A water-resistant phone case helps protect your phone from rain, sweat and everyday splashes, but it does not make your phone waterproof. One design feature does much of the quiet work: the raised bumper lip. It holds the screen glass off wet surfaces and gives water a path around the edge instead of straight into the seam.
Whether you’re caught in a Melbourne downpour, mid-workout or washing up in the kitchen, your phone meets moisture all the time. Most recent iPhones carry an IP68 rating, but Apple notes that water resistance isn’t permanent and can reduce with wear and damage. A well-fitted case adds a protective layer on the outside. It won’t turn your phone into a diving watch.
In this guide you’ll learn how a raised lip works, what to look for in a moisture protection iPhone cover, what “rainproof” really means, and what to do if your phone gets wet.
Key Takeaways
A water-resistant phone case handles rain, sweat and light splashes. It isn't designed for submersion.
A raised bumper lip keeps the glass off wet surfaces and helps guide water away from the seam.
Fit matters: a loose case leaves gaps where water and grit can get in. Our ultra-thin cases are moulded for specific phone models rather than sized generically, helping the lip sit close to the edge.
Moisture can get trapped between the phone and case. Remove the case and dry both after heavy rain or a sweaty workout.
For swimming, snorkelling or kayaking, use a waterproof case or pouch specifically rated for submersion.
IP ratings come from laboratory tests, and a phone's water resistance can decrease with age, wear and damage.
What is the Difference Between Splash-Proof vs. Deep Dive
When it comes to a fully encased waterproof diving housing versus a normal protective phone case, they serve two completely different purposes.
Full Waterproof Deep Diving Housings
Designed to be used in the water. From scuba diving to snorkelling, surfing, and open-water swimming, there are a variety of options that provide a high level of water protection.
However, diving cases can often add weight and bulk to the phone, affecting speaker quality, touchscreen and button feel.
They're useful on a boat or during open-water activities, but most of us likely don't need one for everyday use.
Everyday Water-Resistant Phone Cases (Splash-Proof)
Designed for the everyday splash but not to be submerged.
A good everyday phone case can protect your device from light rain showers, sweat at the gym and a few minor splashes around the kitchen.
Most use a combination of materials like TPU and polycarbonate. They do provide the adequate level of protection without adding too much thickness and weight while keeping that nice grip. You'll notice this hybrid approach across all our phone cases offered on our site, including the TPU vs polycarbonate: which case material suits you? comparison.
Designed for the everyday splash but not to be submerged.
A good everyday phone case can protect your device from light rain showers, sweat at the gym, and a few minor splashes around the kitchen.
Most use a combination of materials like TPU and polycarbonate. They do provide an adequate level of protection without adding too much thickness and weight while keeping that nice grip. You'll notice this hybrid approach across all phone cases offered on our site.
How a Raised Bumper Lip Works
When a phone is exposed to water, the liquid will often cling to the glass and run down the sides to the edge of the phone.
If the edge of the case is lower than the phone's body, water can flow straight into the exposed seam.
A raised bumper lip provides a barrier around the phone's screen. Instead of flowing directly into the seam, some of the water can flow around the raised edge of the case just like the raised edge on a roof to direct rainwater away from the building walls.
You can see this in effect when placing a phone face down on a damp surface. The raised edge of the case keeps the phone's glass slightly elevated, limiting the amount of contact with the surface. It also helps day-to-day with screen scratches.
Another benefit to a raised edge is that water can flow into very small crevices.
If a case has a gap on the side and it sags down to meet the phone, it can act as a way to pull water into the phone.
A snug-fitting case can reduce this effect.
What to Look for in a Moisture Protection iPhone Cover
Check the design, not the label. If you’re shopping by model, start with so the fit is right from the start.
A raised lip that sits close to the edge
The bumper should hug the edge of the phone and not bend away easily. Flexible TPU works well, as long as the fit is tight.
A raised camera bezel
Many recent iPhones have a camera plateau that sticks out from the back. A raised bezel keeps the lenses off wet surfaces and stops water pooling around them. It matters most on larger camera systems such as the iPhone 17 Pro case and iPhone 17 Pro Max case.
