Most mid-high end phones come with some endurance certification, called IP (Ingress Protection). Each number of this certification has a meaning. Below, you will know what IP67 and IP68 mean.
Contrary to what many people think, the smartphone is not always totally waterproof, having this certification. Some are resistant to splashing water, while others can be immersed at a depth of 1.50 meters, for a maximum of 30 minutes.
To know if a mobile phone is waterproof or not, it is important to understand what this IP certification means. Read below if your phone is really waterproof.
How is a phone protected from water and dust?
Protection against water and dust is carried out in two main ways. The first is through the use of rubber or silicone covers in the USB and headphone sockets. When the user covers these inputs, the device is protected.
The problem is that even if the mobile phone is IP68 certified, the biggest of all if the user forgets to close the covers and the device falls into the water, the phone is finished. So pay attention to this detail.
The second way to guarantee water resistance is by sealing the main internal components such as the processor, RAM, and internal memory. All the crucial chips for the operation of the mobile phone are internally sealed and therefore do not come into contact with water. This method eliminates the use of rubber caps.
What do IP67 or IP68 certifications mean?
First of all, it must be said that IP classification is used to specify the type of protection offered by electronic equipment and is directly related to the environment in which the device can be located or work. These classifications are determined by specific tests.
The IP number is composed of two numbers, the first refers to the protection from solid objects and the second from the liquid. The greater the number, the greater the protection.
However, it is very important to keep in mind that these classifications are not based not only on the entry of dust and water but also on water pressure. Furthermore, this certification does not derive from what the producers have decided individually, but according to a system administered by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
What IP certifications mean
In the table below, you can see what each number in this system means:
| FIRST NUMBER (IP) | MEANING |
| 0 | Unprotected (can also be represented by an X) |
| 1 | Protected from solid objects up to 50 mm³ |
| 2 | Protected against solid objects up to 12mm³ |
| 3 | Protected against solid objects up to 2.5 mm³ |
| 4 | Protected from solid objects up to 1mm³ |
| 5 | Protected against dust, limited input (without risk to the device) |
| 6 | Total protection against dust |
| SECOND NUMBER (IP) | MEANING |
| 0 | Unprotected (can also be represented by an X) |
| 1 | Protected against vertical water splashes (eg condensation) |
| 2 | Protected against splashes of water up to 15º vertically |
| 3 | Protected against splashes of water up to 60º vertically |
| 4 | Protected against water sprayed from all directions |
| 5 | Protected by light water jets from all directions |
| 6 | Protected by light water jets |
| 7 | Protection from the effects of immersion between 15 cm and 1 m |
| 8 | Protection against long periods of immersion in water and pressure |
Finally, it is important to realize that diving protection is directly related to water pressure. Thus, it is clear that the damage will be greater if the appliance receives a jet of water from the fire brigade rather than simply if it falls into a pool of water.
Have you ever tested your smartphone with water? How did it go?
