Is my phone really waterproof? Explanation of IP68 and IPX8 ratings
If you’ve ever dropped a drink on your phone, you know the importance of water resistance. It can mean the difference between frantic wiping with a tissue or an expensive trip to buy a new phone. Water and dust resistance used to be something only found on those tough, rubber-sealed phones designed for construction workers or mountain bikers on the slopes, but it’s pretty much the norm on most of today’s phones, including the iPhone 17 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Even Google’s affordable Pixel 8A is water-resistant.
However, not all phones can withstand immersion in water, and some should not be near any liquids. Almost no phones should be taken while swimming in a pool, and swimming in the ocean is completely out of the question, unless you are using a waterproof case of some sort.
If you’ve shopped for a phone recently, you’ll have come across terms like “waterproof,” as well as the now-common IP67, IP68, and IPX8 ratings. But what do these ratings really mean, and more importantly, how waterproof is your expensive new phone?
Let’s analyze the terminology and find out.
What do IP67, IP68 and IPX8 mean?
Ingress Protection Ratings (also known as International Protection Ratings) are a standard set by the Ingress Protection Act International Electrotechnical Commission. According to the organization, the codes are designed to serve as “a system for classifying the degrees of protection provided by electrical equipment enclosures.”
The first digit in the rating code represents the amount of protection provided against the ingress of foreign solid objects, such as sand or dust. These protection levels range from 0 to 6.
The second number represents the degree of protection against moisture or liquid ingress, and protection levels range from 0 to 8.
None of the earbuds are IPX4 rated, which is enough to protect them from sweat during workouts.
Sometimes you’ll see the IP rating with a number replaced by an X, such as IPX8. In this case, the company didn’t provide testing details, so the rating number was replaced with an
The iPhone 17 Pro has an IP68 rating, which means it’s protected from dust getting inside and can withstand submersion in water. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also has an IP68 rating. So it’s just as waterproof, right? Well, no. This is where it gets confusing.
To get an IP rating of 8, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) requires a device that can withstand immersion in water at least 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Beyond that, it’s up to the manufacturer. The S25 Ultra can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, while Apple says the iPhone 17 Pro is safe in up to 30 minutes. 6 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. So, while any IP68-rated phone should hit this 1m-30m minimum, it’s important to check the fine print and know exactly what your phone has to offer.
For more details on all IP ratings, you can see the charts at the end of this article showing the protection levels set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
iPhone 12 Pro Max can be immersed in water up to 6 meters deep for up to 30 minutes at a time.
Can I swim with my iPhone?
While the iPhone 17 Pro’s advertised 6m of water resistance might make it seem like you can put one in your swim shorts and go to the pool, you’re better off leaving it out of the water. IP rating is tested in controlled conditions – in water without movement. Transporting your phone in water will increase the water pressure, making it more likely that water will get inside and cause irreparable damage to your phone.
IP tests are also performed using fresh water; Most swimming pools contain additional chemicals like chlorine, which can make a difference in your phone’s resistance. And you should absolutely keep your phone away from the sea: salt water can cause a lot of trouble, including deteriorating the metal parts in your charging port and basically destroying your phone.
Even if your phone has the highest IP68 resistance rating, it’s good practice to treat the feature as a backup in case of emergencies. Your phone isn’t designed for snorkeling, so don’t try to use your camera to take pictures of starfish or anything else. You should not attempt to register Tik Tok Videos of you jumping off the high and diving deep. It’s there for accidents like a drink spill or emergencies like making a call in the pouring rain.
The OnePlus Nord 2 doesn’t have any declared water resistance, so make phones like this very safe when around liquids.
My phone does not have an IP rating. Can it get wet?
For a company to declare its product IP-rated at all, it must undergo rigorous testing to ensure it meets the requirements. These tests can be timely and expensive, so it’s understandable that some companies simply don’t want to spend the money, especially with budget-focused models.
Some phones instead use terms such as “water repellent” or “water resistant” without an official IP rating. These phones may use methods like rubber seals or a waterproof nano-coating to keep moisture out. Although these phones may survive accidental immersion, it is beneficial to keep them safe from complete immersion in water. But you don’t have to worry too much about receiving calls during the rain.
If your phone doesn’t say anything about water resistance, it’s best to assume it doesn’t and should take care of liquids as much as possible.
Solid protection
| IP code | protection | Object size |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | nothing |
| 1 | Protection from contact with any large surface of the body, such as the back of the hand. But there is no protection against intentional contact with a body part, such as a finger | Less than 50 mm |
| 2 | Protection from fingers or similar objects | Less than 12.5 mm |
| 3 | Protection from tools, thick wires or similar objects | Less than 2.5 mm |
| 4 | Protection from most wires, screws or similar objects | Less than 1 mm |
| 5 | Partial protection from contact with harmful dust | nothing |
| 6 | Protection from contact with harmful dust | nothing |
Moisture protection
| IP code | protection | Test duration | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | nothing | nothing |
| 1 | Protection against vertical falling water | 10 minutes | drizzling |
| 2 | Protection against vertical water falling when the device is tilted at an angle of up to 15 degrees | 10 minutes | drizzling |
| 3 | Protection against direct water splashes when the device is tilted at an angle of up to 60 degrees | 5 minutes | Rain and spray |
| 4 | Protection from splashes and splashes of water in all directions | 5 minutes | Rain, drizzle, spray |
| 5 | Protection against low-pressure water dropped from a 6.3 mm diameter nozzle in any direction | 3 minutes from a distance of 3 metres | Rain, splashes and direct contact with most kitchen and bathroom faucets |
| 6 | Protection from water dropped in powerful jets from a nozzle with a diameter of 12.5 mm in any direction | 3 minutes from a distance of 3 metres | Rain, splashes, direct contact with kitchen and bathroom faucets, and outdoor use in harsh sea conditions |
| 7 | Protected from immersion in water up to 1 meter (or 3.3 feet) deep for up to 30 minutes | 30 minutes | Rain, splashing and accidental immersion |
| 8 | Protected from immersion in water to a depth of more than 1 meter (the exact depth must be specified by the manufacturer) | At least 30 minutes | Rain, splashing and accidental immersion |