Have you been considering purchasing a Samsung Galaxy? The Galaxy remains one of the bestselling phones on the market today, and you’ve probably seen frequent commercials for it on TV as it competes with the iPhone for dominance. There are lots of compelling reasons to buy a Galaxy, as the latest model has many features that you’re sure to enjoy. You may be wondering about how resilient it is to damage, though. Is it waterproof, for instance? Let’s talk about that for a few moments so you’ll know exactly what to expect if you decide to buy one.
What Exactly Does Waterproof Mean?
You might have heard the term “waterproof” get thrown around a lot in regards to the Samsung Galaxy and other electronic devices. But what does it mean?
The simple definition of waterproof is that the object to which the term refers is impervious to water. When you’re talking about a device, that’s going to mean that it can be subjected to a downpour or a deluge, and it won’t have any impact on the internal components. You can take it swimming, or perhaps even deep-sea diving, and if it is the manufacturer’s claim that it is indeed “waterproof,” then you should expect it to incur no damage.
The Difference Between Waterproof and Water-Resistant
You might also have heard the term water-resistant as it applies to phones and electronics. Is that interchangeable with the term waterproof?
The short answer is that no, the two terms are not the same. They are similar to each other, but there’s a vital distinction, at least from an advertising standpoint.
Water-resistant means that the object in question can withstand or resist the penetration of water to a certain degree, but not entirely. If you get yourself a watch or another waterproof electronic device, you should never have to worry about it being impacted by moisture.
The same is not true if the manufacturer calls its product water-resistant. Water-resistant means that if the product gets rained on a little, it’s probably going to be okay. If you toss it in the pool, though, it’s likely going to be damaged.
The manufacturers of electronic devices are usually hesitant to call their products waterproof unless they’ve done extensive tests and determined that is truly the case. If they called something waterproof and then members of the public figured out that wasn’t accurate, the company would be dealing with constant returns and calls for refunds.
So, is the Samsung Galaxy Waterproof or Water-Resistant?
The Samsung Galaxy is not waterproof. Indeed, you will find that there are no cell phones on the market made by any company that comes with that claim. Because of the many delicate electronic components that comprise a Samsung Galaxy, or any other phone, making the device waterproof would be next to impossible, or at the very least, impractical.
It would be accurate to state that the Galaxy is water-resistant. The manufacturer has done what they can to ensure that minimal exposure to moisture will not cause immediate damage. As is true of any smartphone, though, you should try to keep it away from water. That means not pulling it out and using it in a driving rainstorm, and it certainly means not jumping into the water while it’s in your pocket or anything along those lines.
Water Resistance Ratings for the Samsung Galaxy
There is actually a way of trying to quantify just how resistant to water a phone is. This is called the IP Code. IP stands for International Protection Marking. It’s more commonly referred to as the Ingress Protection Marking rating and is maintained by an outfit called the International Electrotechnical Commission. Basically, this rating exists as a way for consumers to understand their device’s resistance to both moisture and other substances that might cause it to be harmed.
The Samsung Galaxy S10, for instance, has a rating of IP68. This is the same rating that each of the models has gotten, going back to the Galaxy S7. This means that, to a degree, they are resistant to dust and water.
The first digit in this rating is for the device’s resistance to solid object ingression. That would be particles of dust, damage caused by your fingers, etc. The range for that goes from zero to six, so a rating of six for the Galaxy is as good as it gets.
The second digit in the rating is for water resistance, and that goes from zero to nine. With a score of eight, the Samsung Galaxy could be considered excellent. Again, no cell phone on the market at the moment is truly waterproof, but this rating should assure you that you’re getting a device that’s about as resistant to water and particulate matter as you’re going to find.
What Can You do if Your Samsung Galaxy Gets Water Damaged?
Of course, despite your best efforts, it’s possible that your Galaxy might incur some water damage. Maybe it’s in your luggage when you go on a trip, and the bag gets wet due to a sudden rainstorm. Perhaps you spill a drink on it, or you drop it in a puddle.
The first thing that you should do is immediately power off the device. You can then take off the back cover and remove the SIM card, the battery, and the microSD card. Water can short-circuit electronics, so if you can keep these elements from getting wet, then it’s going to be better for you. Don’t try to charge the phone or power it on until you have given it plenty of time to dry.
You can clean it off with an absorbent cloth, wiping down the charging port and the headphone jack. Don’t try to use a heat source to dry the device. That’s likely to cause more damage. Instead, put it somewhere out of the way so that it can air dry.
After 48 hours have passed, you can put the SIM card, battery, etc. back in the phone. Now, you can turn on the device and check to see if it is damaged.
The Rice Drying Method for the Samsung Galaxy
You might have also heard about using rice to dry out a phone that has gotten wet. To do so, take your phone and place it in a plastic bag filled with uncooked rice. Dry rice grains are a natural alternative to other desiccants, such as silica gel. They absorb excess liquid, but they are too big to enter ports or other separations in the phone’s body.
Check Your Galaxy’s Warranty
As your phone is drying, you can look over your warranty for it. In many cases, exposure to moisture is not something that is covered by a basic warranty. However, if you got an additional warranty from Square Trade, Asurion, or another third party, then you can probably get a replacement phone, should that be necessary. When you buy your Galaxy, one of these extra warranty packages is certainly worth considering.
What About if the Damage Was from Another Liquid?
You might also be wondering about what you can do if the damage to your Galaxy is due to another liquid besides water. Maybe you are dealing with a coffee spill, or tea, or soda. If anything other than water got into your phone, then the chances are much higher that you are going to need to get it replaced. That’s because these sorts of liquid can leave harmful residue behind when they evaporate.
Any warranty does not usually cover these sorts of spills. The one thing that you can try if you’re faced with this situation is to submerge the device in either grain alcohol or a circuit-safe cleaner. These can remove corrosive impurities without leaving a conductive residue behind. Once you remove the phone from its bath, let it dry for 48 hours before trying it to see if it works.
