The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge were good devices and upgrades to the S5 in many ways. However, one feature that went missing in the pursuit for better build quality is the waterproof abilities of the Galaxy S5. Don’t get me wrong, the customers demanded and Samsung provided with better build quality and premium materials but the waterproof ability was definitely something worth having and fortunately Samsung have brought back the feature with the S7 and S7 Edge.
Lets start with the specifications. Both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have an IP68 rating where IP stands for Ingress Protection. I’m sure you’ve heard of IP67, IP58, IP68 etc being used to describe various devices over the years including Samsung’s own. But what does this mean to the end consumer. What can he expect the phone to do as a result of this certification.
The rating basically means that the smartphone will be able to prevent foreign elements such as dust, water etc from entering the device and possibly causing damage to the internals. The first numerical refers to the protection against solids while the second one refers to protection against liquids. So, in the case of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, they have a 6 rating for protection against solids and an 8 rating for protection against liquids.
The highest rating that a device can receive for protection against solids and liquids are 6 and 8 respectively. A 6 rating for solids implies that the device has complete protection against dust when in contact with it. The rating of 8 for protection against liquids means that the device can survive upto depths of 1.5m for upto 30 minutes.
All this protection is usually good but usually comes at the cost of having an unattractive design or with added bulk. However, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, they manage to attain the rating without either of the disadvantages. Previously, smartphones needed to have covered ports in order to attain such a high rating. But in the case of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, the ports can be left uncovered and still be protected from the elements.
Protection against dust and especially water is something of a personal preference. Some people feel that they don’t need it while others won’t mind it and then there are others that absolutely need it. People who have the first opinion are almost non-existent. However even for those people who feel that they don’t need it, there are chances that a mishap could potentially damage your device. So protection against dust and water will ensure that even in such a rare event, your phone and its contents are perfectly secure.
For people who wouldn’t mind such protection, it makes the experience of owning a smartphone a bit more carefree. If you’re having a water balloon fight with your friends, you can happily record videos and take photos while still being at the centre of the action without having to worry about your smartphone. You can also take it to the beach with your friends and family and record the fun moments spent underwater or laying on the sand.
Then there are people who need it since their job might involve being in environments with a lot of moisture or dust or having to take an urgent call in pouring rain. Being waterproof also means that the smartphone can be washed in order to clean it fully and prevent germs since smartphones have found to be hotspots for germs. So that makes the phone very hygenic as well. In all the circumstances, the S7 and S7 Edge will get you through your day without any issues. So regardless of whether you are someone who wants protection against dust and water for your smartphone, having it is definitely useful and the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will make sure your precious documents, photos, videos and other content are safeguarded against the elements.