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\n We may earn a commission from links on this page.<\/span>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s a safe assumption these days that every smartwatch and fitness tracker can be taken into the shower, rinsed off when you wash your hands, or worn into a pool. Many have swimming modes, or water lock features that suggest they can be used while wet. And yet, people keep finding out that the watch they thought was waterproof isn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, this Redditor\u2019s<\/u><\/a> Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (released in 2022) died this year during an ocean swim, with signs of salt corrosion inside. Another Redditor<\/u><\/a> recently lost functionality in their first-generation Apple Watch SE (2020) after swimming. Older watches tend to lose their water resistance over time, and many aren\u2019t intended for use in salt water anyway, if you check the fine print. Smartwatches are a lot less water-resistant than we tend to think they are.<\/p>\n No smartwatch maker is categorically calling their devices \u201cwaterproof,\u201d but instead we see IP ratings (like IP68 or IPX7) or a pressure rating for water resistance (usually 5 ATM or 10 ATM).\u00a0<\/p>\n IP ratings stand for \u201cingress protection.\u201d The first number is how well the device resists the entry of dust 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\u2019s more background on how IP ratings work<\/u><\/a>.) Here\u2019s what Samsung writes in the manual for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which has an IP68 rating: \u201cThe 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. The water resistance is not guaranteed when using the device under conditions that deviate from the standard.\u201d<\/p>\n ATM ratings require that the device be tested in deeper 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 these seem to be typical.\u00a0Gently placing a watch underwater is, presumably, an easier test to pass than taking it swimming at the beach on a regular basis. <\/p>\n Note that the manufacturer testing I described above is done with fresh water on a presumably brand-new device. There\u2019s no guarantee that the device will be equally water-resistant after a few years of wear; seals can break down over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Manufacturers also typically warn against substances other than fresh water. To use that same Samsung manual as an example, the device should be immediately cleaned and dried if it comes into contact with \u201csalt water, coffee, beverages, swimming pool water, soapy water, oil, perfume, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, or chemical products, such as cosmetics.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Other device makers agree. \u201cWater resistance isn’t a permanent condition and can diminish over time,\u201d says Apple\u2019s support page about water resistance<\/u><\/a>, which gives the IP ratings of each model of Apple Watch. Apple notes that water resistance can degrade as a result of dropping the watch, exposing it to soap in the shower, or using a non-Ultra watch in the sauna. Non-Ultra models shouldn\u2019t be exposed to \u201chigh-velocity water (for example, while water skiing).\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHow companies measure water resistance<\/h2>\n
Water resistance degrades over time<\/h2>\n
\n What do you think so far?
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