If you’ve ever lost a smartphone to a shallow puddle or a splash in your backyard swimming pool, you’re more than familiar with how quickly moisture can damage a nice piece of tech.
Believe it or not, you can actually find a number of excellent water-resistant phones right now. In recent years, manufacturers have gotten better at creating phones that resist the elements without sacrificing a pleasant user experience.
Here are our top five waterproof cellphones you can get in 2019.
1. HTC U12 Plus
HTC’s latest flagship phone, the U12 Plus, is a great choice if you’re looking a user-friendly waterproof phone. The U12 Plus meets the requirements for IP68 water resistance, which means that it can withstand submersion in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. HTC’s addition of pressure-sensitive digital buttons also helps keep water from entering the phone.
With a beautiful glass display, Snapdragon 845 processor and HTC’s Edge Sense technology making one-handed use easier, the U12 Plus can keep up with the best phones on the market.
2. iPhone XS
Apple fans looking for a waterproof device might consider the iPhone XS, which can endure for 30 mins in up to one meter of water. Though it falls slightly behind with an IP67 rating, it’s the most waterproof iPhone available today and has a number of other impressive features.
When you pick up the iPhone XS, you’ll enjoy the sharp appearance of its OLED screen and the strength of its camera, which can take stunning pictures even in low light. As a bonus, the iPhone XS’s notorious lack of a headphone jack does help to make it more water resistant than previous versions.
You should still handle this phone carefully around water, but it’s strong enough to survive a short dip in the pool.
3. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
Photographers who want a phone that’s even more water-resistant than the latest iPhone are likely to love Google’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. These phones provide IP68 water resistance as well as a strong camera and improved software.
Though the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL bring many of the same hardware features as the Pixel 2, Google has added several new features, including Qi wireless charging support and camera features for low-light photography and motion autofocus.
4. Samsung Galaxy S9
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a high-powered smartphone with a beautiful display. It’s also one of the most waterproof phones around. It boasts an IP68 rating, which allows it to withstand 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.
The benefits of the Galaxy S9 include long battery life, 4GB of RAM, and a stunning curved screen with a 2,960 x 1,440 resolution.
If you’d rather not pay the hefty price for the S9, older Galaxy phones such as the S7 and S8 also make good water-resistant options.
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Last but certainly not least is Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 — another, albeit larger, smartphone with an IP68 rating and numerous strengths that make it one of the most powerful smartphones on the market.
With the Note 9, you won’t need to sacrifice anything to get water resistance, which is good news, since the phone’s massive 128GB minimum storage capacity means you’ll likely want to keep every document you’ve ever owned in the palm of your hand.
Samsung also manages to keep the Note 9 waterproof without removing the handy S-Pen stylus, which is stored in the device and which you can use to interact with apps and features remotely.
If you plan on using your phone for everything, come rain or shine, you won’t find a better option than the Galaxy Note 9.
Ready to Choose a Waterproof Smartphone?
Investing in a water-resistant phone is a great way to make sure your valuable technology lasts as long as possible. Though you still shouldn’t go tossing your phone in rivers, a phone with a good IP rating can spare you worry when an accident eventually happens.