Need A Waterproof Phone? Here Are The Top 3 Compared

Maybe you love kayaking, or maybe you are just a little clumsy, but if you are looking for a waterproof phone, there are actually some great, high end smartphone choices for you. In this article we are telling you what you need to look for in a waterproof mobile and giving you three great, top end choices to take a look at.

Why Go for a Waterproof Phone?

A waterproof phone is a great choice for many reasons. If you love the outdoors, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, a waterproof mobile is obviously going to be of great benefit to you. Even if you simply need to take your phone to the beach, you might want to look into waterproof models just in case. Then there are users who often work outside, maybe on building sites, for example, who will appreciate a phone which they do not need to worry about in the rain.

Older rugged, waterproof phones used to be big compromises. You could have a waterproof device, but you would have to settle for a very basic phone. Fortunately, these days there are some very high end models to choose from, so you do not need to compromise on performance just to get a waterproof mobile.

What to Look For

If you are looking for a waterproof phone then you will need to look for a device which has an IP rating. You can read more about the details of IP ratings here. This should be listed in the specs of a model and will consist of the letters IP followed by two numbers. The first number will vary between zero and six and will tell you how dust proof a phone is, the second number is the one that will concern you.

The second number tells you how waterproof a phone is and goes from zero (not at all waterproof) to nine (waterproof even under strong jets of water such as fire hoses). Most waterproof phones will be either 7 (waterproof up to one metre in depth for up to thirty minutes) or 8 (waterproof for depths over one metre for longer than thirty minutes).

The Sony Xperia Z1

The Sony Xperia Z1 is the absolute top of the line when it comes to waterproof smartphones. It has got more features and higher specs than any other model, though of course, it is the most expensive phone on today's list. It is well worth paying for though, since you get an incredible phone which just so happens to also be waterproof.

The Xperia Z1 has an absolutely huge quad core 2.2 GHz processor plus a full 2 GB of RAM, so it is one of the fastest and most powerful phones on the market, bar none. It has a full five inch touch screen with high resolution for amazing viewing. On top of that, you get a brilliant 20 MP camera, as well as a 2 MP front facing camera.

You will get 16 GB of internal memory, as well as an SD card slot for up to 64 GB of external memory. The Xperia Z1 is running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, though it will accept a 4.4 Kit Kat upgrade. Finally, it is IP58 certified, so you are good in water over a metre deep for longer than thirty minutes.

The Sony Xperia Z1 will cost you around £550, but it is a stunning phone and definitely the best around.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active

Going for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active might not be a bad idea either, since it has also got some pretty top of the line specs on it. It is a little cheaper than the Xperia Z1, but it is still an awesome waterproof phone choice.

There is a quad core 1.9 GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM, so not quite as powerful as the Xperia, but still pretty snappy. Screen size is, again, a good five inches, and it has Gorilla Glass too, so it is shatter proof. Camera specs are not too amazing, there is a regular 8 MP camera, but you still get the 2 MP front facing cam.

Again, you get 16 GB of internal memory, plus that SD card slot for up to 64 GB of extra storage, and the Galaxy also runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. This time you are IP67 certified, so you are good in water up to a metre deep for up to thirty minutes.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active will cost you around five hundred pounds, so it is not a bad deal at all.

The Sony Xperia Z

Finally, the Sony Xperia Z is a slightly older model than the Xperia Z1 (only by around six months though), but giving up a few top end specs does mean that you still get a great phone just for a more affordable price.
The Xperia Z “only” has a quad core 1.5 GHz processor, though there is still 2 GB of RAM, so it is the slowest phone on the list, but this is still a very powerful processor. There is a solid five inch screen with shatter proof and scratch resistant glass along with a nice 13 MP camera too, so it is better than the Samsung, and still a 2 MP front facing cam.

Internal memory specs are the same 16 GB with up to 64 GB on SD card, and the Z runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but again will take that 4.4 Kit Kat upgrade no problem. You get IP57 certification this time, so you are good in depths of up to a metre for up to thirty minutes.

You are looking at paying about £480 for the Sony Xperia Z, which means that you will be saving some cash whilst still getting a great smartphone, and you are not compromising too much either. The processor might be slower, but it is still faster than that found on many a top end model these days, so that should not be a concern.

Just because you are looking for a waterproof phone does not mean that you should settle for anything less than a great smartphone, and this list just goes to show that there are some very powerful and high end choices out there.

Author Bio:
When his wife asked about a waterproof phone, Phil Turner looked online on sites such as uSwitch for deals and comparisons.