Are you considering to buy an iPhone but not sure what does IP68 means?
The iPhone Xs or iPhone Xs Max is not waterproof. Neither are any of the newer phones in the market. But they are so-called water-resistant smartphones, which means they are only able to resist, but not entirely withstand, water penetration. Smartphones producers use IP rating to represent how smartphones are made to be water-resistance. Before we go any further, it’s worth explaining what does these official ratings actually mean.
The first water-resistant iphone
IP67 vs IP68
Several of Apple’s iPhones received a rating of IP67 or up. But there is a major question to be answered, what does this rating mean and why is it so significant?
Smartphones are tested against IEC 60529. Their rating comes in the form of the two letters IP that stands for “ingress protection,” followed by a two-digit number. The first number defines the level of protection against dirt, dust and sand and the second number refers to the level of protection against water.
An ingress protection rating of IP67 means it is designed to be resistant to water when submerged up to one meter for no longer than 30 minutes. However, this is by no means a guarantee that your device will actually survive if you drop it into the water. In fact, AppleCare+ doesn’t even cover liquid damage!
The first number, 6, means that these phones are impenetrable by dust, as 6 is the highest rating a device can receive in that category. However, the second number, 7, falls two steps below the highest 9K waterproof rating. 7 out of 9 is not a bad score. On the contrary, a water-resistance rating of 7, according to the IEC, technically signifies that the “ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1m of submersion).”
Simply speaking, it means that a device rated 7 should be able to withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter, or 3.28 feet, for up to 30 minutes. So if your iPhone gets immersed in shallow water (no deeper than 3 feet) for a half-hour or less, your phone should be okay. Any deeper or any longer and you are risking your phone’s “life.”
Similarly, IP68 means a device can survive a dunk in water up to 1.5 meters (0.5 meters more than IP67) in depth for up to 30 minutes without sustaining any damage.
The first water-resistant iphone
iPhone 7 was the first iPhone announced by Apple to be water resistant with a rating of IP67.
This year, Apple launched the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs max which have a rating of IP68.
According to Apple, they defined water- and dust resistance as “Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear”. Underwater photography and videos are similarly possible, although definitely not something Apple is recommending – it should also be noted that the touchscreen will not work when wet. So if you are thinking to submerge your iPhone 7 for hours for totally instagram- worthy images and videos, just beware of the depth of the water and the time it is being submerged for. The reason behind Apple not recommending users to take your latest iPhone for a good swim is due to the fact that seawater or chlorine could corrode your phone.
No matter how superbly the Apple iPhones are assembled, accidents may still occur and you should definitely invest in a protective case for such an investment.
Waterproof case
Catalyst is an expert on not only waterproof cases, but also impact protection cases. But for now, let’s focus on our waterproof cases, which have been in production for years and is one of the leading companies in the industry. We made waterproof cases since the iPhone 5, and we are continually improving our design generation by generation. Furthermore, Catalyst has been expanding on its production line, ranging from Apple AirPods cases to Samsung Galaxy Series cases.
Our waterproof cases are made from the strongest materials including:
- Polycarbonate frame and rear cover which has a transparent front and back housing which allows users to showcase the original look and color of their iPhone.
- TPE shock-absorbing bumpers, which works to make the case shockproof for when the waterproof case comes in contact with water.
- PET-integrated screen cover, which provides a cover on the front of the iPhone to prevent water seeping into the phone, without sacrificing the touchscreen feature.
- Nylon latches, charger port door, volume controls, power button, and home button which are all sealed and fully protected
- Silicone O-rings that form a compression line which can be seen through the clear housing to visually confirm that the case is in watertight condition
All these features combined, creates an ultimate case that allows your iPhone to sink in deeper than before, without harsh damages to your ultimate device. Revolutionary cases as such can allow users to take a simple water-resistant IP67 iPhone 7 or iPhone XR and upgrades to a waterproof IP68 iPhone Xs or iPhone Xs Max, which brings about less worry about any accidental phone damage when in contact with water.
Other than waterproof cases, Catalyst also offers superior, military standard, shock and drop protection with its impact protection case for the Apple and Samsung devices. The Catalyst Impact Protection Case for iPhone Xs possesses the brand’s signature features: a grippy rubber bumper, a free lanyard attachment, their distinctive, patented rotating mute switch and a clear back casing to showcase the style and color of the iPhone. The design of this protective case has an angular modern form for the iPhone, maintaining the slim and sleek feel and appearance of the protected device and at only 29 grams, keeping the weight of the device and case light. Also, the added impact protection from its innovative truss cushioning system combined with a premium rubber polymer blend to increase the corner drop threshold to 3 meters or 9.9 feet. It also has a 1mm raised lip so that when you rest your phone face down, the touch screen glass is protected. The case comes in four color variants: Blue Ridge/Sunset, Stealth Black, Army Green and Coral.
Related content you may also want to know:
- Catalyst Launches Cases for AirPods Exclusively in Apple
- Protecting Your Apple AirPods 2nd Generation
- Best iPhone XR cases and covers you can buy
- 20ft Drop Test with Catalyst Impact Protection Case for iPhone XR - Highlights from CNET's Best Case Scenario at CES 2019
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