One of the best things about Samsung's modern Galaxy Watches is that they are IP68-rated for dust and water resistance. It means you can take these smartwatches with you almost anywhere without worrying about them breaking due to dust or water ingress. But how waterproof are Galaxy Watches, really?
On paper, an IP68 rating means your Galaxy Watch is protected against water ingress when immersed in water for long periods.
In addition, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is 10ATM-certified, while the Galaxy Watch 7 and older models have 5ATM certificates. What does this mean, exactly?
How Samsung tests Galaxy Watches
In practice, Samsung says it tested the Galaxy Watch Ultra for the IPx8 rating by submerging it in 1.5 m of fresh water, leaving it still, without any movement, for 30 minutes.
In these conditions, the Galaxy Watch Ultra met the requirements of IEC 60529 and obtained the IPx8 rating.
Furthermore, the company tested the 10ATM water resistance by submerging the Galaxy Watch Ultra in fresh water and applying pressure equivalent to 100 meters, leaving the smartwatch still for 10 minutes.
The Watch Ultra met the requirements of ISO 22810:2010 and is the only Galaxy Watch with a 10ATM certificate. Most others have 5ATM, meaning they were tested at a pressure equivalent to 50 meters.
Your Galaxy Watch is not invulnerable. Be mindful
Although these tests and certificates are not for nothing, it's better not to think of your Galaxy Watch as an invulnerable piece of wearable tech. In fact, several factors can affect a smartwatch's water resistance and degrade it long-term.
Galaxy Watches (and most IP-rated consumer electronics) obtain water resistance by enclosing their components in cases using rubber seals and adhesives. You don't see them, but they're vital to water-resistance. However, these rubber gaskets and adhesives can deteriorate over time.
In Samsung's words, “The water resistance of your Galaxy device is not permanent and may diminish over time.”
So you see, the more you push a Galaxy Watch (seals and adhesives) over the limit, the faster it will lose water-resistance capabilities.
Realistically, you need not worry about getting caught in the rain while wearing the Galaxy Watch or spilling a glass of tap water on your wearable. Your Samsung smartwatch will be just fine!
However, if you want to properly maintain your Galaxy Watch and avoid water damage (or worse) later down the line, you should exercise caution and consider the following official guidelines:
- Avoid exposing the Galaxy Watch to soap water and high levels of chlorine water.
- After swimming in a pool or sea, Samsung advises rinsing the Galaxy Watch with fresh water before the seawater or pool water dries. They contain high levels of salt and chlorine, and if not cleaned off, these substances can attack and deteriorate seals and water-tight adhesives.
- Showering while wearing your Galaxy Watch is not advised. Not only is soapy water bad for your Galaxy Watch, but there is a risk that the hot water will damage the adhesives that help your smartwatch keep water at bay.
- If you spill other liquids on your Galaxy Watch, like coffee, soda, soapy water, etc., you should rinse the Watch with fresh water and dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth.
- Don't expose your Galaxy Watch to high-pressure cleaning machines.
- Don't dry your Galaxy Watch using a hot air machine or hair dryer. These can damage the components that keep the water out and melt adhesives.
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Remember that water resistance on a Galaxy Watch doesn't work like an ON-OFF switch. In other words, the Galaxy Watch can probably survive a shower with soapy water without suffering water damage, but that doesn't mean leaving your Watch on your wrist in the shower isn't without risks.
Maybe you read online posts from users who wear their Galaxy Watches in the shower all the time and swear they never had any issues. And maybe they got lucky. But repeatedly ignoring the guidelines can eventually lead to permanent damage to your Watch.
Again, losing water resistance is gradual, as rubber seals and adhesives can degrade over time. You may want to consider avoiding things that help accelerate that deterioration process.
Fast-moving water could infiltrate your Galaxy Watch
Lastly, you may have noticed that Samsung tests Galaxy Watches for the IP68 rating and 5ATM/10ATM while the wearables are standing still. Moving water, on the other hand, poses a slightly higher risk of water ingress.
That is why Samsung advises against wearing the Galaxy Watch while swimming in fast-moving rivers, freediving, scuba diving, jet skiing, and so on.
In closing, to answer the titular question, Galaxy Watches are water-resistant to a fairly high degree. In fact, they're some of the best on the market. However, they are not invulnerable.
Always remember that water resistance is not constant but can deteriorate over time. It's inevitable, but your actions can greatly accelerate or slow down the deterioration process.
