While waterproof smartphones have been the norm in many Asian countries for some time, it's still a relatively novel concept in the UK. Sony was first out the blocks with its 2013 Xperia Z. Samsung and Apple followed suit. But there's a significant difference between waterproof and water-resistant and that's where IP ratings come in.
An IP (Ingress Protection) rating tells users exactly how waterproof a product is. The standard was drawn up by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) – a global organisation responsible for setting international standards for electronic devices, including everything from plug points to cameras, portable speakers and smartphones.
Each IP rating includes two digits, for example, IP67 or IP68 – two of the most common ratings currently found on portable devices including the iPhone 7and Samsung Galaxy S8.
The first of the two digits (the 6 in IP67) refers to protection against solids, including dust. Products are rated using a 0-6 scale, with 6 being the most well protected. Here's what each level means:
0 - No protection.
1 - Protection against objects up to 50mm. Also, protection against any large surface of the body, such as the back of the hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part.
2 - Protection against objects up to 12.5mm, along with fingers or similar objects.
3 - Protection against objects up to 2.5mm, such as thick wires or tools.
4 - Protection against objects up to 1mm, including most wires and screws.
5 - Not entirely protected from dust, but enough to significantly affect performance significant damage.
6 - Totally protected against dust.
Sometimes a rating is given as X, rather than a number. This doesn't mean the product doesn't offer any protection, it instead means it hasn't been tested or assigned a level in that area.
The second digit in the IP rating (the 8 in IP68) refers to the level of protection against liquids - here's what they mean:
0 - No protection.
1 - Minimal protection against vertical drops of water, such as very light rain.
2 - Protected by vertical drops of water when the device is tilted at 15° from its normal position.
3 - Protection against sprays of water when the device is tilted at 60° from its usual position, including rain.
4 - Protection from sprays and splashes of water from any direction.
5 - Protection against water sprayed directly from a low-pressure nozzle measuring 6.3mm, from any direction.
6 - Protection from high-powered water jets with a 12.5mm nozzle, from any direction, such as a shower.
7- Protected for up to 1m of immersion for up to 30 minutes, including splashing from a shower or an accidental (and brief) dunking.
8 - Protection against submersion beyond 1m. May mean that device is hermetically sealed or merely that any water that can get inside will cause no damage.
Somewhat confusingly, just because a device has been rated at level 8 for waterproofing, does not mean it has passed tests for the levels below it. For example, while the iPhone 7 has an iP67 rating meaning it can withstand brief submersion, it hasn't been rated to survive a jet of water (levels 5 and 6). So while it would survive being dropped in the bath, Apple admits the phone should not be taken into the shower. Liquid damage is not covered under warranty.
In contrast, the Sony Xperia ZX Premium has a rating of IP65/68 meaning it can withstand both a shower and a dunking.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
