Detailed teardown shows what makes Galaxy S7 water resistant [Video]

You’ve perhaps heard of the JerryRigEverything YouTube by now. Normally, the channel’s videos are made viral because of the host’s tendency to subject brand new expensive smartphones to in-depth and brutal durability tests. Normally that involves scratching the screen, bending the device and burning the display.

In his latest video however, Jerry took time out to show some genuinely useful information. Peeling back the layers, we get a look at exactly what Samsung has done to make the Galaxy S7 water resistant…

It is worth noting right from the off that Samsung doesn’t claim the device is completely waterproof, and for good reason, it isn’t. It is IP68-certified water resistant and dust proof, meaning it can handle being under water up to depths of 1.5 meters, as long as you don’t leave it under for more than 30 minutes.

As you’d expect, the water resistant properties are created by sealing all the parts of the device which could let in water. This means the SIM card tray has a built-in rubber seal to stop moisture getting inside the smartphone. as do the power button, MicroUSB port and 3.5mm jack.

Those latter two ports are also fixed in place in a way which presses them really tightly up against the inside of the phone’s frame. The headset jack is also glued shut on the back in case water gets in to the port. What’s more, there’s a built-in warning system which tells users when moisture is detected in the USB port.

What’s particularly cool is that — like many of Sony’s Android phones — the loudspeaker is protected too. In other words, air/audio needed to pass through the speaker to outside of the frame, but the ‘grille’ needed to stop water getting in. The solution was to use a screen made from an incredibly tight mesh which water can’t push through without excessive force.

To finish it all off, Samsung stuck the front and back glass panels to the frame using an incredibly sticky adhesive, sealing the phone up.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4KOg7g1zfE]

While the S7’s water resistance surely comes as something of a relief, we wouldn’t recommend making a habit of using the phone in the shower, or taking it swimming.