The one of 2022's best affordable smartphones — but is the A53 5G waterproof? Buying a new phone is no easy task, especially when you're looking for one on a budget. Trying to find the right mix of specs, features, and pricing is difficult enough when you have $1000 or more to spend. If you're trying to keep your budget to $500 or less, it becomes all the more challenging.
This is where Samsung thinks it has something special with the Galaxy A53 5G. Announced in March 2022, the A53 5G is a direct successor to the wildly popular A52 5G. Available for $449, the Galaxy A53 5G comes with an octa-core 5nm processor, 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, four rear cameras, and 128GB of expandable storage. Simply put, it's quite the package.
There's no doubt that the A53 5G checks a lot of boxes — but how does the phone fare when it comes to waterproofing? According to Samsung, the Galaxy A53 5G has an IP67 rating for "water and dust resistance." That's not quite as good as the IP68 rating on phones like the Galaxy S22 and iPhone 13, but it should be more than enough to keep the A53 5G protected in most scenarios.
What The Galaxy A53's IP67 Rating Really Means
Digging deeper into the Galaxy A53 5G's spec sheet, Samsung offers a better explanation about what the IP67 rating really means. As the company explains, the IP67 rating means the A53 5G can survive "up to 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes." If you have the phone out in the rain, near a tub, or in the shower, it should be able to survive those things just fine.
However, an IP67 rating doesn't protect the Galaxy A53 5G from all types of water. While freshwater submersion is fine, Samsung notes that you shouldn't use the A53 5G at "beaches, pools, or near soapy water." Freshwater is one thing, but saltwater and soapy water can much more easily damage the A53 5G. Additionally, the A53 5G isn't protected against high-pressure water streams. Samsung says that "low water pressure" is OK, but something like a hot tub jet or garden hose should be avoided.
As with any smartphone that's waterproof or water-resistant, you should avoid water whenever possible while using the Galaxy A53 5G. It has an IP67 rating in case of accidents and emergencies — not so you can have the phone submerged in water as often as possible. Waterproof phones, including the A53 5G, are not perfect. If you abuse its waterproofing too much, there's a very real chance that IP protection will wear away, and you'll end up with a water-damaged phone. So don't do that! Keep the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G away from water when you can, don't stress during the times it does get wet, and that's all there is to it.
Source: Samsung