Over the years, water resistance in phones has gone from being a luxury reserved only for top-shelf phones to a standard feature that's expected of any remotely expensive gadget. We've rounded up the best waterproof phones in 2023, led by the fantastic Samsung Galaxy S23. Take a look at our list for more options that will fit any budget and lifestyle needs.
Dunk these Android phones in the pool
Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 burst onto the scene earlier this year and quickly became our consensus choice for one of the best Android phones you might buy. That doesn't mean that it had the best specs overall or was the best-priced phone. No, we love the S23 because of how well it balances price, features, and build quality, and part of that build quality is its IP68 water and dust resistance.
Unlike its higher-priced siblings in the S23 series, this phone has a battery life that struggles to get through the day. It also gets a little warm while playing games, but apart from that, this is premium all the way. The beautiful matte glass back looks and feels luxurious. The S23 comes in many beautiful color options, including Phantom Black, Lavender, Cream, and Green.
Along with the water resistance, you get a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy SoC, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. The cameras outperform many higher-priced flagships, even if they take a teeny bit of time to deliver the results. And as icing on the cake, the Galaxy S23 is guaranteed to receive four years of OS updates, securing your investment for years to come.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro represents the very best of Google's software, and it looks sleek, too. The hardware is no slouch either; that IP68-rated exterior will protect your phone from dust and water ingress better than most "value flagships." The 12GB RAM coupled with the custom silicone from Google, Tensor G3, delivers plenty of performance.
You also get stereo speakers and a 120Hz display, and of course, the Pixel 8 Pro has one of the best cameras on any phone you can buy. Night Sight allows the Pixel 8 Pro to capture stunning photos even in nearly pitch-black conditions, and in daylight, you can grab phenomenal photos in any situation thanks to its 50MP main and 48MP wide-angle cameras. New photography features like Best Take and video features like Audio Magic Eraser work like a dream.
Just about the only downsides to this upper-tier masterpiece is its sub-par gaming performance and the fact that the built-in temperature is more fun than useful for now. The phone looks fabulous on its own, but with one of the best Pixel 8 Pro cases, you can even further personalize the look and add another layer of protection.
The OnePlus 11 is as impressive and well-designed as any smartphone can be. If you know anything about the company's phones, you'll be happy to know the 11 doesn't upend the traditional OnePlus formula. Instead, it takes it to its logical place in the world of smartphones with more features, albeit with a higher price. Unlike the 10 Pro, this means additions like IP64 resistance on all models, locked or unlocked.
The hardware goes head to head with any phone out there, and it's punctuated by the best display OnePlus has used. It's bright, colorful, and has a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Inside there are exceptional specs, leading to fantastic performance thanks to the OxygenOS software, even after the OPPO merger. Thankfully, OnePlus ditched its plans to merge ColorOS with OxygenOS.
The OnePlus 11 also has one of the best cameras yet on a OnePlus phone, with a main sensor that ups its game to a true flagship level, thanks to OnePlus's partnership with camera pioneer Hasselblad. The entire camera experience is a small step below the competitors like the S23 Ultra, but the phone also costs significantly less. It's a true flagship phone experience through and through, for just a bit less money than the traditional players with big brand names.
The Galaxy S23 Plus is a step above the more mainstream (and more comfy to hold) Galaxy S23. It has all of the same specs and features, yes including its water resistance rating, but with a larger display — up to 6.6 inches — and correspondingly larger 4,700mAh battery. Even when using its gorgeous FHD+ display at 120Hz, it has great battery life, so you'll never have to worry about longevity on this phone.
The S23+ also uses that extra space (and higher price) to give you better cameras, with a 50MP main shooter that takes even brighter photos, an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a telephoto camera that can reach out and get great shots up to 3X. The trade-offs for this extra capability, and battery life, are overall size and price. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is bigger and heavier than the Galaxy S23.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is by all accounts the best premium Samsung device of 2023. It doesn't fold like the Z Fold 5 or Z Flip 5, but it has higher specs than those two devices and it comes with an S Pen built-in.
The S23 Ultra packs some impressive specs into its admittedly large frame, including a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 12MP hole-punch selfie cam. In addition, it has a three-camera system on the back that rivals any on the market, supported by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage (though you can get a 1TB model).
And, of course, the S23 Ultra is IP68 water and dust-resistant. It's pretty amazing that Samsung can achieve this rating with a stylus, but the company somehow does it! If you want most of the features of the S23 Ultra (including water resistance) for less, there is also the regular Galaxy S23 and the mid-sized S23+. However, you'll be missing out on the S Pen, state-of-the-art cameras, and a gigantic 5,000mAh battery.
