Samsung Galaxy S5 Guide

Galaxy S5 Dust and Water Resistant

galaxy_s5_Dust-and-Water-ResistantWhy is dust and water resistant important?

You may spill some coffee on your smartphone.

You may use wet hands to answer some waited or emergent calls.

You may be caught in the rain with smartphones in your pocket (without an umbrella).

Your smartphone may be easily damaged due to water.  Electronics devices don’t like water.

As smartphones are accessible for majority of the population, we usually take less care with the device.

Dropping and water are two major reasons for smartphone repairs.

Samsung finally introduce water and dust resistant in Galaxy S5. This means there won’t be a Galaxy S5 Active.

Galaxy S5  dust and water resistant is a feature signalling Samsung shifts the update focus from bling-bling features to day-to-day phone usage. Samsung called it “back to basics”.

As most Galaxy S5 owners didn’t use S4 Active or Sony Xperia Z/Z1, you may have some questions on dust and water resistant. Here I will try to give you some detailed info on this feature in Galaxy S5.

Galaxy S5 Dust and Water Resistant is rated as IP67, what does the IP 67 mean?

Galaxy S5 dust and water resistant is certified as IP 67. It means Galaxy S5 can survival from some dust and water attacks.

IP Code, aka, International Protection Marking (informally, people also call it “ingress protection ratings”), is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).   The two digits indicate conformity of the protection level against dust and water.

The first digit represents the level of protection against access to hazardous parts (e.g., electrical conductors, moving parts) and against the ingress of solid particles/objects. For smartphones, we mainly concern about the degree of protection provided against dust (solid particles). The value varies from 0-6:

  • 0: No protection against contact and ingress of objects. It can be replaced with X.
  • 1: Protection any objects larger than 50 mm. Not relevant to smartphones.
  • 2: Protection any objects larger than 12.5 mm, for example, fingers or similar objects.  Not relevant to smartphones.
  • 3: Protection any objects larger than  2.5 mm, for example, tools or  thick wires. Not relevant to smartphones.
  • 4: Protection any objects larger than 1 mm, for example,  wires, screws. Not relevant to smartphones.
  • 5: Protection against dust (dust proof).  Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment. So, Galaxy S5 is dust proof.
  • 6:  Dust tight. No ingress of dust.So, Galaxy S5 is dust proof and dust tight.

The second digit represents the level of protection against ingress of water. The value varies from 0-8. In addition, 6K and 9K are also legitimate and have special meaning.

  • 0:  No protection against the ingress of water. It can be replaced with X.
  • 1: Protection against dripping water (vertically falling drops).
  • 2: Protection against vertically dripping water  when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position.
  • 3:  Protection against water spray up to 60° from the vertical position.
  • 4: Protection against water splashing from any direction.
  • 5: Protection  against water jets ( a 6.3mm  nozzle, at 30kPa pressure) .
  • 6: Protection  against strong water jets ( a 12.5mm nozzle, at 100kPa pressure).
  • 7: Protection against the immersion into water up to 1m, up to 30mins.  This sometimes is called water resistant. Galaxy S5 is water resistant, not waterproof.
  • 8:  Protection against the immersion into water more than 1m for long time (continuous).  This sometimes is called waterproof.
  • 6K: Protection  against extremely strong water jets ( a 12.5mm nozzle, at 1MPa pressure).
  • 9K: Protection against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray/jet.

So, the IP 67 means  Galaxy S5 is dustproof and water resistant

Galaxy S5 Dust and Water Resistant is not waterproof

The IP 67 rating indicating Galaxy S5 is NOT waterproof.  You should not immerse it in water for long time, and you should not go beyond 1m.

Of course, it is safe to take out your Galaxy S5 in the rain.

Please note, for Galaxy S5, you need cover the USB port in the bottom to make it water resistant.

Can I take underwater photos when I have holiday in the beach

Galaxy S5 is not supposed to be used in the water, although there will be no damage if you do not let the camera go beyond 1m.

It is not recommended to take photos under the water with Galaxy S5. The salts in seawater may also cause some damages to your Galaxy S5.

Although Galaxy S5 is dust and water resistant, in some regions, you may have some warranty issues if  the damage is due to water.

Can I answer calls or listen music when showering?

Yes, you can  answer calls or listen music with Galaxy S5 when showering (you need cover the USB port). Actually, Sony used this in an advertisement for their water resistant Xperia Z.

Can I spill coffee or tea on Galaxy S5?

Yes, if your spill coffee or tea on Galaxy S5, you probably should not worry about the damage (provided that the USB port is properly covered).

However, if the water is really hot, it may still cause some problems.

Anyway, do not try to  pour coffee or water on your Galaxy S5. Drink it.

Can I take photos in the rain?

Yes, you can take photos in the rain with Galaxy S5, because it is water resistant.

However, the photo quality probably is not as good as you imaged. The camera is not designed for raining conditions.

