Today, “IP” waterproof certifications are a must-have on high-end smartphones. And at a time when consumers tend to keep the same device for longer, these certifications, which are guarantees of durability, are not about to disappear. On the contrary, among certain brands, we even observe an evolution of this durability, since instead of being satisfied with an IP68 certification, certain models are certified IP69. And if you don’t know what the difference is between these two certifications, you’ve come to the right place.
First of all, a little reminder: IP is the acronym for Ingress or protection index. The first digit of the code gives the level of protection against solid elements, such as dust, while the second digit indicates the level of protection against water intrusion. Thus, an IP68 smartphone and an IP69 smartphone therefore have the same protection against dust (6 being the maximum protection), but the IP69 smartphone will have better protection against water.
What additional protection?
Specifically, the IP68 certified smartphone has protection against immersion. But the IP69 smartphone, for its part, is also protected against high pressure jets. Oppo is one of the consumer smartphone brands to offer at least one IP69 certified model: the Oppo F27 Pro+ 5G. And according to a press release from this brand, published in June, this device has “three highest levels of dust and water resistance with IP66, IP68 and IP69; these standards specifically certify that the phone can withstand high pressure and high temperature water jets, and even immersion in water for up to 30 minutes at a time.”
However, it is important to remember that the fact that a smartphone is IP certified should not encourage its owner to expose it to water. Indeed, water damage may not be covered by warranty, even on an IP certified product. In addition, it is possible that, over time, the sealing device may deteriorate. But in any case, these protections increase the chances of survival of a device in the event of an accident.
- While most high-end smartphones have IP68 certification, some models have IP69 certification
- This level of sealing helps protect devices against high pressure jets
- IP certification increases a device’s chances of survival in the event of an accident
