Mikael Krekula, a professional wilderness guide based in Kiruna, Sweden, was out on the frozen Kalix River testing sonar equipment when his Galaxy S23 Ultra slipped from his glove and fell into an ice fishing hole. The device plunged into the freezing water, settling roughly three meters below the surface.

“At that moment, I felt like I had donated my entire digital life to the river — photos, ID, credit cards and all my apps gone in an instant,” Mikael said. “It wasn’t just a phone to me. It was my work companion, essential in everything I do.”

Despite the extreme conditions, Mikael decided to attempt a recovery. Over the course of five hours, he drilled eight surrounding ice holes to get a better angle to the phone and used a series of improvised tools — birch branches, a shovel and a plastic bag on a stick — to try and reach the device.

“I could see my phone through the ice. It wasn’t lost completely — just barely out of reach,” he explained. “Eventually, I drove home, grabbed a summer fishing net, tied the net to a birch rod and came back — and within five minutes, it was in my hands.”

Remarkably, the Galaxy S23 Ultra powered on immediately, displaying three missed calls. There was no need for a reboot or drying procedures.

“We let it sit overnight in the cabin just to be safe, but the next day it was still working perfectly,” Mikael added. “And it continues to function just like it did before the incident.”

Technology That Keeps Up With the Wild

As a wilderness guide leading tours across the Arctic Circle, Mikael relies heavily on mobile technology. His Galaxy S23 Ultra supports navigation, weather updates, language translation, photography, and communication — often in sub-zero temperatures and remote locations.

“When you’re guiding guests under the northern lights or across frozen terrain, your tech can’t fail,” he said. “The Galaxy S23 Ultra also delivers outstanding night photography, which is essential for capturing this region’s unique light conditions.”

Mikael now includes a hand net in his winter packing list — and grips his phone more tightly. “This was definitely a learning experience,” he remarked. “But it also showed me that the phone can handle a lot more than I expected.”

Real-World Durability, Backed by Advanced Engineering

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is rated IP68,¹ offering water resistance in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for 30 minutes, as well as protection against dust, dirt and sand. The circumstances surrounding Mikael’s device exceeded these rated conditions, illustrating the durability Samsung builds into its flagship devices.

Today, Mikael continues to guide guests across Sweden’s far north with his Galaxy S23 Ultra close at hand. From urban jungles to frozen wilderness, the Galaxy S series are built to last wherever they are and Mikael’s experience is just the latest proof of that legacy in action — tested by the Arctic, trusted by the user and tougher than the Kalix River.

To learn more about Mikael’s guided wilderness experiences, visit www.ecotours68n.se. For more information about the Galaxy S23 Ultra, visit www.samsung.com.

¹ The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has an IP68 rating based on laboratory test conditions. Water resistance is effective in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. It is not suitable for beach or pool use. Water or dust damage is not covered by warranty. Performance beyond rated conditions may vary and is not guaranteed.

But what exactly do these numbers mean? And what makes ATM water resistance ratings different from other kinds of evaluation standards, such as IP ratings? Read on to find out.

IP Ratings – Making a Splash in the Mobile Industry

In recent years, as more and more individuals have begun taking their smartphones and wearables to places where just a little water can cause huge problems, demand for water-resistant electronics has skyrocketed. As a result, a number of international standards have been put in place for testing water resistance, including the Ingress Protection (IP) rating established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

A device’s IP rating consists of two numbers and is given in the format IPXY (i.e. IP67). X is the rating for physical ingress, or how resistant the device is to penetration by foreign solid objects such as dust, and ranges from 0 to 6. Y, meanwhile, represents the rating for liquid ingress, or how resistant it is to penetration by liquids under various conditions, and ranges from 0 to 8. Below are charts that summarize these protection levels.

SOURCE: IEC 60529 ed.2.2 “Copyright © 2013 IEC Geneva, Switzerland. www.iec.ch”²

The rating number assigned for each category indicates that the device being tested has met the requirements for each previous rating. For example, Samsung’s Gear S3 smartwatch, which has a rating of IP68, has passed the rating requirements for all six physical ingress levels and the first eight liquid ingress levels. In other words, under specific conditions, the Gear S3 can withstand accidental submersion up to 1.5 meters underwater for 30 minutes, as well as contact with harmful dust.

While a fitness band or smartwatch with an IP68 rating can be worn while jogging in the rain or doing the dishes, IP ratings do not take water pressure into account. Therefore, IP ratings are not indicative of a device’s ability to be used during aquatic activities such as swimming. This is where ATM ratings come in.

ATM Ratings – Water Resistance Under Pressure

While many manufacturers tend to follow IP ratings, some independently test their products to determine how much static pressure they can withstand when submerged. These pressure tests are measured in ATMs – which stands for atmospheres – and are converted to water depth to make the measurements easier to comprehend.

One ATM is equivalent to the static pressure exerted by static submersion in 10 meters of water. The higher the ATM rating, the deeper the product can go without being affected, as deeper water exerts more pressure. The basic ATM water-resistance levels are described below.³

Again, these ratings are for static pressure, meaning that if the device is resting still in a test chamber, it can tolerate pressure up to the rated value and will function properly upon its removal. Conversely, any application of dynamic pressure caused by movement of the wearer (such as diving into the water, for example) increases the pressure of water exposure. So, while a 3 ATM-rated fitness band could easily withstand rain, it might be damaged if sprayed with a powerful hose.

ISO 22810:2010 – The International Standard

The International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) ISO 22810:2010 standard, meanwhile, specifies a detailed testing procedure that defines not only pressures but also test duration, water temperature and other parameters to provide a more accurate description of a watch’s water resistance.

Products are independently tested by the manufacturer under ISO test specifications. Those that meet the ISO 22810:2010 standard meet four requirements: water resistance to overpressure, water resistance at shallow depth, water resistance when strain is placed on the operative components and water resistance on exposure to thermal shocks.⁴ Therefore, products that adhere to ISO standard 22810:2010 are resistant to water during aquatic activities and may be used under conditions where water pressure and temperature vary.

With a water resistance rating of 5 ATM under ISO standard 22810:2010, Samsung’s Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro are resistant to pressure at a depth of 50 meters, meaning the devices can not only stand up to the rain, but can also be worn during shallow water activities. This, along with the Speedo On swim tracking app,⁵ make the two new wearables ideal companions for any swim, whether tackling laps or going for a relaxing dip in the pool.

In summary, not all “water-resistant” devices are created equal. Therefore, it’s important to understand water resistance ratings to ensure your devices meet your needs and are appropriate for your lifestyle.

For more information about Samsung’s Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro, click here. For more details about water resistance ratings, visit the websites of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

¹ Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro have a water resistance rating of 5 ATM (50 meters) under ISO standard 22810:2010 for wristwatches under specific conditions. This means that both devices are safe to wear while walking in the rain or showering, and may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool. However, the Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth.

² All such extracts are copyright of IEC, Geneva, Switzerland. All rights reserved. Further information on the IEC is available from http://www.iec.ch. IEC has no responsibility for the placement and context in which the extracts and contents are reproduced by the author, nor is IEC in any way responsible for the other content or accuracy therein.

³ ATM ratings are not authorized by the ISO. Listed usage examples are guidelines only. The survivability of a device depends not only on the water depth, but also on the age of the sealing material, previous damage, temperature and additional mechanical stresses, among other variables.

⁴ Source: “Horology — Water-resistant watches” © ISO 2010

⁵ Speedo On comes pre-loaded on the Gear Fit2 Pro and will be available for download on Gear Sport.