony, Google, LG or Apple have got the best phones out there, but if you’re looking for something a little cheap that still offers the same protection, but can be replaced quite as easily, we have a few recommendations for you.

Conclusion

Thankfully for us as consumers, there are a number of different phones from plenty of different manufacturers out there. There’s no saying which one is right or wrong, best or worse, but only what is best you for in your particular scenario.

If you fancy jumping in a canoe or going mountain biking, why would you get a phone that costs half the price of your car? Surely, you’d get something that’s functional, offers you the same or similar power, but still won’t have you put out a second mortgage on your home when it gets damaged or lost.

Our list of the best waterproof phones around, very much cater to people on a budget, especially those who appear to be trapped in an infinite loop of the same smartphones.