You might think that the greatest advances in gadget technology revolve around user convenience, performance speed or data storage. But one tech feature that engineers slog away at improving year on year is a device’s ability to resist water. There’s now a swathe of futuristic waterproof membranes, nano-coatings and corrosion-free materials embedded in many of our everyday machines.
It often gets little fanfare in a sales spiel, but look a little closer at the features of an increasing number of electronic devices and you might well see an IP (ingress protection) rating. The second number of two following those letters (the first signals protection from solids), as in IP67, for example, indicates how safeguarded from liquid a gadget will be on a scale of one to nine.
So, do you regularly find yourself on storm-tossed hillsides, idling on the beach or underwater? Let’s face it, life in drizzly Blighty may in itself be enough to qualify. If so, you could be seeking a water-resistant or completely submersible device. We’ve selected some of the best luxury waterproof tech to keep on your person or squirrelled away for that next outdoor adventure.
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue
GoPro Max 2 camera
If your predilection is for extreme sports or activity holidays — and you fancy yourself as a budding cinematographer — then the compact GoPro Max 2 could become your go-to camera. Delivering 360-degree imagery with 8K resolution at 30fps (or 5.6K at 60fps), the Max 2 supports HyperSmooth video stabilisation and those dronelike invisible pole shots. Of course, the GoPro wouldn’t be on our list if it wasn’t a waterproof camera. It can withstand immersion to a depth of 5m, although shooting underwater isn’t recommended for the best results. Edit all your off-piste ski runs or rugged dirt bike exploits in the app, just like a pro.
£450, GoPro at Selfridges
KEF Muo portable speaker
Why change a good thing? The British loudspeaker authority KEF originally launched the triangular profile Muo Bluetooth speaker in 2015, but last year it got a sonic and design overhaul. This reimagined portable and waterproof speaker has an IP67 rating (withstanding a plunge for up to 30 minutes), a rugged steel and silicon exoskeleton designed by the acclaimed industrial designer Ross Lovegrove, and a delightfully detailed and layered audio presentation. Pop it in your bag and take it to the beach — it will pump out tunes for up to 24 hours without a top-up.
£249, Sevenoaks Sound and Vision
Kindle Colorsoft e-reader
Bookworms may prefer their riveting bios or romantic novels by the pool or while soaking in the bathtub. The latest Kindle iteration from Amazon, dubbed Colorsoft, ensures no more sodden pages. This super-slim literary tablet with a 7in colour screen can survive water splashes and even a full submersion (if snappily retrieved). Both sun-worshippers and night owls benefit from warmth and brightness screen adjustments. And don’t overlook the battery life, with up to eight weeks of juice, and the millions of titles available from the Kindle Store.
£239, Amazon.co.uk
Audio-Technica headphones
The Japanese brand Audio-Technica’s ATH-CC500BT2 headphones differ from their bone conduction counterparts by transmitting sound from music or phone calls through the ear cartilage. Joggers, cyclists or even those who crave tunes while ambling through city streets can enjoy supreme comfort from the lightweight titanium framework while staying aware of their surroundings. The driver apparatuses sit outside and forward of the ear canal, so the cans are more hygienic thanks to reduced sweat build-up. They also carry an IPX4 rating, making them perfect for venturing out into the rain. For all their unconventional design, these ergonomic headphones produce clear and balanced audio.
£119, Audio-Technica
Apple Watch Ultra 3
It might be easier to ask what the Apple Watch Ultra 3 doesn’t do rather than what it does. Seasoned users of these wrist brains will surely salivate at the latest satellite communications facility — now you can be truly off-grid but not out of reach. And the battery life gets a boost over the former Ultra 2 with up to 42 hours in normal or 72 hours in low power mode. That’s without mentioning an array of built-in health monitoring credentials. It even tells the time. But what of its waterproof talents? The Apple Watch Ultra 3 supports scuba diving up to 40m deep and can handle your choice of high-speed water sport.
£749, Apple Watch at Harrods
Bang & Olufsen earbuds
The Danish speaker whizzes Bang & Olufsen describe the Beo Grace earbuds as being as “sculptural as jewellery” and it is not wrong. These lightweight mirror hand-polished devices feature active noise cancelling (ANC), volume adjustment by tapping the skin next to your ear and an exquisite charging case in a pearl-blasted finish. If you accidentally drop the earpieces in the bath, sink or other receptacle, they can survive the ordeal for up to 30 minutes. With crystalline high frequencies and tight and velvety bass, the sound is as honed as the Beo Grace’s aesthetics.
£1,000, B&O at Selfridges
SanDisk Creator phone SSD
Amateur film-makers and YouTube broadcasters can breathe a sigh of relief safe in the knowledge that they can store up to 2TB of moving image data in their pocket. The 54g SanDisk Creator Phone SSD locks on to MagSafe-compatible smartphones and packs in hours of 4K/60fps video with Apple ProRes. Take advantage of speeds up to 1000MB/s read and 950MB/s write, and an IP65 dust/waterproof rating for all weather eventualities. Sandisk throws in a one month of subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud to test out your editing chops. Even the electric blue silicon casing and snazzy two-tone front plate are eye-catchers.
£182, Sandisk
Bremont Supermarine watch
Bremont of Henley-on-Thames offers a precision-crafted luxury range of aviation-inspired timepieces, but it doesn’t leave divers high and dry. The Ceramic Supermarine waterproof watch with a black full ceramic casing and polar white ceramic dial can withstand depths of 500m. Sporting a helium escape valve that syphons out the gas during decompression, it protects the high-performance BE-92AV movement from damage. Aquatic explorers can combat murky waters with the Super-LumiNova blue emission hands while capitalising on the comfort of a woven fabric Nato-style strap from the 18th-century Jacquard French looms.
£6,450, Bremont at Harrods
Geneinno Underwater Smart Scooter
Do you occasionally channel Sean Connery’s underwater antics in Thunderball? Then why not try out a submersible scooter such as the Geneinno S2? Scuba wannabes can dive down to 30m at a speed of up to 2.7mph and for 60 minutes on a single charge. An accompanying smart app records and shares your subaquatic escapades and from which parents can also track a child’s pool surface usage. Intrepid explorers might wish to fix a GoPro camera or durable LED dive light to the built-in mount. Now it’s time to track down those Spectre henchmen.
£675, Tech Bar at Selfridges
Nikon Monarch binoculars
Avid birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts or stargazers will need a great pair of field glasses to properly indulge their hobbies. The Monarch HG 10×42 binoculars from the optics maestro Nikon are about as precisely tuned for these outdoor pursuits as it gets. A field flattener lens system ensures a wide scope of view with jaw-dropping edge-to-edge sharpness. This premium Nikon model is compact and lightweight enough to carry easily. And scratch-resistant lens coatings and a magnesium alloy body protect the spyglasses from inevitable impacts. But it’s the incredible waterproof performance to a depth of 5m for as long as 10 minutes — as well as internal fogging prevention — that will seal the deal for many a determined observer of the natural world.
£979, Nikon
