Testing if your phone is waterproof: what wear does to your seals
Is your phone still truly waterproof after a few years of use? Learn how to test your phone's water resistance and what wear does to the seals.
Door Jalil Barati
Gepubliceerd: 2026-08-18
Your phone has an IP68 rating, so it can just come along in the shower, right? Unfortunately, that's not how it works. Water resistance wears out — and that's often buried in small print nobody reads. If you want to know whether your phone is still genuinely waterproof, this article is exactly what you're looking for. We explain how to test your phone's water resistance, what wear does to the seals and when it's wise to take action.
Quick summary: An IP rating doesn't guarantee lifelong water resistance. Wear, drops and age weaken your phone's seals. You can test your phone's water resistance with a simple paper tissue test or via a specialised professional — dunking it in water to "test" it is the single riskiest thing you can do.
What does that IP rating actually mean?
IP stands for Ingress Protection. The number after it — think IP67 or IP68 — says something about how well a device is protected against dust and water. The first digit is about dust, the second about water. An iPhone 15, for example, has IP68, which means it's water resistant to a depth of 6 metres for a maximum of 30 minutes. A Samsung Galaxy S24 has the same rating.
Sounds solid. But here's the catch: those tests are carried out on factory-new devices, under controlled lab conditions, in still fresh water. Salt water, chlorinated water, soapy water or the pressure of running water are not covered. And after two years of daily use? Your phone is by then long past being the device that once passed that test.
What does wear do to the waterproof seal?
A phone's water resistance is guaranteed by rubber gaskets and sealing adhesive along the edges of the screen, the SIM tray, the buttons and the charging port. Those materials degrade. Not because you're doing anything wrong — simply through time, heat and use.
We see it every week in our workshop in Nijverdal. Customers come in with a phone that "suddenly let water in" while they were just using it in the rain. After a quick inspection, our technicians see it straight away: the seal hasn't been what it used to be for a long time.
These are the main causes of a weakened seal:
- Drops and knocks: Even if the screen stays intact, the internal gaskets can shift or tear from an impact.
- Screen repairs: Did someone replace your screen without using the correct sealing kit? Then the water resistance is almost certainly compromised.
- Heat: Regular charging, long phone calls and sunny summer days speed up the ageing of rubber gaskets.
- Age: After 2 to 3 years, the original seal is in many cases already noticeably weakened.
- SIM tray: Every time you pull the tray out, the little gasket wears just a bit further.
How can you test your phone's water resistance without risk?
Here's the most dangerous mistake people make: putting their phone in water to see if it survives. That's not a test — that's Russian roulette with your device. If the seal is already weakened, that's the very moment you cause the damage. And by then it's too late.
Fortunately, there are safer ways to test your phone's water resistance. Here they are, from simple to thorough:
- Visual inspection: Take a close look at the edges of your screen. Do you see small gaps, discolouration or adhesive coming loose? That's a warning sign.
- The paper tissue test: Hold a sheet of kitchen paper or a tissue against the charging port and the edge of the screen. Use a straw to gently blow air along the edges of the back. If the paper moves, air is escaping — and water can get in too.
- Condensation check: Leave your phone in a cold room for a few minutes (not the freezer), then bring it into a warm room. Does condensation appear inside the screen? Then there's already moisture inside — a bad sign.
- Pressure test by a professional: Professional repairers can measure a device's airtightness with special equipment without using a single drop of water. This is the most reliable way to test your phone's water resistance.
Not sure? Bring your device to our . Our technicians will check it for free and give you honest advice — even if nothing's wrong.
Overview: water resistance by popular model
For comparison, these are the official IP ratings of popular models. Remember that these are factory values for new devices.
| Model |
IP rating |
Max. depth |
Max. duration |
| iPhone 15 / 15 Pro |
IP68 |
6 metres |
30 minutes |
| iPhone 13 / 14 |
IP68 |
6 metres |
30 minutes |
| iPhone SE (3rd gen.) |
IP67 |
1 metre |
30 minutes |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 |
IP68 |
1.5 metres |
30 minutes |
| Samsung Galaxy A55 |
IP67 |
1 metre |
30 minutes |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
IP68 |
1.5 metres |
30 minutes |
Water damage: what if it goes wrong anyway?
