Take the phone where the water is
Most recent phones resist a splash or a short dunking, but the phone makers' own advice is to keep them out of swimming pools, the sea and showers, and the resistance fades with normal wear. A waterproof case fills the gap. It seals the whole phone behind a clear window, so you can take photos at the pool, follow a map on a wet walk, or keep sand and spray out on the beach and the boat. The cases here are universal: they fit most phones by screen size, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Pixel and others alike, with a window you can still touch and use the camera through.
What the rating means
Waterproof cases are rated with an IP code. The second digit is for water: 7 means tested at one metre for 30 minutes, and 8 means a deeper or longer test whose depth and time the maker must state. So an IP68 rating on its own does not tell you how deep: look for the metres as well. The cases here state their depth, or their IP68 rating, on each product page, and the depth is a limit to stay inside, not a target. The guide Waterproof phone cases and IP ratings explained sets out every number.
How to choose
Check the screen size first: each case gives the largest screen it takes, so find your phone's screen size on its maker's specification page. Then think about what you will do. For swimming and the beach, a sealed case with a lanyard. For photos and video under the water, a rigid diving housing with buttons. For keeping a phone dry in a bag or on a kayak, a lighter, folding waterproof pouch.
Questions people ask about waterproof cases
How do I know the seal works?
Before the first trip, seal a folded paper towel inside the empty case and hold it under water in a sink or bath. Take it out, dry the outside, and open it. If the paper is dry, the seal is working. Do this again at the start of each season.
Will the touchscreen work in the water?
Through the window in dry air, usually yes. Under the water, a touchscreen may not respond, as Samsung notes for its own phones, so set the camera up before you go in.
What should I do after the sea or a pool?
Rinse the closed case in fresh water, dry it, then open it and check the seal for sand and hairs before the next use.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.
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