Why should I cover the USB port?

You must cover the USB port of Galaxy S5 because the IP 67 rating is based on covered USB port.

If you do not cover the USB port, your S5 will be as vulnerable to water as S4, i.e., not water protection.

Should I cover the headset jack?

No, for Galaxy S5, you only need cover USB port (multipurpose jack). It is not necessary to cover the headset jack or any other mics.

Do you have any questions on Galaxy S5 dust and water resistant?

Please let us know in the comment box below.

To know more about Galaxy S5, please check our Samsung Galaxy S5 features explained page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 0zippy says

    usb cover broke off under normal use ,after only 21 days of use. How to fix and am i going to have to replace this part every 21 days. is this covered by the warranty

    Reply

  6. sam lewis says

    My phone was exposed to minimal water in the shower and now the sound is minimal. I only had a shower half an hour ago but will it be covered by warranty if it doesn’t improve?

    Reply

  7. jesse says

    I took my s5 in the pool with me to record the family swimming from under the water. Everything works fine with the phone, but now the speaker sounds all distorted and very low sound. Is there any way I can fix this or will it fix itself????

    Reply

  10. ava says

    hey i tried my S5 in a glass of water but after that i noticed that the camera has a water inside that makes my camera so blurry. what should i do.?

    Reply

  11. Jenifer says

    Can I listen to music underwater. For example swimming as long as it is no deeper than 1m for 30 minutes?

    Reply

  14. Sam says

    HI
    i have the S5 , and I took it in the shower with me to listen to music
    but when I wanted to change the song the screen wasnt responsive at all when it was wet, I had to dry it up to be used
    is it how it should be, or is it faulty screen?
    I thought the IP67 lets you use the phone even if it is wet . :\

    Reply

  16. Aiden says

    After bringing my phone in water for thirty seconds the volume up button won’t work but the down button will. Is this covered by warranty???

    Reply

  19. kcatt says

    I accidentally dropped my S5..landed face down luckily it didnt crack but the camera lens glass cracked in the lower corner & caused the glass to shatter but not fall out… it still projects well but will water still seep through if I was to have a water type accident?..

    Reply

  20. Tyrion Lannister says

    I took my S5 in the pool for barely 5 minutes and not below 2 feet at most. It’s done. the screen doesn’t respond at all now. Repairs are so espensive and i am hating my life right now.

    Reply

  21. Amber says

    I have a small crack across the screen of my phone. You can barely even see it. Is my phone still water resistant?

    Reply

  22. Chandra says

    I dropped my S5 and made a dent in the aluminium.My battery cover is still tight but I can open it by using my fingernail in some tiny gaps.I was wondering if it is still dust and water resistant

    Reply

  23. Agha says

    Hey Simon, my phone has a slight gap between its lcd and its frame out of the box, you will able to notice it if you look at it very closely, gap is on the right side of screen only, I am worried if it’s still water resistant. . Help!

    Reply

  24. Sandra says

    Hi have s5 it got soaked with rain as I left it on table outside for couple minutes samsung say they won’t fix it but they say it is water resistant

    Reply

  26. nikhil says

    i was in rain.. i tried using my phone and it was not working well. it was kind off handing.. then i wiped my screen with a cloth n it was working fine. so is that s5 will not work at all in rain. i cant call or anythng.. the touch goes num..?????

    Reply

  28. Jodi-Ann Hewitt says

    Ok i wanna know as long as the battery part of it is clothes it can just put in water just like that???

    Reply

  29. Stefani Halling says

    I got a little bit of water on my s5 from rain and now it is stuck in headphone mode. How do I fix this? I’ve done a battery pull for one hour, reset the phone, and it won’t go away. I’m about to try a factory reset but I don’t want to lose my things.

    Reply

  30. emma says

    My nephew knocked a pint of larger on my fone … The phone is fine yet when I call somebody unless it’s on loud speak I can’t hear the receiving phone connecting, ringing or anything… will 5 his fix itself

    Reply

  31. Sonicx Pikatcho says

    i didn’t cover my headset jack an had an error when i put it under the water tape … it appeared the earphones are on in the notification bar … i couldn’t hear calls :/ or answer it …… also now i cant volume up or down through the headset :/ or pause music or answer calls …… but i can hear music ….. help me pls

    Reply

  34. jayant Sharma says

    Can I take galaxy s5 under water pool for upto 10 min. Without using it ….
    And
    Use phone while raining like taking calls or listen music

    Reply

  36. Christian says

    So I put my phone in a pool that you would buy at walmart and it was working perfect than I checked my speakers and there not working what can I do and well warranty cover that?

