Smartphones have made great strides in terms of durability. Brands love to boast about IP ratings and how their devices can survive dust, water, and extreme conditions. Most of us would never actually test those claims, but occasionally, real life creates a situation that does. And that’s when we really see what these devices are capable of. One such example was recently shared by a Reddit user, who narrated how his iPhone remained submerged in mud and flood waters for three days after Typhoon Kalmegi, and yet turned back on without any issues.

The incident came to light from a Reddit post where a user shared how his iPhone 17 Pro reportedly survived after being buried in mud for three days in an East Asian city hit by Typhoon Kalmegi. And when the user switched on the phone everything was working as if nothing had happened.

The user shared how the storm caused massive destruction, destroying their house and taking away their belongings. “It took me about 15 minutes to hold on for dear life before I was finally able to collect myself and get back on top,” the Reddit post reads. During that fateful moment, the phone slipped from his grip and disappeared in the flood waters. At that time, equipment was the least of his concerns.

However, once the storm passed and the floods subsided, it took time for the user to deal with the aftermath of the devastation. Only after three days the user started searching for the item and to their surprise, they found the iPhone buried in thick mud three days after the typhoon hit. Expecting the worst, the user cleaned it and plugged it in to charge. And as soon as the phone was charged, the iPhone turned on instantly, with no visible damage, scratches or performance issues. The user wrote, “I just had to charge it and it turned on instantly. No scratches, no problems.”

While iPhone durability stories aren’t new, from accidental drops into the ocean to surviving washing machine cycles, this one in particular shows just how durable Apple’s device is despite extended exposure to extreme conditions and dirty flood water. Flood water is particularly harsh on electronics due to contaminants, debris and minerals that can quickly corrode internal components. Looking at the pictures shared, it seems that this device is the recently launched iPhone 17 Pro.

How durable is the iPhone 17 Pro?

Apple’s newest and most powerful flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro, carries an IP68 rating, meaning it’s designed to withstand water, dust, and splashes. According to Apple, it is capable of being submerged in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes under IEC standard 60529.

However, Apple also notes that water resistance is not permanent and may diminish over time due to normal wear and tear. Liquid damage is not covered under warranty, given that real-world conditions differ significantly from controlled laboratory tests.

Yet, in this user’s case, the iPhone 17 Pro not only survived, but it also broke the limits, surviving three days in dirty flood water and still functioning without any scratches. Pretty impressive for a phone that spent days buried under the debris of a disaster.