An IP68 rating is not a pass for using a phone in the shower, sauna or steam room. Apple, Google and Samsung each advise against exposing phones to these environments, where hot vapor, condensation and high humidity create conditions that differ sharply from the controlled testing used for ingress-protection ratings.
IP68 is among the strongest common water- and dust-resistance ratings on mainstream smartphones, but it does not mean a device is waterproof. Manufacturers test devices under defined conditions, while resistance can decline over time after drops, impacts, repairs or normal aging.
Steam can collect around the USB port, speakers, microphones, buttons and sealing points, then condense back into liquid as the handset cools. High temperatures may also affect the adhesives and seals used to keep moisture out, as well as the battery.
- Apple says iPhones should not be used while swimming or bathing, in a shower, sauna or steam room, or in extremely humid conditions.
- Google says Pixel phones should not be taken into a shower, bath, sauna or pool, and suggests using a Bluetooth speaker for audio near water or steam.
- Samsung advises avoiding saunas, steam rooms and high-humidity areas, including with IP68-rated Galaxy models.
What to do when a phone gets wet
Do not charge a phone immediately after it has been exposed to moisture. Apple recommends holding the device with its port facing down to remove excess liquid, then leaving it to dry in a well-ventilated location. Samsung likewise advises wiping the device with a soft cloth and waiting until it is fully dry before charging.
Neither company recommends using a hair dryer or another heat source to dry a phone. Apple also advises against putting an iPhone in rice. Soap, shampoo, shower gel and similar bathroom products are another risk: they are not the clean water used in IP certification tests, and manufacturers issue separate warnings about chemical exposure.
Water resistance is best treated as protection against an accident, not an assurance that a phone can withstand repeated exposure to a hot, humid bathroom. A water-resistant Bluetooth speaker is the safer choice for audio around showers and steam.
