By PFAS Authority · Updated September 11, 2026
Top grades to buy
Spigen
A611p Waterproof Float Case
Spigen
A601 Universal Waterproof Case
Spigen
Universal Waterproof Phone Case Waterproof
Model-based grades, not lab tests. We flunk more than we pass. How grading works
PFAS in Waterproof Phone Cases, Pouches and Cables, What Our Grades Show
We graded 134 waterproof and rugged phone accessories, from OtterBox, LifeProof-style sealed cases and Case-Mate floating pouches to Nomad, Anker and Spigen charging cables. 132 of them grade 75 or 85 out of 100, in our Excellent band. The two that grade 40 are fabric dry bags with a waterproof coating of unstated chemistry on record.
The short version for anyone shopping for a waterproof case is that being waterproof is not what moves a grade. A sealed case keeps water out with gaskets and the plastic itself, not with a water-repellent finish.
Summary comparison table
| Product | PFAS grade | Materials as recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad Universal Cable | Excellent, 85/100 | Braided nylon, metal connectors |
| Anker Nylon USB-C to USB-C 100W Cable | Excellent, 85/100 | Nylon jacket, copper-alloy connectors |
| Mous MagSafe Compatible Aramid Fibre Phone Case | Excellent, 85/100 | Aramid fiber |
| Spigen Tough Armor Case for iPhone 11 | Excellent, 85/100 | TPU and polycarbonate |
| Pelican Shield Carbon Phone Case for Galaxy S24 | Excellent, 85/100 | Polycarbonate shell, foam padding |
| OtterBox Fre Series Waterproof MagSafe Case for iPhone 17 | Excellent, 85/100 | Polycarbonate and elastomer |
| Pelican Marine Waterproof Case for iPhone XS/X | Excellent, 85/100 | Polycarbonate and polypropylene |
| Body Glove Tidal Waterproof Phone Case for iPhone 15 | Excellent, 85/100 | Rubber and silicone polymer |
| Spigen A610 Universal Waterproof Float Case | Excellent, 85/100 | TPE with waterproof sealing |
| Spigen A601 Universal Waterproof Case | Excellent, 85/100 | TPU and silicone |
| Case-Mate Floating Waterproof Phone Pouch | Excellent, 85/100 | Plastic |
| Spigen A603 Waterproof Bag | Poor, 40/100 | Synthetic fabric, waterproof coating of unstated chemistry |
| Case-Mate Waterproof Phone Bucket Bag | Poor, 40/100 | Synthetic fabric, waterproof coating of unstated chemistry |
How we graded these
Every grade here is a model-based estimate built from publicly available product information and manufacturer disclosures, not a lab test performed by our team. A high score means lower concern based on reviewed sources, never PFAS-free and never safe. Across the 134 products the spread is 132 at 85 and two at 40. No brand in this category carries a PFAS-free claim or third-party verification in our records. Look up any case or cable in our PFAS product finder.
What separates 85 from 75
Every product here starts from the same low electronics baseline and carries a fifteen point penalty because its maker says nothing about PFAS, or, for three of them, only uses vague safety language. The 77 at 85 also carry a credit for a main material not associated with PFAS, and the 55 at 75 do not.
In practice most charging cables and hard-shell cases were recorded with that credit, and most sealed waterproof cases and plastic pouches were not. That is a difference in how the records were written, not a finding that waterproof cases are worse. An OtterBox Frē case at 75 and a Spigen Tough Armor case at 85 are both polycarbonate and elastomer as far as our records show.
A correction to this guide
An earlier version of this guide said waterproof float cases from Spigen and similar sealed cases graded Poor at 40 because of their waterproofing, and pointed readers towards non-waterproof cases instead. That was wrong. The records for 51 products in this category described an unspecified waterproof coating that their makers never mention. Our grading model had read the word waterproof, or an IP68 rating, as evidence of a coating.
On 16 September 2026 we removed that invented coating from 392 waterproof electronics records across cases, pouches, cables, watches and smart rings, and rewrote the analysis on each product page. The products that were at 40 or 50 now grade 75.
How a waterproof case actually keeps water out
A sealed phone case works by compression. A two-part shell closes against rubber gaskets, port covers screw or clip shut, and a clear film covers the screen. A floating pouch is a sealed bag of PVC or TPU film. The water resistance comes from the seal and the plastic, which is why an IP68 rating is not evidence of any coating.
Two places are worth a question to the maker. Some sealed cases use small membranes over the speaker and microphone that let sound through and keep water out, and fabric dry bags may carry a coating on the cloth. Neither is described with its chemistry by any maker in our data.
What to avoid
- Fabric dry bags and phone bags sold as waterproof with no coating chemistry named. They are the only products in this category below 75.
- Choosing a non-waterproof case over a sealed one on PFAS grounds. Our data does not support that.
- Reading any grade here as a clean bill. No maker in this category has said anything specific about PFAS.
For wearables, see our smart rings guide, and for other waterproof gear, our waterproof bags and luggage guide.
Our pick
Based on available materials and data, choose a case or cable on fit and function, because 132 of 134 products here are in our Excellent band. If you need a submersible case, the OtterBox Fre Series Waterproof MagSafe Case at 85 is recorded as polycarbonate and elastomer with no coating. For a rugged case that is not submersible, the Spigen Tough Armor at 85 is recorded as TPU and polycarbonate. For a cable, the Nomad Universal Cable at 85 is recorded as braided nylon. These grades are estimates built from disclosed materials, not laboratory proof, and nothing here is being called PFAS-free or safe by us.
FAQ
Do waterproof phone cases contain PFAS?
Not because they are waterproof. The sealed cases and pouches we graded are recorded as polycarbonate, TPU, TPE, silicone, PVC and similar plastics, none of which is a fluorinated material, and none has a water-repellent coating on record. No maker has published a PFAS statement for them, so we record lower concern based on materials rather than a confirmed absence.
Is a LifeProof or OtterBox Frē case PFAS-free?
Our data cannot confirm that. The OtterBox Frē cases we graded are recorded as polycarbonate and elastomer and grade 75. Sealed cases keep water out with gaskets, and some use acoustic membranes whose material is not disclosed. OtterBox has no PFAS statement on record.
Why did these grades change?
Until 16 September 2026 our records wrongly described an unspecified waterproof coating on 51 products in this category, including float cases and pouches, and graded them 40 or 50. The coatings were never in the makers' descriptions. We removed them, and those products now grade 75.
Are braided nylon charging cables a PFAS concern?
Not in our data. Braided nylon, aramid and PVC cable jackets are recorded without coatings and grade 85. We have not tested any of them.
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