Beach phone case: how to take your phone into the water without losing it
If you’re taking your phone into the water at the beach, the case you need is one that floats. Your phone is IP68 and handles water, and at the water’s edge, if you drop it, you see it and pick it up. The risk starts when you head further out, on a board, an inflatable, a boat or the breakwater: if it falls there, it goes to the bottom and you won’t get it back. A floating phone case like the CORK case keeps it on the surface until you pick it up.
You’re on a friend’s boat, anchored in the middle of the bay. The water is so clear you can see the bottom, and you lean over the side to take a photo. A small wave rocks the hull, the phone slips out of your wet hand and two seconds later it’s gone. From up there the bottom looked close. It wasn’t.
At the water’s edge, you get your phone back
Let’s start with what isn’t a problem. If you’re at the water’s edge, knee-deep, and you drop your phone, you see it, bend down and pick it up. Every phone we make cases for is IP68, so a dunk like that is no big deal.
The only thing worth doing afterwards is rinsing it with fresh water so the salt doesn’t stay in the ports and speakers. We explain how at the end.
The risk starts when you head out
The problem starts as soon as you’re out of your depth. Beyond the shore, the bottom is much further down than it looks and you can no longer just bend down to get your phone. These are the situations where it’s easiest to lose it.
On a board or an inflatable
You head out on your board or inflatable past the buoys, lie back in the sun and take out your phone for a photo. A speedboat’s wake rolls in, the inflatable moves and the phone drops into the water. From up there, diving down to find it isn’t an option.
On an anchored boat
On a boat, the phone gets passed from hand to hand for photos, music or checking the map on the way back to port. All it takes is leaning over the side or handing it to someone with wet hands. If you’re anchored in the bay, the bottom can be much deeper than you can reach.
On the breakwater or the jetty
Breakwater rocks and jetty boards are slippery, especially when they’re wet. If your phone slips out of your hand there, it drops straight into deep water, between the rocks or next to the moored boats. There’s no shore to give it back.
Why IP68 isn’t enough away from the shore
IP68 certifies that your phone is water resistant. The rating covers immersion at shallow depth and for a limited time, around half an hour. That’s exactly what you need so a dunk doesn’t ruin it.
The seabed is much further down, and there pressure and time work against you. Water pressure rises by roughly one atmosphere every 10 metres, and a phone left on the bottom stays there far longer than any rating covers. If you want the detail behind each number, it’s in what IP68 means and what it doesn’t cover.
There’s one case where IP68 is lost: when the phone has been repaired with non-original parts.
What the CORK case does and doesn’t do
The CORK case floats with the phone inside. It does this thanks to cork, a material several times lighter than water, and a fitting technology that holds the phone perfectly in the case. If you drop it away from the shore, it stays on the surface, in sight, and you pick it up.
What it doesn’t do is keep your phone dry. The CORK case isn’t sealed or waterproof: with it on, your phone gets wet and copes because it’s IP68. The case makes sure it doesn’t sink, and the phone handles the water for the time it takes you to pick it up.
That’s why the guarantee is simple: if it doesn’t float, we refund your money.
If you’re torn between a waterproof case and a floating one, in waterproof or floating phone case we compare the two properly.
Kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and jet skis
The beach is just the start. Every water activity has its own way of losing your phone and its own way of avoiding it.
Kayaking or paddleboarding
You paddle with both hands, your phone sits on the deck or in a pocket, and when you take it out to film you’re sitting or standing on something that moves. If it drops out at sea, diving in after it can end with you in the water. With a case that floats, you paddle over and pick it up. We go through it step by step in how to take your phone kayaking or paddleboarding.
Fishing
Fishing means hours with wet hands and your phone close by, for a photo of the catch or to check the forecast. From a boat or a jetty, one slip sends it into deep water. You’ll find the details in phone case for fishing.
On a jet ski
On a jet ski you go fast, jump waves and in a few minutes you’re far from the coast. If your phone flies off, it drops into open sea and you lose track of the exact spot straight away. We explain how to avoid it in how to carry your phone on a jet ski.
Which CORK case to choose for the beach
Both CORK cases float the same. What changes is the size and the kind of plans you have on the water.
The Cork Slim case is the smallest floating case ever made: same safety, smaller size. It’s lighter for everyday use and comes in a choice of designs. It suits you if you go to the beach often, sail, or go out by boat or jet ski. It’s available for iPhone 15 to 17 and Samsung Galaxy S24 to S26.
The Cork Extreme case is bigger and more impact resistant: safety you can feel. It’s designed for people who take their phone on more active adventures, like kayaking or paddleboarding. You can get it for iPhone 12 to 17 and Samsung Galaxy S24 to S26.
If you want to wear it round your neck, the CORK lanyards come in several colours, neon greens and yellows included. And if your beach plans involve heading away from the shore, pick the case that suits how you spend time on the water and stop staring at the bottom every time you take out your phone.
After your swim: look after the phone, not the case
If you’ve been in the sea with your phone, it’s handled the salt water, but it’s worth rinsing it. Rinse it with fresh water and dry it with a cloth. That way the salt doesn’t stay in the ports or the speakers.
If you get a warning when you plug it in, that’s normal. Recent iPhones warn you when they detect liquid in the port and won’t charge until it dries. Galaxy phones show a ‘Moisture detected’ warning for the port. Tap it gently with the port facing down and leave it somewhere dry and well ventilated. Apple advises against rice and heat sources.
The case doesn’t need any special care. There’s no need to air-dry it or use a hairdryer: if it gets wet, just give it a wipe with a cloth.
Frequently asked questions
What phone case do I need for the beach?
If you’re only staying at the water’s edge, your IP68 phone handles water on its own and, if you drop it, you pick it up. If you’re heading out on a board, an inflatable or a boat, what keeps you from losing it is a case that floats, like the CORK case.
Can I go in the sea with my phone?
Yes. Your phone is IP68 and handles salt water during immersion at shallow depth and for a limited time, around half an hour. When you come out, rinse it with fresh water so the salt doesn’t stay in the ports and speakers.
Is the CORK case waterproof?
No. The CORK case isn’t sealed or waterproof: with it on, your phone gets wet and copes because it’s IP68. What the case does is float, so your phone doesn’t sink if it falls into the water.
Do I need to dry the case after the beach?
No. If it’s got wet, just give it a wipe with a cloth. What you do need to look after is the phone: rinse it with fresh water if it’s been in the sea.
Do both CORK cases float the same?
Yes. The Cork Slim case and the Cork Extreme case float the same. The Slim is smaller and lighter, and the Extreme is bigger and more impact resistant, designed for kayaking and adventure water sports.
