Are Smartwatches Really Waterproof?

These days it’s a safe assumption that every smart watch and fitness tracker can be put in the shower, washed off when you wash your hands, or worn in the pool. Many have swim features, or water lock features that suggest they can be used while wet. However, people are finding that the watch they thought was waterproof is not.

For example, of this Redditor The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (released in 2022) died this year during a swim in the ocean, with signs of internal salt corrosion. Another Redditor recently lost functionality on their first generation Apple Watch SE (2020) after a swim. Older watches lose their water resistance over time, and many are not intended for use in salt water anyway, if you check the fine print. Smartwatches are more waterproof than we think.

How do companies measure water resistance?

No smartwatch manufacturer calls their devices “waterproof,” but instead we see IP ratings (such as IP68 or IPX7) or a water pressure rating (usually 5 ATM or 10 ATM).

IP standards stand for “ingress protection.” The first number is how well the device resists 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 more information on how IP standards workHere is what Samsung writes in the manual for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which has IP68 ratings: “The device has been tested by placing it in 1.5 [meters] of clean water for 30 minutes, leaving it still, undisturbed to meet the requirements of IEC 60529. Water resistance is not guaranteed when using the device under conditions deviated from the standard.”

ATM standards require the device to be tested in deep water; Samsung says in the same book that the 5ATM rating was tested by immersing the watch in 50 meters of water for 10 minutes. The details of the IP and ATM tests may vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, but these seem to be common. Gently placing the watch underwater is, perhaps, an easier test than taking it for a swim on the beach over and over again.

Water resistance decreases over time

Note that the manufacturer’s test I described above is done with clean water with a potentially new device. There is no guarantee that the device will be adequately waterproof after several years of wear; seals can deteriorate over time.

Manufacturers also warn about things other than pure water. Using that Samsung manual as an example, the device should be cleaned and dried immediately if it has come 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 retention is not a permanent condition and may decrease over time,” it says Apple’s support page on water resistancewhich provides IP ratings for each Apple Watch model. Apple notes that water resistance can be compromised by dropping the watch, exposing it to soap in the shower, or using a non-Ultra watch in a sauna. Non-Ultra models should not be exposed to “high-velocity water (eg, when skiing).”

Google the same that said on 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, equipment repair, disassembly or damage.” Also: “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 details. For example, the Garmin Forerunner 265 manual it says to avoid pressing buttons while the device is under water, and to wash it immediately after contact with salt water or chlorine.

How to avoid water damage

Despite all of those warnings, companies still often tout their devices as being good to wear in the shower and other places with low fresh water pressure; All the tools I mentioned above have navigation functions. I wouldn’t be surprised by stray water drops, but after reading the finer print, you might want to take care of your device differently.

Wash and dry equipment after it comes into contact with salt water or chlorine pool water, and try to prevent it from sun protection and other substances. If you swim regularly, especially in salt water, consider upgrading to a watch with better water resistance (like the Ultra instead of the regular Apple Watch). And if you don’t do it swim often, but you’re on vacation with an old watch that’s always seemed fine in the shower, maybe just take it off once.