People who enjoy going outdoors particularly to places where they may find themselves being exposed to water don't have to worry about bringing along their devices so long as these devices are water-resistant.
Luckily, there are now a number of mobile manufacturers that have been able to come up with water-resistant mobile devices and had earned for them an IP certification.
IP or Ingress Protection is usually followed by a number which indicates the device's capacity to protect itself from water and dust. This number usually has two digits wherein the first one would pertain to solid particle protection while the second pertains to protection from liquid.
Naturally, the higher the IP rating, the more protected the device is.
While a number of manufacturers now have a slew of water-resistant devices in their lineup, companies such as Motorola, Sony, HTC, Samsung and Huawei are just some of these companies and will be given a particular focus in the upcoming list.
Motorola. The Moto G (2015) is touted to have an IPX7-rated protection from water splashes and accidental drops in water. The third generation handset, which features a number of incremental upgrades from the first and second generation models, is offered in 8GB and 16GB versions and retails at $179.99 and $219.99 respectively. Other notable features include a 13MP camera, a 5-inch HD display, micro SD card slot to expand the memory, 4G LTE speed and a 2470 mAh battery that promises to offer a full day performance. The device is not safe to carry around sand and be exposed to dust.
Sony. The name Sony usually comes up whenever one thinks of a water-resistant device. One good model is the Xperia M4 Aqua which has an IP65/IP68 rating. Even after a soaking, users can be assured that the device will still work like normal. Reasonably priced at $290, the device also features a 5-inch 720p display, a 13MP camera and a 64-bit octa-core processor.
HTC. The name HTC may come as a surprise if water-resistance in a device is being considered. Similar to Moto G, the company's Desire Eye model is also rated with an IPX7. The phone can withstand water of up to one meter deep in a span of half an hour. Other features include a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a pair of 13MP cameras (one on the rear and one placed above the screen), and a Snapdragon 801 processor. For those who are keen on having under the shower selfies, the HTC Desire Eye is the best bet.
Samsung. The Galaxy S5 mini by Samsung has earned an IP67 rating which means that it is protected against both dust and water. Compared to its bigger sibling, the Galaxy S5, the mini version has more modest features such as a 4.5-inch display, a quad-core Exynos 3470 processors, a RAM of 1.5 GB, a rear camera of 8MP and Android Lollipop. Priced at around $270 in Amazon, the Galaxy S5 mini is one of the affordable water-resistant devices in the market today.
Huawei. The Honor 3 by Huawei is another older device but is no doubt still relevant to those who are looking for a pocket-friendly water resistant handset. With an IP57 rating, the device can absolutely survive a 30 minute plunge in shallow water. It's also capable of keeping itself protected from harmful dust particles. Other features include a 4.7-inch 720p screen, 13MP camera, 2GB RAM and a quad-core chip. It retails at $119.00 in Amazon.
