The end of our smartphones Show up in unexpected places, whether it’s taking a quick dip in the toilet, or going behind the couch where only dust bunnies haunt. How sturdy is your device? Degrees of protection developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission and first published in 1976 are designed to highlight the degree of dust and water resistance of equipment.
The IP rating is a useful yardstick for comparing the general dust and water resistance of new smartphones. Remember, however, that IP rating testing is done on brand new equipment in a lab environment. So if you throw your phone away and wear it out or buy a refurbished device, the protection may be significantly less. If you’re reading this because your smartphone is currently soaking wet, check out WIRED’s guide to preserving your wet phone before throwing it into any bag of dry rice.
What is an IP rating?
In 2022, one of the most common IP ratings for smartphones is IP68. Let’s break it down.
After the first two letters of the rating, the next character is the level of resistance to dust and foreign objects. The ratio goes from zero to six. According to IEC’s rating guidelines, 5 means “dust-tight” and 6 means “dust-tight”.
The last character in the IP rating indicates water resistance, which ranges from zero to nine. A smartphone that scores seven points can be completely submerged in shallow water for a short period of time. Class 8 equipment is certified to be several meters deeper than class 7 equipment, although the increase in depth is variable. For example, even though the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are both IP68 rated, the iPhone 11 has a maximum depth of 2 meters, while the 11 Pro is 4 meters. The nine waterproof ratings can be largely ignored, as it’s about resistance to high temperature, high pressure currents, not submersion.
In the case of the iPhone 13, its IP68 rating means the phone is dust-proof and can be submerged in water. Looking at Apple’s webpage listing its IP rating, the iPhone 13 can be submerged in water up to 6 meters for half an hour.
If an “X” is used for the IP rating, it means the device is rated for water or dust, but not both. For companies choosing to enter the rating process, it is important to understand that an “X” does not constitute a rating failure, just no rating.
How waterproof and dustproof is my smartphone?
Curious about how waterproof and dustproof your current device is? Below are the IP ratings of popular smartphones.
As far as Apple devices go, the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, XR, and second-generation SE have all received an IP67 rating. iPhone XS, XS Max and newer models are IP68. Among Apple’s IP68-rated options, the older option had a maximum depth of just 2 meters. You can submerge the nearest pickup up to 6 meters.
