Will the iPhone 15 be waterproof?

If you were wondering about the possibility of a waterproof iPhone 15 – we’ve got everything you need to know right here.

We’re going to be examining everything we know so far from leaks and rumours to examining Apple release patterns, all to try to get an idea of what direction Apple is heading on this one.

Will the iPhone 15 be waterproof – here’s what we know so far

Rumours of a September 2023 release for the iPhone 15 release have got many people excited about what to expect from the latest release. Several things will be different about this model it seems, including the possibility of a new Ultra model.

Well-known leaker and case manufacturer Ian Zelbo has suggested that the iPhone 15 design will be returning in many ways to the iPhone 11 style. He teased that the curved edges are making a come back in this new design. He also suggested that improvements to the camera will bulk the whole model up.

With all these rumours and leaks floating around, many people will now be wondering if the curved bezels are the only things returning from the iPhone 11 design…particularly as the iPhone 11 was not waterproof. Instead it was water resistant with an IP rating of IP68. Interestingly, the iPhone 15’s direct predecessor, the iPhone 14 series, was also IP68.

Will the iPhone 15 be waterproof?

The iPhone 15 is likely to have an IP rating of IP68, making it water resistant and able to withstand full immersion in water for up to 15 minutes, however any longer and you risk damaging the electronics. Since Apple have maintained such a consistent preference for the IP68 ranking we think it unlikely that they will deviate from this now. In short, it is unlikely to be fully waterproof.

But what do IP ratings mean? Let’s break it down a little bit.

What does IP68 mean?

IP68 is an IP rating. IP ratings may seem incomprehensible at first but they are actually a ranking system indicating how durable a device is set by the International Electrotechnical Commission.

IP stands for ‘Ingress Protection’. If a phone has an IP rating it means it has passed a series of tests examining the device’s resistance to water and small foreign objects (dust, sand, dirt, etc.) Once the device has undergone the tests it will be awarded a rating. This rating is the combination of two numbers you can see directly after the letters ‘IP’.

The first number indicates the device’s resistance to solid foreign objects on a ranking from 0-6.

• 0 means the device has no protection.
• 6 means the device is dust-tight.

The second number indicates the device’s resistance to water. It is ranked on a scale from 0-9.

• 0 means there is no water protection.
• 9 means the device is protected from high pressure and high temperature water from any direction.

Which IP ranking does iPhone have?

To date no iPhone is available on the market with an IP of IP69.

Instead, iPhone tends to favour a rating of IP67 (iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone SE 2020). Or it favours IP68 (iPhone 11 range, iPhone 12 range, and iPhone XS and XS Max).

IP67 means that the device is dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion in water of standardised temperature and pressure. (Basically, you’re good in the rain but don’t drop it in the sauna.)

IP68, which the iPhone 15’s immediate predecessor ranked, means that the device is dust-tight and protected against continuous water immersion under pre-approved conditions. The manufacturer dictates the pre-approved conditions. The conditions will be more extreme than the IP67 ranking, but not as extreme as an IP69 ranking.

It is probably this caveat that has had water damage excluded from Apple’s iPhone warranty service up until now.

Our Answer

If you are looking for a phone to take on the beach with you, iPhone tends to have you covered and the iPhone 15 should be no different. But if you’re looking for something a little more extreme, you have some options.

First off, you could invest in a case, with the teased change in design this may have to come directly from Apple in the immediate wake of release. Alternatively, you could invest in an IP69 ranking phone already on the market. The Doogee S90, the Blackview BV6800 Pro, and the Cat S61 are all available to buy today and carry IP69 ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the iPhone 14 go underwater?

The iPhone 14 can be submerged in water for up to 15 minutes in mild to medium-extreme conditions. However we would advise against repeatedly exposing your iPhone to water, particularly salt water. Over time the casing can be eroded and the water resistance may begin to decrease.

Is the iPhone 14 waterproof or water resistant?

The iPhone 14 is water resistant. It has an IP ranking of IP68 which means it can withstand being fully submerged in water for 15 minutes without any adverse affects. However it cannot survive underwater indefinitely and as such cannot be considered fully waterproof.