Future iPhone models may let you take them deep sea diving: here’s how

We have been seeing smartphone OEMs offering waterproof smartphones for a while now. However, it should be noted that they are not waterproof and cannot be used for adventurous activities such as deep-sea diving. Neither Apple, Samsung, nor any other leading smartphone manufacturer offers warranty coverage for any type of liquid damage.

But what if a brand like Apple committed to doing just that? Yes, that’s exactly what Apple could do based on a patent filed by the iPhone maker. The feature is called “Underwater Mode” and is expected to solve problems that arise when using the phone in wet conditions.

Also read: iPhone 16 Pro is said to have a “shoot button” similar to that of a SLR camera that allows you to focus on shooting

Phones are useless when wet, but bigger physical buttons could be the solution

You may have experienced how your phone, especially your iPhone, behaves when it gets wet or your fingers get wet. As shown in the filed patent, Apple aims to solve this problem by adding more physical buttons and relying less on on-screen menus.

According to the filed patent, Apple aims to let you use underwater mode even when you’re 40 meters underwater.

The entire patent is 78 pages long and emphasizes that iOS is not suitable for use when the device is wet. In fact, it states that current methods are “outdated, time-consuming and ineffective” and simply don’t work.

Apple Watch Ultra reminds us how this works

Notably, Apple has promised similar functionality in its flagship smartwatch, the Apple Watch Ultra, and will allow users to take it to a depth of 40 meters.

This is indeed a hopeful narrative. If it does make it to a mainstream device, it will bring an entirely new feature set that’s better aligned with the company’s own adventure-grade Apple Watch Ultra. Imagine being able to shoot underwater without any restrictions – that’s the possibility we’re talking about.