Apple unveiled iPhone X, iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus earlier this month at an event held at the Steve Jobs Theatre. Like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus before it, all the three new iPhones unveiled by Apple today are dust and water-resistant.
Similar to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus are also IP67 rated as per tests outlined by the IEC 60529 standard. What does this IP67 rating mean though?
What does IP67 Rating Mean? Does it Mean iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are Waterproof?
The ‘IP67′ rating on the iPhone 8 stands for Ingress Protection. The ’67’ denotes that the new iPhones are fully protected against dust ingress and can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 mins at 1.5m depth. The first digit ‘6’ is the dust-proof rating, and the second digit ‘7’ is the waterproof rating of the device. So, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are water-resistant, they’re not waterproof. While similar to the iPhone 7 from last year, this is not the highest IP rating available for a consumer device. That tops out at IP68 which almost every other flagship Android smartphone like the Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8, and LG V30 feature.
The Fine Print
The important thing to note, however, is that the IP rating of your device does not make it resistant to all and any kind of liquid. Pressurized water can easily breach the water resistance seal of the handset and seep inside the device thereby damaging the internals. Similarly, salt/sea water is a strict no-no. Do NOT take your iPhone 8 or iPhone X with you to the beach for swimming thinking nothing will happen. Seawater can cause a lot of damage to water resistant devices. If you do end up dropping your new iPhone in salt/sea water, quickly take it out of the water and even if it is working fine, wash it thoroughly with fresh water and then dry it properly. Follow the same steps if you spill any other liquid on your new iPhone as well.
Wear and Tear
The iPhone X and iPhone 8 achieve their IP67 certification by sealing the internals using rubber gaskets. The IP certification of the devices will deteriorate over time, though this should not make a huge difference. Most importantly, though, if you drop your iPhone 8 or iPhone X and its frame or the structure of the chassis is affected in any way, its IP rating can be compromised.
No Warranty
Despite being advertised as water-resistant, Apple will not be honoring the warranty of your iPhone 8 or iPhone X if there is any liquid damage. The company has a similar policy for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus which is also IP67 rated. You can try and push your luck in case you somehow end up liquid damaging your new iPhone. However, I’d say it is better to be safe than sorry.
Do you find the IP67 rating on the new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Pluss handy? Do you think Apple should also honor the warranty on these devices in case of liquid damage? Drop a comment and let us know!
