IP (ingress protection) ratings are one of the more reliable metrics we have to gauge a gadget’s level of water resistance — which is not the same thing as waterproofness. In fact, no device can accurately claim to be 100% waterproof, Roderick said. “Something being waterproof means it can sit in water for a long period of time without water getting inside, but with electronic components involved, that’s not a realistic expectation,” he explained. “Water resistance is the next best thing.”
Developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission, IP ratings are two-digit codes (usually found in a product’s online specifications) that grade a device’s resistance to water and dust getting inside. They’re not a total guarantee against death by droplets, but they’re a good guideline for seeing if your tech will likely survive most summertime mishaps.
The first digit of an IP rating measures protection against dust and other solid objects; 0 means the device has no protection, while 6 (the highest) means it’s “dust-tight.” The rating’s second digit corresponds to moisture; it also starts at 0 for no protection but goes up to 9, which means that the device should be protected against “high pressure and temperature water jets.”
Considering the kinds of water exposure your devices might encounter come summer — which probably won’t include high-pressure jets — staff writer Kimber Streams said these three IP indicators are the most relevant for the everyday consumer:
- A second digit of 4 or higher means a device should be protected against splashing water, such as what a device may encounter when kept poolside or if it gets dripped or rained on.
- A second digit of 7 or higher means a device should be protected against temporary immersion, like being dropped into a pool (or a toilet bowl) and quickly fished out.
- A second digit of 8 or higher means a device should be protected against deeper, longer periods of immersion, such as being lost a few feet down in a lake for several minutes.
In short, an IP rating of X7 or higher can be considered waterproof for the purposes of safeguarding your tech from full-but-temporary immersions.
However, remember that even if your device has an IPX7 rating or above, it might not resist water like it used to once it’s a few years old. “Coatings chip away and gaskets degrade,” said staff writer Dave Gershgorn.
