IP Rating Explained: What IP68 and IP69 Actually Guarantee (and What They Don’t)

An IP rating shows up on nearly every modern smartphone, and increasingly on smartwatches, earbuds and other gadgets, but the two-digit code that follows the letters “IP” gets treated more like a marketing badge than the precise technical standard it actually is. Knowing how to read it properly changes how confidently someone can take a phone into the shower, the pool, or a dusty job site.

What "IP" Actually Stands For

IP stands for Ingress Protection, and the rating comes from an internationally recognized standard, IEC 60529, that tests how well an enclosure resists solid objects and liquids getting inside. The rating always follows the same format: the letters “IP” followed by two digits. The first digit measures protection against solid particles, including dust, on a scale from 0 to 6. The second digit measures protection against liquids, on a scale from 0 to 9K in the fullest version of the standard, though phones typically show a number from 4 to 9.

A rating of IP68, the most common rating on current flagship phones, means the device achieved the highest tested level of dust protection (6, meaning fully dust-tight) and a high level of water protection (8, meaning it can be continuously submerged beyond one meter of depth under the manufacturer’s specific test conditions).

The Fine Print Manufacturers Don't Advertise Loudly

The most important detail buried in the IP rating standard is that every manufacturer tests under its own specific, controlled conditions, and those conditions are what the rating actually certifies, not blanket real-world protection. A phone rated IP68 for “up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes” was tested in still, fresh water at that depth and duration; it was not tested against pool chlorine, ocean saltwater, high-pressure water jets, or being dropped into a bathtub full of soapy water. Using a phone in conditions that fall outside the manufacturer’s specific tested scenario, even if it technically involves water, isn’t necessarily covered by the rating or by warranty.

IP69 and the Rise of "Beyond IP68" Marketing

Some recent flagship phones advertise an additional IP69 rating alongside IP68. IP69 specifically tests resistance to high-temperature, high-pressure water jets, a scenario originally designed for industrial equipment that needs to survive pressure-washing. A phone carrying both IP68 and IP69 ratings has been tested against a broader range of specific water exposure scenarios, but it still doesn’t mean the device is designed for prolonged underwater use, submersion in salt water, or use in a jacuzzi with hot, chemically treated water, none of which match the standard’s specific test parameters.

Why Water Damage Still Isn't Always Covered

Because IP ratings certify performance under specific lab conditions rather than guaranteeing protection against every real-world scenario, most phone manufacturers explicitly exclude liquid damage from standard warranty coverage, even on phones with a high IP rating. Corrosion from saltwater, damage from carbonated or sugary liquids, and issues arising from water exposure beyond the tested depth or duration are common exclusions. An IP rating reduces the real-world risk of everyday water exposure, like rain, spills or accidental drops in a sink, but it isn’t equivalent to an insurance policy against any liquid the phone might encounter.

Sources

• IEC 60529, international Ingress Protection rating standard
• Manufacturer IP rating test condition disclosures and warranty documentation
• Independent water-resistance testing from major tech outlets
• Consumer protection guidance on smartphone liquid damage warranty exclusions