The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active failed a water immersion test by a leading product review site. The phone, which is being advertised as being water-resistant, stopped working after being put in a tank that simulated the effect of being about 1.5m under water. When removed after half an hour, the first phone’s display was non-responsive and marred by green lines. Bubbles had also formed in its two camera lenses. A second handset subjected to the same test suffered similar faults. Neither handset was usable following the experiments.

Samsung said it was possible that defective devices were ‘not as watertight’ as they should have been. Samsung’s website stated the Galaxy S7 Active, which is sold in the US but is not available in the UK, is IP68-certified. The ingress protection rating signifies the phone can withstand ‘continuous immersion in water’.

‘The IP rating of your device was achieved in laboratory conditions in standby mode, so you should not use the device underwater, such as taking pictures,’ advice on its water and dust protection page states.

Samsung said it would investigate the issue.

www.bbc.co.uk/technews (11th July 2016)