Explanation Needed: Water and Dust IP Rating: What Does It All Mean
If you pay close attention to your smartphone specs, you probably glanced at a series of numbers and letters that look like this, IP68. It's called an IP rating. This measures the amount of water and dust devices such as smartphones can resist.
Nowadays, you won't find any smartphone, smartwatch, or headphones without an IP rating.
Smartphones and other mobile gadgets are pricey investments. So you want assurance that these devices survive the rain, the accidental toilet drops, and dust.
You're probably wondering how water and dust-resistant qualities measured on devices. The whole process can be confusing. Let me simplify it all in this new installment of Explanation Needed. What is an IP rating, and how does it assure consumer confidence? Let me explain.
What do the letters and numbers all mean
The IP rating consists of four letters. The first two letters, I and P, are an acronym for Ingress Protection; in other words, how good can it thwart stuff from getting inside the device. The third digit indicates how good it can protect against debris like dust, sand, and other micro solids, with a maximum rating of six.
The very last digit is the water and liquid resistance rating, with a max rating of 8. So if you're reading specs on a device with an IP68 score, it's protected with the highest IP rating for both dust and water resistance.
So About This IP68 Rating?
The eight at the very end means the smartphone has been tested at depths of more than 1 meter ( 3-feet) or water and has not suffered any internal damage. Different manufactures give different depth numbers. Samsung states their IP68 rated Galaxy Note 10+ can survive up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. While Apple's iPhone 11 Pro is also rated at IP68 but test their device wholly submerged underwater and used a variety of liquids. So, in essence, manufacturers use different testing methods.
Then there is an IP67 rating.
The IP67 devices pretty much have the same dust resistance as the IP68 rated smartphone, but the difference is it can only survive submerged in water up to 1 meter. Anything more than that, the water will seep inside, causing damage to the components.
Devices rated at IP67 are entirely impervious to dirt debris. So anything as SIX as the third character means it's dust-tight.
The Other Ratings
There are instances where smartphone manufacturers use various methods of waterproofing—the IP65 rated accessories are sprayed using water projected 6.3mm nozzle. Meaning in the real world, smartphones will survive rain or the shower.
You'll find older devices have an IP53 rating; this means its fully protected against dust and debris, but will not survive if submerged in water for an extended amount of time.