Clean, accurate cutouts
Port and speaker cutouts should match the phone exactly. Oversized or ragged cutouts give water and dust an easy way in.
Reinforced corners
Corners take the hardest knocks, and a well-made case keeps them secure.
Covered, responsive buttons
Covered buttons help keep sweat and dirt out of the button gaps while staying easy to press. A loose button cover can let moisture in, so check the fit.
Rain vs. Sweat Are Different
Both sweat and rain have moisture but cause different issues.
Rain is a volume problem, since a sudden downpour can place a large amount of water around your phone at one time.
On the other hand, sweat can be much worse. It has salt, minerals, and oils within it.
These can, when dried inside a case, leave a residue of salt, damaging surfaces and metals. The moral of the story here is to occasionally remove your case, especially if you are a frequent gym-goer, and clean it.
Is a Rainproof Phone Case Waterproof?
No. A rainproof phone case helps protect against rain, mist, light splashes and damp hands. It isn’t designed for submersion, and it won’t protect against pressurised water from a tap, shower or hose, which hits harder and finds gaps more easily. Rainproof means “handles weather”, not “handles water”.
About Those IP Ratings
IP ratings specify the degree of protection provided by an enclosure against ingress of foreign bodies such as solid particles and water. The ratings are defined by IEC standard 60529 issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission.
The first digit indicates the level of protection against solid matter, and the second digit indicates the level of protection against water.
An IP rating does not provide a guarantee that the equipment is protected against water exposure in all circumstances.
In addition to the general standard, phone manufacturers introduce their own guidelines.
Apple Inc., for instance, advises customers to be aware that water resistance is not infinite and may decrease over time due to usage and the natural aging process.
This is why a protective case can be so useful—by reducing the amount of water and physical impact reaching the phone. Our carbon fiber cases and premium leather cases are both built around a raised perimeter for this reason.
In Case if Moisture Gets Trapped. What Can Be Done?
Moisture can occasionally become trapped behind a phone case.
This can be after using a phone in steady rain or during and after a workout.
With the case hugging the phone, there's limited airflow underneath to allow the phone to dry.
If the phone stays damp for too long, it can leave behind water marks, residue, and other unwanted effects.
If your phone has been properly wet
- Disconnect any chargers or accessories.
- Remove the case to stop moisture from sitting against the phone.
- Gently wipe the phone with a soft cloth.
- Leave the charging port facing down if possible.
- Let it dry naturally with good airflow.
- Do not use any heavy heat to dry the phone.
- Do not place rice inside or near the charging port.
Apple's own advice on drying a wet Lightning or USB-C connector follows the same principle.
The case should also be cleaned and dried separately before putting it on again.
Cleaning the case every few weeks can also help, especially if the phone is used regularly in workouts or outdoors. Use a suitable mild cleaning solution for the case material and avoid using harsh or abrasive cleaning agents.
When You Truly Need Waterproof Protection
Some activities require far more protection than an everyday case can offer.
If you regularly go whitewater kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, or sailing, or if you take your phone in any open water activity, use a waterproof enclosure or dry pouch designed for that activity.
When true submersion is expected, a normal protective case should not be mistaken for a waterproof case.
However, for everyday use, a slim raised bumper lip can be a practical option to keep the phone's glass from touching wet surfaces, guide water away from the corners, and provide protection from everyday bumps and drops.
The important thing is to choose the protection required for how you use your phone.
Conclusion
Your phone doesn't need to take a trip into the swimming pool to encounter moisture. Rain, sweat, humidity, splashes, and wet surfaces are all part of everyday phone life;
A well-made water-resistant phone case can provide additional protection by keeping the phone's screen away from moisture and covering the phone's exposed edges and guiding small amounts of water away from the seam.
A raised bumper's lip is a useful part of this design—it doesn't turn an everyday phone case into a waterproof diving enclosure, but it can help reduce direct exposure to moisture in combination with a well-fitting case, corners, and cutouts.
For everyday phone users in Australia, Sleek Cases offers practical protection and a well-fitting design, and makes cases suited for everyday use. Choose the protection your phone needs based on the conditions it can encounter, keep it clean, and inspect it regularly to make sure its protective benefits continue to work as intended.