The need for a phone to be waterproof is becoming more and more in demand but. Is the iPhone SE waterproof? Can this phone snap poolside photos? This is never an easy question to answer but with the information you can find on this phone, we’ve got the answer.

A bit about the iPhone SE

Everyone would have heard about the iPhone SE but, have you heard about the new iPhone SE? This small smartphone is packed full of features and a bit of a throwback. Apple completely dropped the home button a few years ago and hasn’t turned back since…until now. With the return of the SE, we also get the return of the home button. This gives that added with touch ID as well as being super easy to use.

When buying a lower tier handset, most people will think they’re losing out on a lot of the good bits. With the iPhone SE, that’s just simply not the case. The brains of this smartphone is in fact the A13 Bionic, the same chip found in the iPhone 11 series. With this fact alone, you can be assured that everything is going to run smoothly with no interruptions. The new iPhone SE is also a lot smaller than many phones on the market nowadays. This makes it the perfect option for younger people or someone who just doesn’t like a big screen.

Learn about the IP rating

An IP rating is the official score given to technology that shows how resistant it is against different substances. In the case of the iPhone SE, you’ll get an IP67 rating. The test in order to get this rating takes a look at water resistance as well as damage down to small particles. If a device doesn’t have an IP rating, it’s likely that it isn’t water resistant. It’s all well and good having this rating but what does it really mean?

The two letters ‘IP’ represent water and small particle resistance. These are then paired with the two following numbers to show just how resistant the device is. The ‘I’ shows that the iPhone SE has been tested for small particles. With the 6 following, you can see that this smartphone won’t be damaged by small particles, such as dust. This is something that we see across most big handsets on the market at the moment.

‘P’ represents that the phone has been tested for water resistance. This is where it can get a bit more difficult due to the amount of rating outcomes. You can see that the iPhone SE has a rating of 7 when it comes down to water resistance. This confirms that the phone will be able t last in 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes. For a budget smartphone, this is super impressive.

Things to consider

As the IP rating shows, this iPhone is not completely waterproof, meaning there are limitations. This is the same with any phone on the market. We currently have no way of making a phone completely waterproof as they all have charging ports and speakers. Limitations for the iPhone SE include depth restrictions and time limits.

If the iPhone SE is taken any deeper than 1 metre, it’s likely to incur damage or some sort. Whether this is water damage or not, warranty will not cover it. These ratings are set in place to help keep your device safe. Taking any phone deeper than it’s recommended depth will put more pressure on it than it can handle. Higher pressure will mean the inner workings of your phone are damaged.

When it comes to time limits, you probably want to make sure you’re not taking these in water for over 30 minutes. This is pretty standard across all phones at the moment. It’s highly likely that water will find its way through your phone and damage the battery, screen or anything else that keeps it working if taken in water for over 30 minutes.

So, is the iPhone SE waterproof?

To answer the question of is the iPhone SE waterproof, you first need to understand the difference between waterproof and water resistance. If something is waterproof then there is no damage of anything being damaged. Water resistance is when something can withstand a certain amount of damage from water but has its limits. To answer the question, ‘is the iPhone SE waterproof?’, quickly, no. It is, however, water resistant!

Once you can answer the question of is the iPhone SE waterproof or not, you may just fall in love with this phone. For a budget handset, you’re going to get an awful lot for your money.