Samsung followed up its Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, improving on the device in many ways. Most notably is the larger flex window, no-gap design with a better hinge, and twice as much storage for the base model. It's all in a compact package that should appeal to those who pine away for small phones.
Samsung has been developing its folding screen technology for several years now, but it feels like this is the generation where the company has finally nailed it. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 sports more durable hinges and glass than previous versions, and it is the third Flip with built-in water resistance — IPX8, to be exact. This will protect your phone from an odd splash or some light rain, but don't think you can take it swimming with you. You will also need to guard against dust ingress, a tougher problem to solve with a folding phone.
Aside from being tougher, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a larger and more useful exterior display, the robust Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 processor, and surprisingly capable cameras. So if you're looking for convenience, portability, or a smaller form factor, this phone is for you.
The small but mighty Google Pixel 7a provides phenomenal value for your coin. This Android phone is powered by Google's in-house Tensor chipset and sports a great set of cameras. And of course, the little Pixel 7a features IP67 water and dust resistance. It's unbelievable that you get all that for less than $499!
The Pixel 7a comes with Android 13 and you're good for three more platform updates after that. This spunky little phone touts flagship features like 5W wireless charging and incredible cameras. The portrait mode is not the best and you might have some issues with the battery, but everything else about this phone is just too good.
Google went with the same Tensor G2 chipset in the Pixel 7a the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. As a result, this phone can handle anything you throw its way. For the price that you pay, the software and performance are incredible.
Samsung dominates the high-end smartphone market, but its mid-rangers deserve as much appreciation. Looking for something affordable that doesn't compromise on display specs? Take a look at the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. This budget-friendly Android phone boasts IP67 water and dust resistance coupled with value-packed features.
You won't find a better display in this price bracket. The Galaxy A54 5G has a stunning 6.4-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness level of 1000 nits. The 5,000mAh battery inside keeps the A54 5G going for days. Samsung offers 6GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB memory options for this mid-range Android phone.
The Galaxy A54 5G has a solid camera setup consisting of a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP wide-angle lens, and two 5MP portrait and macro lenses. All four sensors work very well together and capture decent pictures in bright as well as low-light conditions. You don't get a charger in the box and there's no audio port, but these issues are easily fixed with some additional accessories.
All the best Android phones are waterproof now
When waterproofing is a requirement in your next phone, you're in luck: most of the best Android phones available today have at least IP68 resistance. That means our top pick for a waterproof phone is the same as our general best pick, the Samsung Galaxy S23.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has excellent hardware and specs, punctuated by a stunning 120Hz display, and it performs exceptionally well with super clean software. In addition, it's promised to get four major platform upgrades, which makes it even more of a good deal for most Android flagship customers.
What do these ratings mean?
While no phone is truly waterproof, there are varying water resistance levels to consider when comparing different phones. Most models in this list is rated IP68, which denotes full dust resistance and allows the phone to survive up to 30 minutes in as much as two meters of water. Other phones rated IP67 offer the same dust protection but only half the submersion depth at a single meter. Keep in mind that with both, you need to be careful around salt water as well as heavily chlorinated pool water.
You may also occasionally see IPX7, which protects against one meter of water but doesn't guarantee protection against dust. Some phones, like unlocked OnePlus 10 Pro models, are water-resistant to some extent but not officially IP-certified. This means it'll probably survive if you get caught in the rain or accidentally spill a drink on the table. Still, you shouldn't test your luck since you're unlikely to get very far with customer service if the water damage indicator inside the phone gets wet.
On that note, while water resistance is a great feature to have, it isn't a guarantee from the manufacturer that your phone will survive any and all immersion. Especially if your phone gets badly cracked or the water sealant inside gets damaged (this typically happens when removing the back for repairs), liquid can still seep in and ruin your phone — so take regular precautions with your phone, even if it's IP68 certified. And that knowledge may also make you consider some of the best cheap Android phones that may not have official IP ratings but have a lot going for them otherwise.
Most phones are water resistant these days
Whether you buy the Samsung Galaxy S23, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, or so many others, you'll be getting an incredible device that's backed by the same IP67 or IP68 certification. Even if none of these phones speak to you, though, here's some excellent news: ingress protection is all but mandated in a flagship phone these days, so the next time you're shopping around, you can pretty much choose whatever phone catches your eye.
If you're shopping on a tighter budget, don't worry — there are still some options worth considering with at least moderate water resistance. For example, the Google Pixel 7a and the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G are both water and dustproof thanks to their IP67 ratings. So while phones within this price range are less likely to have every feature under the sun, there are certainly excellent options out there.
