21:55 07 December 2015
Various tests have confirmed that an average phone have more bacteria than the average toilet. This is perhaps what drove experts in Japan to develop a mobile phone that can be safely cleaned with water and soap. The phone is called Digno Rafne and can be "cleaned as thoroughly as a piece of tableware."
The phone does not have a speaker and the sound is transmitted through vibrations on the phone's screen. Thus, there are no open speaker ports where water could get through.
The phone, which measures five inches in length, will be released next week in Japan and runs on Android 5.1 with a 13MP camera. There are currently no plans to release the phone outside Japan.
It will cost £310 and comes with a special plastic back cover that automatically fixes scratches.