Almost every mid-range and flagship phone now carries an IP rating, and most people read it as "waterproof". It is not. An IP rating is the result of one specific laboratory test, and understanding that test explains why a phone that survived the pool can still come out sounding muffled.
How to read an IP code
IP stands for Ingress Protection. The code comes from an international standard, IEC 60529, and has two digits. The first is protection against solids such as dust, on a scale of 0 to 6. The second is protection against water, on a scale of 0 to 9. An X in either place means that part was not tested.
| Rating | Dust | Water |
|---|---|---|
| IPX4 | Not tested | Splashes from any direction. Common on earbuds. |
| IP54 | Limited dust entry | Splashes from any direction. |
| IP67 | Dust-tight | Immersion up to 1 metre for 30 minutes. |
| IP68 | Dust-tight | Immersion deeper than 1 metre. The depth and time are set by the manufacturer. |
The real difference between IP67 and IP68
IP67 is a fixed test: one metre of water, thirty minutes. IP68 only says "better than IP67", and each company decides how much better. That is why two IP68 phones are not equal. Many Android flagships state 1.5 metres for 30 minutes, while recent iPhones state up to 6 metres for 30 minutes. Always check the small print on the maker's site rather than the two digits alone.
What the test does not cover
- Only fresh, still water. The test tank holds clean water at room temperature. Sea water, chlorinated pool water, soap, tea and soft drinks are all outside it, and all of them are harder on seals and leave residue behind.
- No pressure or movement. A jet from a tap or shower, a dive into a pool, or a fall into water at speed can push water past seals that would hold in a still tank.
- No heat or steam. Hot showers and saunas are a common cause of moisture inside phones. Steam gets through gaps that liquid water cannot.
- A new phone only. The rating describes a device fresh from the factory. Seals are adhesive, and they weaken with age, heat, drops and repairs.
Why a water-resistant phone still sounds muffled
Water resistance keeps water out of the inside of the phone. The speaker opening is on the outside of that barrier. Behind the grille sits a fine mesh, and behind the mesh a sealed speaker. Water is meant to get as far as the mesh and stop there, and that is exactly where it gets stuck. So the phone is safe, but the speaker is blocked.
That trapped water is what the water eject sound is for. It drives the speaker hard enough to shake the droplets off the mesh. It is the same approach Apple uses on the Apple Watch.
Warranty and water
An IP rating is not a guarantee. Apple, Samsung and most other makers state that liquid damage is not covered by the standard warranty, even on IP68 models. Phones contain liquid contact indicators, small stickers that change colour when wet, and service centres check them.
Sensible habits
- Treat the rating as protection against accidents, not permission to swim with the phone.
- After salt water or a sugary spill, rinse the phone briefly under gentle fresh tap water, then dry it.
- Do not charge until the port is completely dry. See drying a charging port.
- After a screen or battery replacement, assume the water resistance is reduced unless the repairer confirms the seal was replaced.