The Galaxy S23 Ultra phone can withstand 5 hours under a frozen river and continue to function without interruption.

The flagship Samsung phone, Galaxy S23 Ultra, underwent an unexpected and challenging test when it accidentally submerged in a frozen river in the North Pole for a full five hours. Despite this, the phone continued to function normally without any issues, as reported by Samsung in the news section on its website. The incident occurred with Mikael Krikkula, a professional wilderness guide based in Kiruna, Sweden, while testing sonar equipment in the frozen Kalix River. During this experiment, his Galaxy S23 Ultra slipped from his glove and fell into a fish-catching hole carved in the ice. The phone sank to a depth of approximately three meters under the surface of the frozen river. Despite the harsh conditions, Krikkula decided to retrieve his phone and spent five full hours digging eight holes in the ice around the phone's location, seeking a better angle to reach it. In his attempts, Krikkula used various tools including tree branches, a shovel, and a plastic bag attached to a stick until he managed to retrieve the phone. Upon retrieving the phone, he was surprised to find that the device was still functioning normally, displaying three missed calls, without the need for a restart or drying. It is worth noting that the Galaxy S23 Ultra has an IP68 rating, providing water resistance up to 1.5 meters in fresh water for up to 30 minutes, in addition to protection against dust, dirt, and sand. However, Krikkula's phone experience exceeded these standards significantly, confirming the device's durability and toughness in unexpected conditions.