it’s simple Sometimes your smartphone slips out of your hand and ends up in an unexpected place. The same goes for taking a quick dip in the bathroom or moving to an area where only dust bunnies roam behind the couch. But how rugged is your device? An intrusion protection rating can give you some hints. First published in 1976, IP ratings were developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission and are intended to highlight a device’s level of dust and water resistance.
IP ratings are a useful benchmark for comparing new smartphones’ general resistance to destructive forces. But keep in mind that IP rating tests are performed on brand new devices in a laboratory environment, so if you toss your phone and scratch it, or buy a refurbished device, your protection could be significantly reduced. If you’re reading this because your phone is currently soaking wet, check out WIRED’s guide to storing a wet phone before tossing it in a bag of dry rice.
What is an IP rating?
As of 2024, one of the most common IP ratings for smartphones is IP68. Let’s take a closer look.
The next letter after the first two letters of the rating is the level of resistance to dust and external objects. This scale goes from 0 to 6. According to the IEC’s rating guide, 5 means “dust-proof” and 6 means “dust-proof.”
The last letter of the IP rating indicates water resistance, and this scale ranges from 0 to 9. A smartphone that scores a 7 can be completely submerged in shallow water for short periods of time. Devices rated 8 are certified to dive several meters deeper than devices rated 7, but the depth increase will vary. For example, iPhone 11 and iPhone 15 are both IP68 rated, but iPhone 11 has a maximum water depth of 2 meters, while iPhone 15 has a maximum water depth of 6 meters. A water resistance rating of 9 is almost negligible, so it’s almost negligible. It is not submerged in water and can withstand high temperature and high pressure flow.
Continuing with the iPhone 15 as an example, the IP68 rating means the phone is sealed from dust and can be submerged in water. Looking at his Apple web page that lists the IP rating, the iPhone 15 can be submerged up to 6 meters deep for up to 30 minutes.
If an “X” is used in the IP rating, it means the device is rated as either waterproof. or It has a dustproof effect, but not both. Although companies choose to participate in the evaluation process, it is important to understand that X does not constitute a failed evaluation, but simply the absence of an evaluation.
How waterproof and dustproof is my smartphone?
Curious about the water and dust resistance level of your current device? Here are the IP ratings for popular smartphones.
When it comes to Apple devices, the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, XR, 2nd Generation SE, and 3rd Generation SE all have an IP67 rating. By comparison, all newer models are IP68 rated. Of the IP68 rated options offered by Apple, the older option is only rated for a maximum depth of 2 meters. Recent releases can be submerged to depths of up to 6 meters.
