Looking at the trajectory of where smartphones are going, it seems that completely waterproof, dustproof, and everything-proof phones are the next frontier. With respect to the iPhone, for example, users found that the device was surprisingly resilient even when submerged in water. And looking ahead to the iPhone 7, there are more than a few rumblings from the rumor mill which point to Apple’s next-gen smartphone being 100% waterproof.
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Still, if you’re prone to dropping your smarpthone in water, or even if you’re keen on browsing through Facebook while in the tub, there’s no reason to wait for Apple to get its act together. Instead, you might want to take a look at Kyocera’s new Digno Rafre, a device being touted as the world’s completely soap-proof phone.
Set to go on sale next week for $460, the Android device is said to be impervious to foam soap, allowing users to give it a proper scrubbing when dirty and even take it into the tub with them if they so choose. As evident in the video below, users will even be able to run the device under the faucet while completely rubbing it down with soap.
Spec wise, the device houses a 5-inch display, runs Android Lollipop, and packs a 13 megapixel camera.
According to Kyocera, the easy-to-clean device was developed so that users could feel comfortable taking their smartphone anywhere, from the outdoors and even to the bath. Even better, the promo video below features a rubber duck smartphone stand (available for purchase as an accessory) which certainly provides an interesting take on catching up on Netflix in the tub.
The Digno Rafre will be a Japan-only affair and sadly won’t be available for purchase in the U.S. Still, don’t be surprised if future smartphones from the likes of Apple and Samsung incorporate similar robustness sooner rather than later.
