05/21/2024

What to Know About IP Ratings Before Your Phone Gets Wet

Understand how resistant your smartphone is to dust and water

It's easy for a smartphone to slip out of your grasp and end up in unexpected places—whether it’s a quick dip in the toilet or a journey behind the couch to where only the dust bunnies roam. But just how tough is your device? Its Ingress Protection rating will give you some clues. First released in 1976, IP ratings were developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission and are intended to highlight a device’s level of dust and water resistance.

IP ratings are a helpful standard for comparing new smartphones’ general resistance to destructive forces. Keep in mind, however, that tests for IP ratings are performed in laboratory settings on brand-new devices. So, the protections could be significantly diminished if you throw your phone around and scuff it up or purchase a refurbished device. If you’re reading this article because your smartphone is currently drenched, check out WIRED’s guide to saving wet phones before throwing it in any bag of dry rice.

What Are IP Ratings?

In 2024, one of the most common IP ratings for smartphones is IP68. Let’s break it down.

Please select this link to read the complete article from WIRED.