Understanding IP Ratings: Is Your Device Really Waterproof?

Understanding the waterproof capabilities of a device is crucial, particularly if you wish to assess its ability to withstand exposure to dust or water. It’s important to note that a higher IP rating generally signifies superior protection.

Is My Phone Waterproof or Not?

To ascertain the water resistance of your phone, you can follow these steps:

• Refer to the user manual or the official website of the manufacturer for information on your phone’s water resistance.
• Look for the IP Rating.
• Verify Official Certifications; some phones have certifications from bodies such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Ingress Protection Rating (IP Rating) Meaning

The term IP rating, short for “Ingress Protection” , is a set standard that outlines the degree of safeguarding offered by electronic devices, such as smartphones or cameras, against the infiltration of solid particles (such as dust) and liquids like water.

What Do Numbers Mean in An IP Rating?

In an IP (Ingress Protection) rating, the numbers have specific meanings related to the device’s level of protection against solids (first digit) and liquids (second digit).

First Digit (Protection against solids):

• The first digit ranges from 0 to 6 and indicates the level of protection against solid particles like dust.

Second Digit (Protection against liquids):

• The second digit ranges from 0 to 8 and indicates the level of protection against water.

How To Read IP Rating

In an IP (Ingress Protection) rating, the numbers have specific meanings related to the device’s level of protection. Here are the IP rating charts:

First Digit (Protection against solids):

• 0: No special protection from dust.
• 1: Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter.
• 2: Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter.
• 3: Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter.
• 4: Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter.
• 5: Protection from Dust but some penetration may be there.
• 6: Complete Protection from Dust.

Second Digit (Protection against liquids):

• 0: No special protection from water.
• 1: Protection against dripping water.
• 2: Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from normal position.
• 3: Protection against spraying water.
• 4: Protection against splashing water.
• 5: Protection against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes.
• 6: Protection against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes.
• 7: Protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
• 8: Protection against the effects of continued immersion of the device in water at depths greater than 1 meter. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the phone manufacturer.

So, for example, an IP67 rating meaning, complete protection from dust (6) and protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes (7). An IP68 rating typically indicates the same dust-tight protection but with a higher level of water resistance, often allowing for deeper immersion.

IP Ratings Table Explained

IP Rating	Meaning
IP00	No special protection from dust and water
IP01	No special protection from dust, Protection against dripping water
IP02	No special protection from dust, Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from normal position
IP03	No special protection from dust, Protection against spraying water
IP04	No special protection from dust, Protection against splashing water
IP05	No special protection from dust, Protection against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP06	No special protection from dust, Protection against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP07	No special protection from dust, Protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes
IP08	No special protection from dust, Protection against the effects of continued immersion of the device in water at depths greater than 1 metre. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the phone manufacturer
IP10	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, No special protection from water
IP11	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, Protection against dripping water
IP12	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from normal position
IP13	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, Protection against spraying water
IP14	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, Protection against splashing water
IP15	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, Protection against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP16	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, Protection against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP17	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, Protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes
IP18	Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, Protection against the effects of continued immersion of the device in water at depths greater than 1 metre. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the phone manufacturer
IP20	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, No special protection from water
IP21	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, Protection against dripping water
IP22	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from normal position
IP23	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, Protection against spraying water
IP24	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, Protection against splashing water
IP25	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, Protection against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP26	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, Protection against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP27	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, Protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes
IP28	Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, Protection against the effects of continued immersion of the device in water at depths greater than 1 metre. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the phone manufacturer
IP30	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, No special protection from water
IP31	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, Protection against dripping water
IP32	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from normal position
IP33	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, Protection against spraying water
IP34	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, Protection against splashing water
IP35	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, Protection against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP36	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, Protection against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP37	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, Protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes
IP38	Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, Protection against the effects of continued immersion of the device in water at depths greater than 1 metre. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the phone manufacturer
IP40	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, No special protection from water
IP41	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, Protection against dripping water
IP42	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from normal position
IP43	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, Protection against spraying water
IP44	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, Protection against splashing water
IP45	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, Protection against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP46	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, Protection against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP47	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, Protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes
IP48	Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, Protection against the effects of continued immersion of the device in water at depths greater than 1 metre. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the phone manufacturer
IP50	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, No special protection from water
IP51	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, Protection against dripping water
IP52	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from normal position
IP53	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, Protection against spraying water
IP54	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, Protection against splashing water
IP55	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, Protection against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP56	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, Protection against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP57	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, Protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes
IP58	Protection from dust but some penetration may be there, Protection against the effects of continued immersion of the device in water at depths greater than 1 metre. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the phone manufacturer
IP60	Complete protection from dust, Protection against dripping water
IP62	Complete protection from dust, Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from normal position
IP63	Complete protection from dust, Protection against spraying water
IP64	Complete protection from dust, Protection against splashing water
IP65	Complete protection from dust, Protection against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP66	Complete protection from dust, Protection against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP67	Complete protection from dust, Protection against the effects of immersion of device at depths of up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes
IP68	Complete protection from dust, Protection against the effects of continued immersion of the device in water at depths greater than 1 metre. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the phone manufacturer

In summary, it is essential to comprehend the IP ratings of your electronic gadgets to ensure their safeguarding against solids and liquids. The IP rating charts act as a valuable manual, aiding you in understanding the degree of protection your device provides. Whether it involves shielding against dust intrusion or submersion in water, being well-informed empowers you to make informed decisions and safeguard your investments. Always consult the manufacturer’s specifications, and armed with this knowledge, you can confidently navigate the realm of durability for electronic devices.

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