How waterproof is my waterproof smartphone?
IP: Ingress Protection. What is that?
IP stands for Ingress Protection: protection degree. In other words, the digits behind 'IP' indicate the extent to which your phone is protected against water and dust. The first digit indicates the extent to which a telephone is dust-proof. This gradation runs from 0 to 6, with 6 being completely dust-proof. The second number indicates the water resistance of a telephone. This gradation runs from 0 to 8, where 8 stands for completely waterproof.
IP67 and IP68
If you buy a waterproof smartphone, chances are that it has an IP rating of 67 or 68. That is good news, because they are the second and second highest grades. In both cases your phone is waterproof and you can immerse the device with confidence. The only difference between the 2 is in the depth and duration of the immersion.
IP67: waterproof to 1 meter depth
If your phone has an IP67 gradation, then it is completely dust-proof and waterproof up to 1 meter deep. Deeper than 1 meter your phone will not immediately be broken, but then the pressure of the water is such that it can damage parts in the phone. The result of this is that water can penetrate into places to subsequently cause permanent damage. Side note at IP67 is that the water resistance has been tested for a duration of 30 minutes.
IP68: completely waterproof
If your smartphone is IP68 waterproof, it can remain submerged indefinitely. If your phone falls in the pool and you do not find it right back, then you have plenty of time to get a pair of goggles and to scan the bottom of the pool. A side note at IP68 is that it has been tested to a depth of 3 meters. If your phone is located in an extremely deep pool, the device may be damaged in the course of time.
How waterproof is my smartphone?
| Protection against dust | Protection against liquid | |
|---|---|---|
| IP67 | Fully protected against dust | Protected against immersion between 15 cm and 1 meter depth |
| IP68 | Fully protected against dust | Protected from immersion to a certain water pressure over a longer period of time |
Conclusion
So, now you know how waterproof your smartphone is. IP68 is completely waterproof, whether you have an iPhone, a Samsung or another smartphone. It is not the case that the manufacturer can give his own twist to this. Important to mention is that water damage is not covered by the manufacturer's manufacturer's warranty. Apart from that, user experiences show that when a manufacturer claims that a device is watertight, you can use it according to the guidelines for that gradation.
