Can I watch Netflix in the bath if my phone is “waterproof”?

Short answer? You can try. Longer answer? You probably shouldn’t unless you fancy gambling your phone’s lifespan for an episode of The Beast in Me. The longest answer? I’ll get right to it.

When a phone is advertised as “waterproof”, it isn’t actually waterproof. It’s water resistant. The difference is quite big and a little confusing for some.

Most modern phones have an IP rating, usually IP67 or IP68. That tells you how well your phone can survive water. For example: IP67 means it can handle being under 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes; IP68 is a bit better, usually up to around 1.5 metres for the same amount of time. Brilliant for rain, spilled tea or a detour into the toilet bowl for a second or two. Not so brilliant for steamy bath water.

Why? Because water resistance tests are done in clean, still, room-temperature water. Your bath is the opposite of that. Heat, steam, bubbles, bath oils, soaps and you thrashing about all create conditions that can force water into places it shouldn’t be. Steam is even worse. It sneaks into gaps that don’t bother with IP ratings at all. Also, any tiny crack in your screen, worn seal or battery swelling can absolutely ruin the protection your phone came with.

If you’ve ever dropped your phone or had the back replaced, the water resistance might already be gone, too. And then there’s the itsy-bitsy, tinnie-winnie issue nobody talks about. If your phone dies from water damage, most warranties don’t cover it. Even if it wears a IP68 sticker.

So, can I watch it in the bath or not?

Well, sort of if you:

• Put your phone on a shelf near the bath instead of holding it over the water.
• Use a waterproof phone holder that can stick to your tiles (and do use the one with the best ratings).
• Get a cheap waterproof pouch if you absolutely must hold it in your hands.
• Avoid full-on steam sessions.

The consensus is that... you can watch Netflix on your phone in the bath if you’re careful enough.

Quite a few of our phones are more or less water-resistant (see here), too, but even these devices are not indestructible.