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It’s a safe assumption these days that every smartwatch and fitness tracker can be taken into the shower, washed when you wash your hands, or worn in the pool. Many have swimming modes or water lock features that indicate they can be used when wet. And yet, people keep finding that the watch they thought was waterproof isn’t.
for example, This Redditor’s The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (released in 2022) died this year during a swim in the sea, showing signs of salt corrosion inside. Another Redditor His first generation Apple Watch SE (2020) has lost functionality after recently swimming. Older watches lose their water resistance over time, and if you check the fine print, many watches aren’t meant for use in salt water anyway. Smartwatches are a lot less water resistant than we think.
How do companies measure water resistance?
No smartwatch manufacturer explicitly calls their devices “waterproof,” but instead we see IP ratings (such as IP68 or IPX7) or pressure ratings for water resistance (usually 5 ATM or 10 ATM).
IP ratings stand for “Intrusion Protection”. The first number is how well the device resists dust penetration on a scale of 0 to 6, and the second number is how well it resists water on a scale of 0 to 9. (Here it is More background on how IP ratings work.) Here’s what Samsung writes in the manual for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which has an IP68 rating: “The device has been tested by submerging it in 1.5 (meters) of fresh water for 30 minutes, leaving it still without any movement to meet the requirements of IEC 60529. Water resistance is not guaranteed when the device is used under standard conditions.”
ATM ratings require that the device be tested in deep water; Samsung says in the same manual that the 5ATM rating was tested by submerging the watch in 50 meters of water for 10 minutes. The details of the IP and ATM tests may vary slightly from one manufacturer to another, but they seem to be general. Gently placing the watch under water is probably an easier test to pass than swimming at the beach on a regular basis.
Water resistance decreases over time
Note that the productive test I described above is probably done with fresh water on a brand new device. There is no guarantee that the device will be equally water-resistant after a few years of wear; Seals can break down over time.
Manufacturers usually also warn against substances other than fresh water. To use the same Samsung manual as an example, the device should be cleaned and dried immediately if it comes into contact with “salt water, coffee, beverages, swimming pool water, soapy water, oil, perfume, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, or chemical products, such as cosmetics.”
Other device manufacturers agree. “Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can decrease over time,” says Apple’s support page about water resistancewhich gives the IP rating of each Apple Watch model. Apple notes that dropping the watch, soaking it in soap in the shower, or using a non-Ultra watch in a sauna can reduce water resistance. Non-Ultra models should be exposed to “high-velocity water (for example, while water skiing)”.
What do you think so far?
Likewise Google says Of the Pixel Watch 4, “Water resistance and dust resistance are not permanent conditions, and will decrease or be lost over time due to normal wear and tear, device repairs, dislodgement of spare parts from objects, or damage.” Also: “The Google Pixel Watch is designed for use in shallow water and should not be used for activities involving water at high speeds or high temperatures.”
You’ll find similar warnings for other watches, so check your device’s manual for specifics. For example, the Garmin Forerunner 265 Manual It says to avoid pressing the buttons while the device is underwater and to rinse it immediately after contact with salt water or chlorine.
How to avoid water damage
Despite all these caveats, companies still tout their devices as wearable in showers and other places with low-pressure fresh water; All the devices I mentioned above have swimming activities. I wouldn’t be paranoid about the occasional water drop, but after reading the fine print more closely, you might want to take care of your device a little differently.
Wash and dry devices after exposure to salt water or chlorinated pool water and try to keep them away from sunscreen and other substances. If you swim frequently, especially in salt water, consider upgrading to a watch with better water resistance (like an Ultra instead of a regular Apple Watch). And if you not Swim often, but you’re on vacation with an old watch that always looks good in the shower, maybe take it off this time.
