The short answer: no mainstream smartwatch is truly “waterproof.” Manufacturers and standards bodies deliberately avoid that word because no seal resists water indefinitely under every condition. What modern smartwatches offer is water resistance, measured against specific depth, pressure, and time limits. Most current flagship watches survive showers, rain, hand-washing, and swimming in a pool, but resistance varies widely by model and degrades over time. Understanding the rating on your watch is the only reliable way to know what it can safely handle.
Why “Waterproof” Isn’t a Real Spec
“Waterproof” implies a device is impervious to water under any circumstance, which is something no consumer electronics manufacturer can guarantee. Seals, adhesives, and gaskets all age. Heat, soap, chlorine, salt water, and physical impacts all accelerate wear. Because of this, regulators and brands describe products as water resistant to a stated limit rather than waterproof. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has historically pushed back on unqualified “waterproof” marketing for exactly this reason.
That distinction matters in practice. A watch rated for swimming today may leak in a few years as its seals degrade—even if you never dropped it. Treat any rating as a ceiling for a new device in good condition, not a permanent promise.
The Three Rating Systems You’ll See
Smartwatches use three overlapping standards. Many premium models list all three.
IP Codes (Ingress Protection)
The IP code, defined by international standard IEC 60529, uses two digits: the first for solid particles (dust), the second for water. You’ll commonly see IP67 and IP68. A “6” means fully dust-tight. A “7” means protection against temporary immersion (typically up to 1 meter for 30 minutes), and an “8” means continuous immersion at a depth the manufacturer specifies. Crucially, IP water tests use still, fresh water—they say nothing about high-pressure jets, fast movement, or salt water.
ATM (Atmospheres)
ATM ratings come from watchmaking. One atmosphere equals the pressure of about 10 meters of static water. A 5 ATM rating is the common threshold that allows shallow-water swimming. Important caveat: ATM reflects static pressure in a lab, not real swimming. Diving into a pool or sweeping your arm through water briefly generates far more pressure than the rating suggests, which is why a “5 ATM” watch is fine for lap swimming but not for high-speed water sports or scuba diving.
ISO 22810 and EN 13319
Some watches, including certain rugged and dive-oriented models, are certified to ISO 22810 (for general water resistance under dynamic conditions) or EN 13319 (for dive computers). These are stricter, movement-based tests and are the closest thing to a real-world swimming or diving guarantee.
How Popular Smartwatches Compare
The table below summarizes water-resistance specs as published by each manufacturer. Always confirm against the spec sheet for your exact model, since ratings differ across generations.
| Model | Manufacturer Rating | Stated Limit | Suitable For (per maker) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 10 | WR50 + IP6X | 50 meters (ISO 22810) | Shallow-water swimming; not scuba or high-velocity sports |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | WR100 + EN 13319 | 100 meters; dive to 40 m | Recreational scuba and high-speed water sports |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch (recent) | 5 ATM + IP68 | 50 meters; IP68 dust/immersion | Pool and open-water swimming |
| Garmin Instinct 3 | 10 ATM | 100 meters | Swimming and snorkeling |
| Fitbit (recent trackers/watches) | Water resistant to 50 m | 50 meters | Swimming; not diving or water skiing |
Rugged outdoor watches tend to lead here. If durability and depth matter to you, our Garmin Instinct 3 review and Apple Watch Ultra 2 review dig into how their higher ratings translate to real activities.
What These Ratings Don’t Cover
A high rating doesn’t make a watch invincible. Based on manufacturer guidance and consistent reports from expert reviewers and owners, keep these limits in mind:
- Hot water and steam: Showers, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms are widely discouraged. Heat expands seals and can let moisture in—even on watches rated for swimming.
- Soap, perfume, sunscreen, and chemicals: These break down seals and water-repellent coatings over time. Apple, for example, explicitly warns against exposing its watches to soaps and solvents.
- Salt water: Unless a watch is specifically rated for it, ocean swimming and the corrosion it causes can shorten a device’s water-resistant life. Rinse with fresh water afterward.
- High-velocity water: Water skiing, jet skiing, and diving from height generate pressure far beyond a static depth rating.
- Aging: Water resistance is not permanent and generally cannot be re-checked or restored by the user.
Tips to Protect Water Resistance
- Treat any rating as a ceiling for a new device, not a permanent promise
- Match the rating to the activity—5 ATM/WR50 for pool swimming, EN 13319/WR100 for scuba
- Rinse with fresh water after chlorine or salt water and use water-lock mode
- Rinse the watch with clean, fresh water after swimming—especially in chlorine or salt water—and dry it gently.
- Use “water lock” or eject modes (available on Apple, Samsung, and Garmin watches) to clear water from speakers after swimming.
- Avoid pressing buttons underwater on watches not designed for it.
- Skip the shower and sauna unless your model’s documentation specifically allows it.
- Inspect bands and replace damaged ones; leather and some fabric bands aren’t water-friendly. Our guide to Apple Watch accessories covers swim-safe band options.
If swimming and water tracking are central to your buying decision, it’s worth weighing alongside other factors. Our overview on how to choose the right smartwatch and our roundup of the best smartwatches for fitness enthusiasts can help you balance water resistance against battery life, health sensors, and price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shower with my smartwatch?
Most manufacturers advise against it, even for watches rated for swimming. Hot water, steam, and soap residue can degrade seals faster than plain water. Check your specific model’s documentation; Apple, for instance, recommends keeping its watches away from showers and saunas.
Is a 5 ATM watch safe for swimming?
Generally yes for pool and shallow-water swimming, since 5 ATM corresponds to roughly 50 meters of static pressure. It is not suitable for scuba diving or high-speed water sports, which create dynamic pressure well beyond the rating.
What’s the difference between IP68 and 5 ATM?
IP68 measures protection against dust and still-water immersion at a maker-defined depth, while 5 ATM measures static water pressure. ATM is the more relevant figure for swimming, while IP codes also tell you about dust resistance. Many watches carry both.
Does water resistance wear off?
Yes. Seals and coatings age with heat, chemicals, and impacts, so an older watch may no longer meet its original rating. Most consumer smartwatches can’t have their water resistance re-checked or restored by the user.