India, Aug. 25 -- How many of us have bought a "waterproof" phone with the peace of mind that it can handle life's messy moments? From accidental drops in the kitchen sink to unexpected rain storms, those little IP68 labels are supposed to promise your device can take a splash and keep ticking. But what if that sense of security was only ever meant to be short-lived?

Google has confirmed what many in the tech world have suspected for a while: the water and dust resistance on your phone is not a lifelong guarantee. In its latest support pages, Google states clearly that IP68 protection "may decrease as a result of normal wear," which means that every little bump, tumble or day-to-day use will slowly weaken your device's ability to fend of...