Let’s face it: using a non-waterproof smartphone in 2022 is very risky, considering how much we’re tied to our phones nowadays. Pretty much all the big smartphone manufacturers out there offer IP68 or IP67-rated waterproof for their devices. If you didn’t find out until now what’s the difference between the two ratings, you’ve made it to the right place.
The first and foremost thing you should know is whether your phone is classified as IP67 or IP68 waterproof protection, it doesn’t mean that there is protection against other liquids as well. In other words, it would surely be risky to drop your phone in your coffee cup, for instance.
IP68 is better than IP67
In a nutshell, IP68 beats IP67. The explanation is simple. An IP68-rated device will offer protection against water if you drop it at a depth of up to 1.5 meters and keep it there for a maximum of 30 minutes. On the other hand, IP67 offers protection for the same amount of time, but only if you don’t drop the phone at a depth of over one meter.
You also need to be aware that there’s an important difference between waterproof and water-resistant. Waterproof phones are pretty much impervious to water until a certain depth and duration. Water-resistant pretty much means that the device can support some drops of water, such as while walking in the rain, while it becomes risky to dip it in your bathtub.
The standards of IP rating are set by the IP Code, which is also known as Ingress Protection Code.
Regardless of whether a phone is rated IP67 or IP68 waterproof, it’s still a bad idea to take it for a swim. There’s no wonder why Samsung admitted that soaking one of its waterproof phones in the pool could stop its functionality by corroding the charging ports.
