Samsung · Waterproof Phone Cases
Body Glove Tidal Waterproof Phone Case for Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
Unknown waterproof treatment; no PFAS disclosure from brand.
Phone cases typically use water-repellent coating waterproof coatings that often contain PFAS, but Body Glove provides no material transparency. Coating composition unknown.
The safe swap
Mophie
Mophie Juice Pack Access Battery Case for iPhone 11 Pro
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Thermoplastic rubber/plastic with waterproof coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Waterproofing on phone cases almost universally relies on fluorinated polymers or perfluorinated repellents. Body Glove provides no alternative or disclosure, making PFAS presence in the coating highly probable. Skin contact during daily use and potential dermal/ingestion exposure from hand-to-mouth transfer represent the primary route.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and leachate migration
TPR cases with applied coatings can experience loss of adhesion, peeling, or wear over 12-18 months of use. As the coating breaks down, treatment chemicals (including any PFAS components) may leach into the substrate or transfer to skin. No published durability or migration data exists for this specific product.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gassing
New phone cases often emit odors from residual solvents, mold-release agents, or coating application chemicals. This off-gassing typically diminishes within days to weeks but may trigger respiratory or skin sensitivity in sensitive individuals. Airing the case before use can reduce this risk.
What’s reassuring
Plasticizer leaching from thermoplastic rubber base
TPR compounds can contain phthalates or other plasticizers, though modern formulations have shifted to non-phthalate alternatives. Body Glove does not disclose plasticizer type. Direct skin contact (hands, ears) is common, but acute toxicity from short-term phone case contact is low unless repeated over hours.
Heavy metals
TPR cases use synthetic dyes and UV stabilizers; banned heavy metals (lead, cadmium) are unlikely in products meeting basic import standards. No known recalls or test results indicate a problem for this line. Risk remains theoretical without testing.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Body Glove Tidal cases use thermoplastic rubber (TPR) or TPR-blended plastics with a waterproof coating applied to seal seams and surfaces. TPR itself is a non-PVC elastomer with low leaching risk under normal phone-contact conditions. However, the waterproof treatment is the critical unknown: most phone case waterproofing uses PFAS-based water and oil repellents (often Teflon-family coating), which the manufacturer does not publicly disclose. The coating's composition and durability during the product's lifetime directly affect exposure risk.
The brand's record and disclosure
Body Glove (now owned by the larger sporting goods umbrella) has not publicly committed to PFAS phase-out or disclosed waterproof treatment chemistry in consumer-facing documentation. Samsung, as the brand attribution here, similarly does not provide material safety specifics for third-party accessory lines under its name. Neither company publishes independent certifications (e.g., bluesign, GOTS, or PFAS-free) for this product line. Lack of proactive disclosure is common in phone accessories but represents a transparency gap on a treatment applied directly to consumer skin contact surfaces.
How it compares in its category
Phone cases occupy a low-regulation gray zone; most waterproof phone cases rely on undisclosed fluorinated coatings. Non-waterproof TPR cases or those using mechanical seals (gasket-based) rather than chemical coatings avoid PFAS exposure entirely but lose waterproof certification. Cases with published non-fluorine water-repellent treatments (rare, but marketed by some niche brands) exist but are harder to source. The Tidal line is typical of mass-market waterproof phone protection in its opacity about coating chemistry.
If you buy it
Wash hands after extended contact, especially if case is new or noticeably slick (indicating fresh coating). Avoid prolonged skin contact with the inside surface and do not allow children unsupervised handling. Store in a cool, dry place away from heat sources; PFAS-based coatings can degrade or migrate when warm. Replace the case if seams separate, coating visibly peels, or texture changes, as degraded waterproofing may pose higher exposure risk. Consider rotating with a non-waterproof TPR case for reduced cumulative contact.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Samsung has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More waterproof phone cases grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.