How was my phone waterproof? IP68, IPX8 notes explained

If you've already dropped your phone in the toilet, you will know the importance of water resistance. This can make the difference between a frantic wiping with a dry cloth or an expensive trip to the shopping center to buy a new phone. Resistance to water and dust was once something on these strong and sealed phones, designed for construction workers or downhill mountaineers, but that is about the standard in most of today's phones, including the iPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Even the affordable Google Pixel 8a is water resistant.

However, not all phones resist the water soaked, and some should not be close to liquids in any way. Almost no telephone should be taken by swimming in a swimming pool and swimming in the ocean is always out of the question, unless you use a waterproof case.

If you bought a phone recently, you will have encountered terms like “water resistant”, as well as the IP67, IP68 and IPX8 notes, now common. But what do these notes mean and, above all, how waterproof your new phone?

Let's break down the jargon and discover.

What do IP67, IP68 and IPX8 mean?

The incoming protection ratings (also known as international protection ratings) are a standard set out by the International electrical engineering commission. According to the organization, the codes are designed as a “system to classify the protective degrees provided by the electrical equipment enclosures”.

The first number of the rating code represents the quantity of protection provided against the entry of foreign solid objects, such as sand or dust. These protection levels vary from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 6.

The second number represents the degree of protection against the input of humidity or liquid, with levels of protection ranging from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 8.

Sometimes you will see an IP note with a number replaced by an X, like IPX8. In this case, a company did not provide the details of the tests, so the rating number is replaced by an X. A classified device IPX8 can survive the submergation in water, but it has not been officially evaluated for dust protection or other particles.

The iPhone 16 Pro has an IP68 note, which means that it is protected from dust that penetrates inside and can resist the submergation in water. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is also classified IP68. So they are also water resistant, right? Well, no. This is where it becomes confusing.

For an 8 on the IP rating, the CEI requires that a device can withstand the submergation at least 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Beyond that, it is at the manufacturer. The ultra S25 can be overwhelmed up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, while Apple says that the iPhone 16 Pro is safe until 6 meters of water up to 30 minutes. Thus, while any phone with an IP68 note should have reached this minimum threshold from 1 meter to 30 minutes, it is important to check the small characters and see exactly what your phone offers.

For more details on all IP notes, you can see graphics at the end of this article describing the protection levels set by the CEI.

Can I go swimming with my iPhone?

Although the 6 meters of water resistance announced by the iPhone 16 Pro can give the impression that you can slip one into your swimming shorts and hit the pool, it would be well advised to leave it out of the water. The IP rating is tested under controlled conditions – in water without movement. The displacement of your phone in water will add more water pressure, which makes water more likely find its way inside and make irreparable damage to your phone.

IP tests are also carried out using costs water; Most swimming pools will have additional chemicals such as chlorine, which could make a difference in the resistance of your phone. And you should absolutely keep your phone out of the sea: salt water could cause many problems, including the degradation of metal parts of your load port.

Even if your phone has the main IP68 resistance rating, it is good practice to treat functionality as a backup in an emergency. Your phone is not designed to dive into apnea, so don't try to use the camera to hang photos of star or something else. You should not try to save either Tiktok Videos of yourself jumping from the high dive. He is there for accidents like overthrowing a drink or emergencies like making a call in the pouring rain.

My phone has no IP rating. Can he get wet?

For a company to announce that his product has an IP note, he must have undergone strict tests to ensure that he meets the requirements. These tests can be timely and expensive, so it is understandable that some companies simply do not want to spend money, especially with regard to budget -oriented models.

Some phones rather use terms such as “water repellent” or “water resistant” without official IP rating. These handsets can use methods such as rubberized joints or nano-hydrofuge coating to keep humidity remotely. Although these phones can of course survive a accidental caliber, it is worth keeping them safe from being completely overwhelmed in the water. But you shouldn't worry too much about taking calls in the rain.

If your phone makes no mention of water resistance, it is preferable to assume that it does not have one and that you should take as much care as possible around liquids.