Most mid-range phones come with a certain resistance certification, called IP (Ingress Protection). Each number of this certification has a meaning. Below, you will know what IP67 and IP68 means.
Contrary to what many think, the smartphone is not always totally waterproof, having this certification. Some are splash resistant, while others can be submerged to 1,50 meters deep, for up to 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 truly waterproof.
How is a phone protected from water and dust?
Water and dust protection 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 though the mobile is IP68 certified, the greatest 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 ensure water resistance is by sealing the main internal components such as the processor, RAM and internal memory. All the chips crucial to the functioning 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 the IP classification is used to specify the type of protection offered by electronic equipment and is directly related to the environment in which the appliance can be or work. These classifications are determined by specific tests.
The IP number consists of two numbers, the first refers to protection from solid objects and the second from liquid. The higher 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 ingress of dust and water, but also on the pressure of the water. Furthermore, this certification does not derive from what the manufacturers 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 of this system means:
| FIRST NUMBER (IP) | MEANING |
|---|---|
| 0 | Not protected (can also be represented by an X) |
| 1 | Protected from solid objects up to 50 mm³ |
| 2 | Protected from solid objects up to 12mm³ |
| 3 | Protected from solid objects up to 2,5 mm³ |
| 4 | Protected from solid objects up to 1mm³ |
| 5 | Protected against dust, limited input (no risk to the device) |
| 6 | Total protection against dust |
| SECOND NUMBER (IP) | MEANING |
|---|---|
| 0 | Not protected (can also be represented by an X) |
| 1 | Protected against vertical water splashes (e.g. condensation) |
| 2 | Protected against vertical splashes of water up to 15º |
| 3 | Protected against vertical splashes of water up to 60º |
| 4 | Protected against water sprayed from all directions |
| 5 | Protected from light jets of water from all directions |
| 6 | Protected from light jets of water |
| 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 firefighters rather than simply if it falls into a puddle of water.
Have you ever tested your smartphone with water? How did it go?
Further Reading:
- What is an RCA cable? RCA cables have been around since the 50s
- How To Dry Cell Phone Dropped Into Water - Simple Methods
- Is your smartphone water resistant? Differences between IP67 and IP68
- What does IP68 mean
- 4G Smartwatch Kospet Brave and OUKITEL W3 Smart Watch at a "very" special price
