How waterproof is your smartphone really?

At ThePhoneLab, we love to dream, so take a moment to dream with us….
It’s a Sunday in July, the winter clothes are long and wide in mothballs, the thermometer reads a very comfortable 25 degrees, and you’re baking on a boat on Dutch waters.

At some point it gets a little too hot for you and you decide to take a refreshing dip. A big splash provides the necessary cool down, but then you feel it…. Your iPhone 5 is still in the pocket of your swimming trunks. And let that one not be waterproof. Time for a new one (or you want to keep your smartphone repair), but which one should you choose if you want your phone to survive such swims in the future?

Measuring waterproofness with IP rating

Nowadays, every manufacturer gives its smartphones the stamp of waterproof, but to measure waterproofness there is the Ingress Protection Rating (IP rating).

Two factors are taken into account in assigning such a rating. The first factor is the degree of protection against object penetration. Objects include dust, so we call this one the dust factor for convenience. Here you can earn a score from 1 to 6, where 6 is the highest.

The second factor is waterproofing. On this section, you can earn a score from 1 to 8, where 1 means that every drop can be disastrous and 8 means that your device is allowed to participate in water polo. The two scores side by side constitute a device’s final IP rating. If your smartphone scores a 4 on the dust factor and a 6 on the waterproofness factor, then its IP rating is 46. Thus, the maximum score is 68.

Apple’s iPhone: IP67

Starting with the iPhone 7, Apple claims its devices are waterproof. But 100% foolproof they are not, as all iPhones since 2016 have achieved a score of 67. So are the latest models, the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and the iPhone X. You won’t easily find dust on the inside of the smartphone given its highest score of 6 on the first component. But in terms of waterproofing, the phones can still be improved by one point. Do you accidentally drop it in the toilet? No problem. Falls off the high diving board? If so, Apple cannot guarantee that your smartphone will survive.

Samsung: IP68

Are you the type who often accidentally teaches his cell phone to swim? Then Samsung’s South Korean smartphones are the way to go. For example, since 2016, all devices score a 6 on dust resistance and an 8 on waterproofness. So are the latest models such as the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+ and the Note 8. This will also be no different with the anticipated Galaxy S9 line that will be presented in March.

LG: IP68

South Koreans apparently place a great deal of importance on keeping water out of their devices, as smartphones from LG, also South Korean, receive the maximum IP rating of 68. Therefore, the LG G6 and the LG V30 are perfect phones when it comes to dust and water resistance.

Google’s Pixel: IP35

Granted, the first smartphones from Samsung and Apple weren’t dust-and-waterproof either, of course, but anno 2018, you expect your pocket-sized best friend to be able to withstand a splash. You don’t have to expect this from American tech giant Google (yet) in any case. Dust gets free rein and a splash in the toilet most likely already means a one-way trip to a bowl of rice.

Is your device not listed here? Then search Google for the name of your smartphone with “IP rating” after it and put the result along the image above. Still useful to know if your phone can go with you to the beach this summer.
Waterproof or not. Does your phone still have quirks after a date with a glass of beer, a tropical rainstorm or any other form of moisture? Then have it repaired with us. For example, with us
brand new branch in Haarlem
or one of our other three branches in
Amsterdam
!