If you've ever spilled a drink on your phone, you know how important water resistance is. This could mean the difference between desperately wiping with a napkin or an expensive trip to buy a new phone. In the past, water- and dust-resistance was only a feature of chunky, rubber-sealed phones designed for construction workers or mountain bikers, but that's pretty much the norm for most modern phones, including iPhone 17 proPixel 10 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Even Google affordable Pixel 8A is water resistant.
However, not all phones can withstand being submerged in water, and some should not be stored near liquids. You should almost never take your phones into the pool with you, and swimming in the ocean is completely out of the question unless you use some kind of waterproof case.
If you've recently purchased a phone, you've come across terms like “waterproof” as well as the now-common ratings IP67, IP68, and IPX8. But what do these ratings actually mean and, crucially, how waterproof is your expensive new phone?
Let's clear up the jargon and find out.
What do IP67, IP68 and IPX8 mean?
Ingress Protection Ratings (also known as International Security Ratings) are a standard set by International Electrotechnical Commission. According to the organization, the codes are designed as “a system for classifying the degrees of protection provided by electrical equipment enclosures.”
The first digit in the rating code represents the degree of protection against penetration 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 penetration of moisture or liquid, protection levels range from 0 to 8.
The Nothing headphones are rated IPX4, which is enough to keep them sweat-free during workouts.
Sometimes you will see an IP rating with the number replaced by an X, such as IPX8. In this case, the company didn't provide detailed testing information, so the rating number is replaced with an X. The IPX8-rated device can withstand submersion in water, but it doesn't officially have any protection against dust or other particles.
The iPhone 17 Pro has an IP68 rating, which means it's dust-resistant and can withstand being submerged in water. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also has an IP68 rating. So they are equally water resistant, right? Well, no. Here's where it gets confusing.
To achieve an IP rating of 8, the IEC requires that the device can withstand immersion in water. at least 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Then everything depends on the manufacturer. The S25 Ultra can be submerged in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes, while Apple says the iPhone 17 Pro is safe in up to 1.5 meters. 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. So while any phone with an IP68 rating will need to hit the minimum 1 meter threshold of 30 minutes, it's important to check the fine print and find out exactly what your phone offers.
You can see more detailed information about all IP classes in the tables at the end of this article, which show the protection levels set by the IEC.
iPhone 12 Pro Max can be submerged 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 claimed water resistance of 6 meters may seem like something you can throw on in swim shorts and head to the pool, you're strongly advised to leave it out of the water. The IP rating is tested under controlled conditions – in water without movement. Moving your phone around in water will increase the water pressure, making it more likely that water will get inside and cause permanent damage to your phone.
IP tests are also carried out using fresh water; Most pools have additional chemicals such as chlorine that can affect your phone's resistance. And you should definitely keep your phone away from the sea: salt water can cause a lot of problems, including damaging the metal parts of the charging port and essentially ruining your phone.
Even if your phone has the highest IP68 rating, it is recommended to use this feature as a backup in case of emergencies. Your phone is not designed for scuba diving, so don't try to use your camera to take pictures of starfish or anything else. You should also not try to write down Tik Tok video of you jumping from a height and diving into the deep part. It is designed for emergencies, such as if you spill a drink, or in emergency situations, such as making a call in the pouring rain.
The OnePlus Nord 2 doesn't have any claimed water resistance – keep phones like this extra safe when you're around liquids.
My phone doesn't have an IP rating. Can he get wet?
In order for a company to even advertise that its product has an IP rating, 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 on budget models.
Instead, some phones use terms like “water repellent” or “water resistant” without an official IP rating. These phones may use methods such as rubberized seals or water-repellent nano-coatings to keep out moisture. While these phones can easily survive accidental submersion in water, it's worth protecting them from being completely submerged in water. But you don't have to worry too much about taking calls in the rain.
If your phone doesn't mention water resistance, then it's best to assume it doesn't and you should exercise extreme caution when handling liquids.
Reliable protection
| IP code | Protection | Object size |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | N/A |
| 1 | Protection from contact with any large surface of the body, for example, 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 against fingers or similar objects | Less than 12.5 mm |
| 3 | Protection from tools, thick wires and similar objects. | Less than 2.5 mm |
| 4 | Protected against most wires, screws and similar items. | Less than 1 mm |
| 5 | Partial protection against contact with harmful dust | N/A |
| 6 | Protection from contact with harmful dust | N/A |
Moisture protection
| IP code | Protection | Test duration | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | N/A | N/A |
| 1 | Protection against vertically dripping water. | 10 minutes | Light rain |
| 2 | Protection against vertically dripping water when the device is tilted at an angle of up to 15 degrees. | 10 minutes | Light rain |
| 3 | Protection against direct splashes of water when the device is tilted at an angle of up to 60 degrees. | 5 minutes | Rain and splashes |
| 4 | Protects against splashing and splashing water in all directions. | 5 minutes | Rain, splashes and splashes |
| 5 | Protects against low pressure water ejected from the 6.3mm diameter nozzle in any direction. | 3 minutes at a distance of 3 meters. | Rain, splashes and direct contact with most kitchen and bathroom faucets. |
| 6 | Protection against water ejected by powerful jets from a 12.5 mm nozzle that opens in any direction. | 3 minutes at a distance of 3 meters. | Rain, splashes, direct contact with kitchen and bathroom faucets, outdoor use in rough sea conditions. |
| 7 | Protected against immersion in water up to 1 meter (or 3.3 feet) deep for up to 30 minutes. | 30 minutes | Rain, splashes and accidental diving |
| 8 | Protected from immersion in water to a depth of more than 1 meter (the manufacturer must indicate the exact depth) | Minimum 30 minutes | Rain, splashes and accidental diving |
