Samsung’s latest foldable smartphones are the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4, but are they waterproof? To recall, Samsung revealed the first Galaxy Z Fold phone in 2019 and the first Galaxy Z Flip in 2020. Back then, the smartphones were not quite as durable as buyers would want their daily driver to be. While Samsung did improve the structural strength with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in 2020, water resistance remained an issue.
The following year, Samsung revealed the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, the first foldable phones in the world to feature an official water resistance rating. Although it wasn’t as fancy as the IP68 rating on modern flagships like the iPhone 13 and the Google Pixel 6, the third-generation Galaxy foldables came with an IPX8 rating, which was a technological revolution considering the devices contained an open-hinge design.
Since the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 are priced at $1,799 and $999, respectively, shoppers might want them to check all the boxes on their list, including great performance, excellent cameras, a day’s worth of battery life, and a durable build quality. Samsung takes care of the first three by equipping the smartphones with the power-efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 SoC and better cameras. It has also improved the structural integrity with a better hinge mechanism. When it comes to water resistance, however, these devices aren’t entirely waterproof. According to the press release, “Both Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 are equipped with IPX8 water resistance, so users can worry less if they get caught in the rain.“
Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, And IPX8 Water Resistance
The ‘X’ in the IP rating of Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 suggests that the smartphones are not resistant to minute foreign particles or dust. Hence, customers should avoid using the device at a construction site, a beach, or anywhere there is a possibility of exposure to particles that could get inside the smartphone and cause damage. According to the IEC, the second character in the IP rating ‘8’ signifies that the foldable smartphones should be “protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water.” In fact, Samsung mentions in its releases that the IPX8 rating is based on test conditions for immersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes. Still, the company issues an advisory against pool or beach usage.
To conclude, users can consider the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 as water-resistant, and an accidental drop in the bucket or the sink should not damage the smartphones. Further, the devices should also be able to handle light rain and freshwater splashes. However, playing around at the beach might render the smartphones useless, as sand and saltwater don’t play nicely with an IPX8 rating. For reference, other foldable phones, like the Mi Mix Fold 2 and the Vivo X Fold, don’t have an official IP rating, which highlights a clear advantage of Samsung’s newest foldables.
