Smartphones aren't supposed to get wet, but every now and then, accidents happen. If the Galaxy S22 falls in a pool or tub, will it be OK?

Samsung tried pleasing everyone with the Galaxy S22 series, but did waterproofing make the cut as one of the many included features? More so than any other device, smartphones go almost everywhere that their owner does. Cooking dinner? There's a good chance your phone is showing tonight's recipe. At the beach? You may be using your phone to read a book. Relaxing at home? Your phone is a perfect screen for watching movies or playing a game.

As convenient as that portability is, it also means people's smartphones are exposed to more harmful conditions than other gadgets. You most likely won't worry about your gaming PC getting stuck in the rain, but with a phone, that's a very real concern. Thankfully, between things like IP ratings and ruggedness tests, most modern phones are designed to withstand these situations.

Related: Does The Samsung Galaxy S22 Come With A Charger? What You Need To Know

Such is the case with the Galaxy S22 series. Samsung's equipped its phones with water resistance protection for years, and with the S22 lineup, that's no different. The Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra all come with an IP68 dust/water resistance rating. That doesn't mean the phones are 'waterproof,' but they are water-resistant and should be more than durable for the vast majority of users.

Many phones released today have the same IP68 rating as the Galaxy S22. But what does that mean? IP is short for 'Ingress Protection' and is quantified with two numbers — the first accounting for dust resistance and the second being water resistance. The '6' in IP68 means the Galaxy S22 is fully sealed against dust, dirt, and sand. Whether someone takes their S22 to a beach or on a hiking trip, they won't have to worry about debris getting inside the phone and damaging it.

The '8' in IP68 translates to the Galaxy S22 being able to survive up to 1.5m of water submersion for up to 30 minutes. Galaxy S22 owners shouldn't actively try to get the phone wet, but they can rest easy knowing it's safe from accidents. If the S22 falls in a sink, gets dropped in the pool, or gets caught in a rainstorm, it should survive just fine.

It's important to stress the difference between 'waterproof' and 'water-resistant.' The Galaxy S22 is not a phone you should repeatedly submerge and try to use underwater. IP68 ratings aren't perfect, and if the S22 happens to break from water damage, it is not covered by Samsung's warranty. As such, think of the Galaxy S22's IP68 rating as a failsafe. It's there to protect the phone in emergencies, but it isn't something you should go out of your way to use. Keep that in mind, and your Samsung Galaxy S22 should keep ticking for years to come.

While Galaxy S22 users might be disappointed to know that their phone's water-resistance rating doesn't allow it to be used underwater, there is a workaround. There are third-party cases users can buy which allow the phone to be submerged in water for a short time, letting them take photos of friends and family in the pool or photograph coral reefs while snorkeling. The Temdan Galaxy S22 waterproof case is an affordable option priced at $21.99 on Amazon. It's a full body case, with separate front and back panels that snap into place and provide a complete seal. Temdan says the case is suitable for swimming, surfing, and snorkeling for up to 20 minutes. The case is also shock-proof, snow-proof, and dust-proof, and allows use of the screen, fingerprint sensor, cameras, and wireless charging. There are also manual sliders that can protect the speakers and charging port when exposed to the elements.

The Oterkin case is another cheap option at just $19. It's very similar to the Temdan case in terms of function, letting the user make full use of the Galaxy S22 while protecting it from rain, water, snow, and dust. It's also shock-proof and scratch-proof. It features an IP68 rating that allows the Galaxy S22 to be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. While neither of these cases is ideal for daily use given that they can be bulky, they're a great way to use the Galaxy S22's cameras underwater when going to the beach or pool.

Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he's happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.