Most premium and midrange smartphones these days come with an IP rating, which generally means they will be protected from water and dust. But in reality not all devices that come with an IP or ATM rating are waterproof. If you think that having an IP rating on an expensive phone means it’s waterproof, then you’re wrong. Let’s find out what IP rating means and why phones are not waterproof.
Most premium smartphones (such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, OnePlus 11 and Google Pixel 7) come with an IP67 or IP68 rating. There are very few phones that have an IP69 rating. So they cannot be called completely waterproof. The IP rating means giving your phone extra protection from moisture and dust.
What does IP rating mean?
The International Electrotechnical Commission (ICEC) provides ratings for devices. IP stands for Ingress Protection or International Protection. It is followed by two numbers, the first of which refers to protection against solids (dust or dirt) and the second to protection against liquids (water). These numbers range from 1 to 9. Higher number means better protection.
For example, if a device comes with an IP68 rating, it offers level-6 protection for dust and level-8 protection for water. You can find other information on IP ratings by visiting ICEC’s website.
According to the website, the IP68 rating of 6 means that there is very little chance of dust getting inside the device. Similarly, an 8 rating means there is no danger of spoilage even after about 30 minutes in fresh water.
