Dust

You've seen the codes before: iPhone 7/8/X is rated IP67. iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy S8 on up are rated IP68. The marketing will claim something about the device being "waterproof," but that's not always the case, and certainly not the entire story. Here's what you need to know when you see those ratings on a product.

In this case, IP doesn't stand for Internet Protocol; it's short for "Ingress Protection" or in some settings "International Protection Marking." The latter comes up because the whole thing is an international standard created by the International Electrotechnical Commission(Opens in a new window) (IEC), under the standard 60529. This is all a very big deal in Asia and Europe, and obviously their IP standard has gained a lot of traction in the US as well. The goal is to get away from saying words like "water-resistant" or "dust-proof" by providing numbers with clear definitions, even if they tend to be clear as mud to the uninitiated.

Not everyone with rugged, water- and dust-tight products uses this standard, either. GoPro is a notable exception, but you can generally count on those cameras to take a beating. But what do all the codes really mean?

Ingress means "to enter," thus Ingress Protection is protection against things entering a product's enclosure—specifically in this case, solids (aka "dust;" that's the first number) and water (the second number). A rating of IP67 means it's a 6 against dust, and a 7 against water. There is also an option for a third number to measure impact resistance, but you seldom see it used. That's because any vendor that did use it would look bad when you inevitably crack the screen anyway.

Solids are measured on a scale of 0 to 6, where 6 is the best shielding you can get. Water, however, is measured 0 to 9. That's why something that is listed as IP67 can say "dust-tight" but only "water-resistant." (None of the ratings are fond of using the word "proof" because nothing is ever fool-proofed in the long run.)

Here's a breakdown of the ratings.

It's important to remember, these are all laboratory conditions. They are not real-world tests. While they sound daunting for your beloved device, they're not the same as what you'll encounter IRL. They don't take into account things like being in a soaking wet backpack, or taking pictures underwater during a long swim, or the presence of saltwater or highly chlorinated pool water.

In other words, just because it has a good IP rating, doesn't mean you should push it, especially with the water. And again, notice no manufacturer rates smartphones on impact resistance.

So, to recap on the ratings you are most likely to see on electronics:

There are some new phones that are not IP rated at all, like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, but that's probably because bending an LCD screen is inherently not something that protects internals against dirt and moisture. That said, it's a pretty crucial omission for a phone that costs a lot.

Few manufacturers in the US are using the IEC-IP standard for durability on consumer electronics. But some have found a way to trumpet their products' ruggedness.

(Ruggedized, by the way, is just a marketing term. Don't take it to heart.)

The Military Standard, aka MIL-STD, or better yet, MIL-SPEC, is how the US Department of Defense measures things to get a baseline standard for equipment. The one that most pertains to consumer electronics—because many manufacturers like to brag that their products are up to military standards—is MIL-SPEC-810G(Opens in a new window), which specifically tests for the longevity of a device under adverse environmental conditions.

Products with MIL-SPEC-810G certification are tested against all sorts of things: temperature extremes, shocks, drops, taking a bullet, freezing/thawing, acid, fungus, even if it the device could start a fire around flammable gas. However, the settings for each of these isn't necessarily standardized, which is a problem for a standard. For example, a device might be tested for freezing at 0 degrees Celsius by one company; others might go higher or lower in tests. Others might just test it for getting repeatedly dropped.

Devices with MIL-SPEC-810G testing include not only smartphones but also laptops like the Panasonic Toughbook 31 (which is also IP65). Phones include the LG G8 ThinQ and Kyocera DuraForce PRO 2(Opens in a new window) and phones you can't get in the US like the Ulefone.

Even if you do have a device with a good IP rating or a MIL-SPEC certification, the manufacturer almost always states something in the fine print indemnifying it from any fault damage, especially from water. The warranty just won't cover it. After all, seals can fail—especially if exposed to things like saltwater or chlorine. The company line will typically be something like "water resistance isn't a permanent condition and may diminish over time" (that's Apple's line on the Apple Watch(Opens in a new window)).

And never, ever charge your device if it's still wet. That's going to kill it fast.

In all cases, just because a product is rated well doesn't really mean you should go using it underwater, in sandstorms, or start dropping it off a five-story tower, classic-David Letterman-style(Opens in a new window). The electronics just aren't there. Yet.

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