Is IP68 waterproof? What the rating really means

Is IP68 waterproof? Not in the way most people use the word. IP68 is a water resistance rating: the phone kept water out during a set test. The group that wrote the rating, the IEC, says the IP code exists to avoid vague marketing words like “waterproof”.¹

This article explains what the rating means, how IP67 and IP68 differ, and what Apple, Samsung and Google tell you to avoid.

IP68 meaning: what the two digits of an IP rating say

IP stands for Ingress Protection. An IP rating grades how well an enclosure, the outer shell of a device, resists solids and liquids. It has two digits.¹

Digit	Protects against	Scale	IP68
First	Solid objects and dust	0 to 6	6 = dust-tight (“dustproof”), no ingress of dust
Second	Water and other liquids	0 to 9	8 = continuous immersion

The second digit is the protection rating against water, so it is the one that matters for a wet phone. A higher digit means a higher level of protection:

• 7 means the device survives temporary immersion: 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1 metre.²
• 8 means continuous immersion, under conditions that the manufacturer states. It must be more severe than the test for 7.²
• 9 is the top of the scale: high-pressure hot water from different angles.¹ The phones in the table below are rated 7 or 8.
• X in place of a digit, as in IPX8, means the device was not rated for that item.² An IPX8 phone has a water rating but no dust rating.

The key point: for an IP68 rating, the depth and the time of submersion are specified by the manufacturer. So two phones with the same IP68 label can have different test depths.

IP67 vs IP68 on real phones

Here is what the makers state for their own phones.

Phone	Rating	Maximum test depth and time
iPhone 12 to iPhone 17, iPhone Air, 16e, 17e	IP68	Up to 6 m for 30 minutes3
iPhone 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max	IP68	Up to 4 m for 30 minutes3
iPhone 11, XS, XS Max	IP68	Up to 2 m for 30 minutes3
iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd gen), XR, X, 8, 8 Plus, 7, 7 Plus	IP67	Up to 1 m for 30 minutes3
Samsung Galaxy with IP68	IP68	Up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes4
Galaxy Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Flip3, Z Flip4	IPX8	Water only, no dust rating4
Google Pixel	See the spec page of your model	Google’s help page refers to the tech specs5

So an IP68 iPhone 16 and an IP68 Galaxy phone have the same label but different test depths. Samsung says its IP68 phones are tested to withstand immersion in water up to 1.5 meters, and also that they are not completely waterproof.⁴ Compare the depth and the time, not only the code.

Why a lab test is not real life

The test uses a set depth and a set time. Daily life adds things the test does not include. The makers list them:

• Wear and age. Apple says water resistance is not permanent and can decrease with normal wear.³ Google says normal wear and tear can reduce it.⁵ Samsung says to inspect seals and ports for damage or wear.⁴
• Other liquids. Samsung says salt water, ionized water and alcoholic drinks cause faster liquid ingress. It also says to avoid hot or soapy water and chlorinated water.⁴
• Pressure and speed. Apple says to avoid pressurized or high-velocity water, for example when you shower, surf or water ski.³
• Heat and steam. Apple says not to use the iPhone in a sauna or steam room, or in extremely humid conditions.³
• Drops. Apple lists drops and other impacts among the things to avoid.³
• Chemicals. Apple says to keep soap, detergent, acids, perfume, insect repellent, lotion, sunscreen, oil and solvents away from the phone.³

Is IP68 waterproof for swimming?

No, do not swim with it. Apple lists swimming and bathing with the iPhone as things to avoid.³ Google says not to submerge a Pixel, and not to take it into a swimming pool or any body of water.⁵ Samsung says to avoid chlorinated water, such as swimming pool water.⁴ A rating of 6 m does not change this advice.

Is IP68 OK in the shower?

The makers advise against it. Apple names showering as an example of high-velocity water to avoid. It also names steam rooms.³ Google says not to take a Pixel into a shower, sauna or bathtub.⁵ Samsung says to avoid hot or soapy water.⁴ A shower combines all three.

What about salt water and the beach?

Seawater is worse than fresh water. Samsung says salt water causes faster liquid ingress.⁴ If a liquid other than water splashes on an iPhone, Apple says to rinse the area with tap water. Then wipe the phone with a soft, lint-free cloth.³ After that, dry it as described below.

Does the warranty cover water damage on an IP68 phone?

No. Apple says liquid damage is not covered under warranty, although consumer law may give you other rights.³ Google says water damage is not covered by the Pixel warranty.⁵ The rating describes a test result. It is not a promise to repair.

To find out if water already got in, read how to tell if your phone has water damage. It shows where the liquid indicator sits and what it means.

If your IP68 phone got wet anyway

The steps are the same as for any wet phone. For the full first hour, see wet phone first aid.

1. Wipe the phone with a soft, lint-free cloth.³
2. Tap it gently against your hand with the connector facing down, to get the water out.³
3. Leave it in a dry place with some airflow. A fan with cool air can help. Do not use heat, and do not push a cotton swab or paper towel into the port.³
4. Do not charge with a cable while the port is wet. If the iPhone shows a liquid-detection alert, unplug the cable and wait at least 30 minutes.⁶ See water in the charging port.
5. If the speaker sounds muffled, play the water eject tone to push droplets out of the grille.
6. Use the wet phone checklist to track each step and the drying time.

Frequently asked questions

Is IP67 or IP68 more water resistant?

Under the standard, the test for 8 must be more severe than the test for 7.² But for IP68 the maker sets the depth. An IP67 iPhone is rated to 1 m, while IP68 iPhones are rated to 2, 4 or 6 m depending on the model.³

What does IPX8 mean?

It means the device has the top water rating for continuous immersion but was not rated for dust.² Samsung uses it for some foldable phones.⁴

How deep and how long can an IP68 phone be submerged?

Only as deep and as long as the maker states, and only in a test. Apple states up to 6 m for 30 minutes for the iPhone 12 to iPhone 17 families. Samsung states up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes.^{3 4} Apple still says not to submerge the iPhone on purpose or swim with it.³ Google says not to submerge a Pixel.⁵

Does water resistance wear off?

Yes. Apple and Google say water resistance can decrease with normal wear.^{3 5} Samsung says to inspect seals and ports for wear.⁴ An older phone with the same rating can let water in more easily than a new one.

Sources

1. IEC, “Ingress Protection (IP) ratings”. Full test conditions are in the standard IEC 60529. ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. Wikipedia, “IP code”, a summary of IEC 60529 (secondary source; the standard itself is not free). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

3. Apple Support, “About splash, water, and dust resistance of iPhone 7 and later”. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰

4. Samsung Gulf, “What Do IP Ratings Mean on Galaxy Devices?”. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹

5. Google Pixel Help, “Help prevent water damage to your Pixel phone”. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

6. Apple Support, “If you see a liquid-detection alert on your iPhone”. ↩