Last week a man stood at our counter in Nijverdal with a Samsung Galaxy that had spent a night in a bucket. "It's IP68, isn't it?" he said. That was true — for the new version. This device was three years old and had already had a cracked screen repaired elsewhere without a new seal.
Water damage is treacherous. The damage isn't always visible immediately. Corrosion on the circuit board can cause problems days or weeks later. What can you do if your phone does get wet?
- Switch it off immediately — current running through wet electronics makes the damage worse.
- Remove the SIM tray and pat the outside dry with a soft cloth.
- Lay it flat in a dry, well-ventilated spot — no rice (that's a myth).
- Take it to a professional for inspection as soon as possible, even if it still seems to work.
At The Phone Shopper we have our own workshop with certified technicians who thoroughly inspect water damage and repair it where possible. For more information, see our or our .
What if I buy a refurbished phone — is it still waterproof?
A fair question, and we'll give it an honest answer. With refurbished devices, water resistance depends on the condition of the seal and on whether the previous owner had repairs carried out. At The Phone Shopper, our technicians check every device for visible damage to the edges and gaskets. Any doubt? Then we replace the seal before sale.
Every refurbished device that leaves our shop has at least 85% battery capacity. If it's below that, we replace the battery before sale. We apply the same careful principle to the physical condition of the device. We work with the conditions New, As good as new, Lightly used and Used — so you know exactly what you're buying.
Curious what we have in stock? Check out our refurbished iPhone models or go to the refurbished overview for all brands and models.
When is it wise to have your seal renewed?
Not every device lends itself to renewing the waterproof seal, but on most recent iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices it is technically possible. Our technicians reapply the seal after every screen repair — that's standard with us. But even if you have no damage, you can have your seal checked preventively if your device is older than two years and you regularly expose it to moisture.
Got a device that's already too far gone and considering a trade-in? Via our trade-in page you'll receive an offer within 24 hours, even for devices with water damage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I test my phone's water resistance myself at home?
Yes, but only to a limited extent. The paper tissue test and a visual inspection of the edges give a first impression. What you should never do is hold your phone under water to test whether it survives — if the seal is already weakened, that's when you really cause damage. For a reliable test, go to a repair specialist with the right equipment.
Does my iPhone lose its water resistance after a screen repair?
That depends entirely on who carries out the repair. If no new sealing kit is used when the screen is refitted, water resistance is no longer guaranteed afterwards. At The Phone Shopper, our technicians use new gaskets as standard with every , so the seal is restored as well as possible.
Is a refurbished iPhone still waterproof?
That varies per device and condition. Our refurbished iPhones are thoroughly checked, including the condition of the seal. If a device has had a repair that compromised the seal, we restore it before sale. We're transparent about it: a refurbished device doesn't offer the same assurance as a brand-new one, but we do everything we can to get it as close as possible.
What should I do if my phone gets wet?
Switch it off immediately, remove the SIM tray and pat it dry. Put it in a dry, ventilated place — no rice, that doesn't help. Take it to a professional as soon as possible, even if it still seems to work. Water damage can be insidious and only cause problems later. In Twente, you can come to us in Nijverdal for this — even at short notice.
How long does a phone's waterproof seal last?
On average, the seal starts to weaken noticeably after 1.5 to 3 years, depending on use and conditions. Regular exposure to heat, drops and opening the SIM tray speed up that process. Manufacturers themselves state that water resistance isn't permanent — it's almost always in the small print of the specifications.
Does my insurance cover water damage?
That depends on your policy. Many insurers don't cover water damage if the device officially has an IP rating, on the reasoning that it's "user error". Read your policy conditions carefully. No insurance and the repair is getting expensive? Then consider trading in your old device via our trade-in page for a reliable refurbished alternative at a fair price.
Got questions about the condition of your phone, unsure whether the seal is still good, or just want to talk it through with someone who works with this every day? Feel free to drop in at The Phone Shopper at Willem Alexanderstraat 11 in Nijverdal, call us on +31 548 549 536 or visit our website. We're happy to help — no detours.
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