Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL seem like relatively great all-rounders. Google’s latest smartphones are slim, powered by impressive hardware, and are packing truly fantastic cameras which push the boundaries of what smartphones are capable of when it comes to shooting photos and videos. Of course, nothing is perfect and Pixel phones are no exception to that rule. One of the most common complaints about these devices has to do with the fact that they aren’t completely water resistant. Sure, they sport an IP53 rating which means they’re somewhat protected from dust and spraying water but that can’t really compare to a lot of other modern flagships which are boasting complete water resistance.
Interestingly enough, this probably wouldn’t be a problem a few years back but ever since Samsung popularized water resistance back in 2014 with the Galax S5, we’ve kind of grown accustomed to this feature, at least when it comes to high-end devices which Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL certainly are. Well, there is some good news to report in that regard. As it turns out, Google probably underplayed its devices’ ability to resist liquids. Despite an IP53 rating, one brave YouTube user decided to spray his Google Pixel, put it in a puddle, and finally submerge it in a bowl of water for half an hour. Surprisingly enough, the device demonstrated no visible signs of damage after getting the water torture treatment.
So, it’s possible that Google did exactly what Sony opted to do with the Xperia Z5 Premium. That phone was definitely resistant to water but Sony insisted that it isn’t and that letting it get wet wasn’t a great idea. It’s likely that Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL aren’t fully protected from water in all scenarios which would explain why they don’t boast a higher Ingress Protection rating but the video below still shows that dropping your Google-branded device in a bathtub probably won’t be the end of the world. Of course, a sample size of one isn’t exactly sufficient to proclaim this conclusion as the absolute truth but it’s likely that more underwater tests of Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL are just around the corner.