    Reply

  38. Louis Otos says

    Simon,
    Have you not read the 100’s of complaints on the internet about this single part – the USB cover for the Galaxy S5? My wife and I bought two in March 2014 and both have a broken USB cover. I thought I had it covered with the $20 a month insurance I purchased with the phones but apparently there is a $100 deductible so the insurance is wasted. The replacement part sells for as little as $5 on the internet and YouTube videos show that it takes less than 30 minutes to replace. This being the case, it would seem Samsung would stand behind its product and be proactive about providing a fix for EVERYONE who has one of these phones because all owners will have the same problem soon. I am a big believer in Samsung quality and have four TV’s, a refrigerator, and these two phones.

    Reply

  39. Paolo says

    hey simon i tried to wet my s5 on the faucet (i didnt submerge it) and then i realized when i opened the back case some water went inside (but not up to the rubber part) should i be worried?

    ps. is the camera lens scratchproof? is it okay to put it in flat surfaces that might hit the lens?

    Reply

  41. Dean Parker says

    People do no when they say it water resistant it not actually waterproof. It wouldn’t be affected if u were stuck In the rain but not go swimming with it me I’m not gonna be that careless even if it is water resistant I ain’t stupid to take my phone out when it raining a phones made to be used aa a phone nothing more and everyone lost sight of that yes I have the s5 but I regret getting it and as soon as I get upgrade at end of the year bye bye s5 hello iPhone 6 too many problems with the s5 dust got into the speaking mic not supposed to u can’t even use the phone when it raining it overheats burns to touch and battery drains to fast

    Reply

  42. Oz says

    I put my S5 in my pool, going no more then 1 foot or 2 underwater. I filmed a few videos of the kids jumping in. I had to use the volume buttons to take pictures. When using the video camera, I had to start and stop it out of the water. The touch screen becomes completely useless when wet (anything more then a few drops made the screen act very wierdly). Being extra cautious, I immediately disassembled my phone to make sure it was dry inside. It was not! Note the USB port was closed. I noticed a little bit of dampness when I took the back cover off. I immediately dried it off and re-assembled. I would not recommend taking it in the pool or ocean on a regular basis. I would not recommend leaving it in the water for a long time. Its nice to know that its water resistant, for that unfortunate time it gets wet, but I would not rely on this to stay water tight at any time during it’s lifespan.

    Reply

  43. Ranga Sabiti says

    My phone dropped in water and I can’t phone nor receive calls and my camera nor working everything works 100 percent what can I do ?

    Reply

  44. james says

    I put my s5 in the pool just for 3 seconds no more than 1 feet and now I my speaker it’s not working very well what can I do?

    Reply

  45. Ashley says

    My screen has a small crack on the front, would it still be water resistant? And I honestly don’t know how it cracked, kind-of scared me!

    Reply

  46. Grizzlyn says

    When we went to the Samsung Centre, the lady says that i could set up the camera before going underwater and she says its waterproof because they had a demonstration. Is it really true or what?

    Reply

  48. Liviu Ioan Lupasc says

    Hello!i used my S5 to take pictures in the sea,after that i rinsed it with clean bottled water,it worked perfectly that day but the second day when i woke up there was no answer from my touchscreen,i left it like that at home because i couldn’t use it and after one day and a half more or less, the touch screen started to respond slowly,and now it’s perfectly working..the only problem that i have is that the notification led is not working anymore.if i will take it to the waranty they will have to fixed it right? Thank you!

    Reply

  49. Jennifer says

    I cleaned my phone with a wet paper towel and the speaker stopped working properly. Sounded fuzzy and the headset kept saying it was plugged in, when it was not. Called Verizon and they tried to charge me $100 for a replacement. Called samsung and they won’t replace. Told me to go to best buy and have one of their guys inspect it, and they will consider repairing it. Ridiculous! A water resistant phone shouldn’t malfunction from a little water, and I shouldn’t get the run around when asking for a replacement or repair. I was a long time samsung user…may just have to switch brands now. So sad. I really loved this phone.

    Reply

  50. abdullah says

    what if i go hiking and i just out it under water,possibly six inches for thirty seconds,is thats safe,will it damage the phone

    Reply

  52. Sienna says

    Yesterday I took my Samsung Galaxy s5 to the beach and I dropped it in the salt water and ever since that happened it hasn’t been working, the screen is black and nothing works I put the phone in a bag of rice over night and still nothing. Please help!!!!

    Reply

  54. Melinda says

    My friend took my S5 into the ocean and took underwater pictures with it and now it is not turning on. The battery drained really fast from 100% to about 15% in like 30 mins. Now when I plug it in, nothing pops up and the screen is black. No “charging” display or anything. I rinsed the phone off with fresh water to maybe stop the crystallization of the salt but I HAVE NO IDEA what to do …(I also tried taking out the battery and back cover to possibly air dry but still nothing) Help please!

    Reply

  55. deg says

    is galaxy s5 compatible(even if not advised) with immersion in mainstream swimming pools(chlorinated) and immersion in seawater?

    Reply

  56. wendy says

    My galaxy s5 was charging and a cup of coffee was spilled and got on speaker and charging port. Still works and dabbed dry with a tissue. Any suggestions.

    Reply

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