Is the iPhone 15 Waterproof?

It’s been a long time coming, but Apple finally announced the new iPhone 15 models. With this announcement, Apple also revealed some amazing new features coming to this year’s iPhones.

With that said, there’s one feature Apple didn’t actually talk about, though: water resistance. Fortunately, most modern smartphones nowadays can handle water to some extent, and the iPhone 15 isn’t any different.

With that said, the iPhone 15 isn’t completely waterproof. Here’s what you need to know.

The iPhone 15 Is Water-Resistant (Not Waterproof)

The first thing you need to know about the iPhone 15, or any iPhone for that matter, is that it isn’t waterproof. Being waterproof means that a thing is coated in a way that water won’t ever get in there under any circumstances.

Water resistance, on the other hand, means that something can support splashes and even being underwater — but it does have a limit.

The latter is the case with the iPhone 15, and pretty much every other smartphone in the market.

Understanding the iPhone 15 Water-Resistance Rating

When it comes to water resistance on the iPhone, you’ll find an IP code that indicates how durable they are against both dust and water. The iPhone 15 has a rating of IP68 under the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard.

This sounds a bit technical, but what this basically means is that the iPhone has a rating of “6” for dust resistance and a rating of “8” for water resistance.

When it comes to water resistance, the rating goes from 0 to 9, which means the iPhone 15 is pretty resistant. Still, you need to take some precautions.

So, Can I Use My iPhone 15 Underwater?

The short answer is yes, but be really careful. Let us explain.

Because of its rating, you can use your iPhone 15 underwater, and it won’t have any issues. However, it does have a limit.

Your new iPhone 15 can go to a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes. Anything more than that, and you might cause some serious damage to your iPhone.

On the other hand, you can wash your iPhone in the sink or take it to the shower with you, but you still need to be careful.

One thing to keep in mind is that this rating is for freshwater. Your iPhone doesn’t like soaps, detergents, or other liquids. Hot water also isn’t good for it, so avoid submerging it in a hot bathtub. Likewise, this rating doesn’t apply to salt water, so avoid using your iPhone on the beach, at least near water.

Last but not least, you need to keep in mind that all bets are off if your iPhone 15 is cracked or broken. Having a crack means water has a way to get into your iPhone that Apple didn’t think of.

Use Your iPhone Under Water (Carefully)

As you can see, the iPhone 15 is more than capable of handling a bit of water every now and then, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to be careful.

Always remember that the iPhone 15, just like any other iPhone, is only water-resistant, not waterproof. So be careful when you get your iPhone wet and even after you dry it.

Besides its water resistance, the new iPhone also comes with other cool features like a USB-C port instead of Lightning, a more powerful A17 Pro processor for the Pro models, and the addition of better optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The iPhone 15 lineup will be available for preorder on Friday, September 15, and arrive in stores on Friday, September 22.