The IP Code, International Protection Marking, IEC standard 60529, sometimes interpreted as Ingress Protection Marking, classifies and rates the degree of protection provided against intrusion (body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures. It is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
It helps to measurably understand the degree of water-proofing or water-resistance of devices.
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P.S. If your phone fell in water or became wet in some other way, READ THIS FIRST to know how to fix a wet water-damaged phone
To prevent your non-waterproof phone getting wet while in the rain or near the swimming pool or while riding a bike, you could use this cover instead ( https://amzn.to/3cXAMfS - Amazon Affiliate Link) It is quite cheap and allows you to use the phone including touchscreen safely.
Liquid ingress protection
The second digit of the IP Code indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of water.
| Level | Protected against | Effective against | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Not protected | — | — |
| 1 | Dripping water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect. | Test duration: 10 minutes
Water equivalent to 1 mm rainfall per minute
|
| 2 | Dripping water when tilted up to 15° | Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position. | Test duration: 10 minutes
Water equivalent to 3 mm rainfall per minute
|
| 3 | Spraying water | Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect. | Test duration: 5 minutes
Water volume: 0.7 litres per minute
Pressure: 80–100 kPa |
| 4 | Splashing of water | Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. | Test duration: 5 minutes
Water volume: 10 litres per minute
Pressure: 80–100 kPa |
| 5 | Water jets | Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. | Test duration: at least 3 minutes
Water volume: 12.5 litres per minute
Pressure: 30 kPa at distance of 3 m |
| 6 | Powerful water jets | Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. | Test duration: at least 3 minutes
Water volume: 100 litres per minute
Pressure: 100 kPa at distance of 3 m |
| 6K | Powerful water jets with increased pressure | Water projected in powerful jets (6.3 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction, under elevated pressure, shall have no harmful effects. | Test duration: at least 3 minutes
Water volume: 75 litres per minute
Pressure: 1000 kPa at distance of 3 m |
| 7 | Immersion up to 1 m | 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 1 m of submersion). | Test duration: 30 minutes
Tested with the lowest point of the enclosure 1000 mm below the surface of the water, or the highest point 150 mm below the surface, whichever is deeper.
|
| 8 | Immersion beyond 1 m | The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects. | Test duration: continuous immersion in water
Depth specified by manufacturer, generally up to 3 m
|
| 9K | Powerful high temperature water jets | Protected against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray downs. | Test duration: -
Water volume: 14–16 litres per minute
Pressure: [8000–10000 kPa / 80–100 Bar] at distance of 0.1–0.15 cm Water temperature: 80 °C |
Let's get started with the phones :
Sony’s Xperia Z3
Sony started the ball rolling for high-end water resistant smartphones when it announced the Xperia Z back in 2013. Since then, almost all its top-of-the-range Xperia Android phones have been able to survive a dunking. The Xperia Z3 is the current flagship phone from Sony, and it scores highly on the ingress protection scale, attaining a rating of IP65/IP68. According to Sony, the reason it gets two ratings is because it complies with both the waterproofing standards. The Xperia Z3 Compact has the same IP rating, but comes with a smaller 4.6-inch, 720p screen.
Xperia Z3V and older Z phones
The Xperia Z3 is joined by the Xperia Z3V, a spin-off that’s exclusive to Verizon. It has the same specifications, just operates on a different network. There are several older Sony options out there, and if you’re after a water resistant bargain, the T-Mobile IP55/IP58 Xperia Z1S can still be purchased as a pre-owned phone through the network. It has the same ratings as the Xperia Z2, but a slightly smaller 5-inch, 1080p screen, and a Snapdragon 800 processor.
If you’re not worried about your new watertight phone being bang up to date, the Z1 and the Z1 Compact are also possibilities, while the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is the only big smartphone we know of with IP55 and IP58 ratings. You’ll struggle to find any of them new though.
Xperia M4 Aqua
Looking for a phone that looks normal, but still works if it gets a soaking? The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua could be for you. Like other Xperia phones, it has an IP65/IP68 rating, making it more effective at keeping dust and water than most other devices on our list. The 64-bit, octa-core processor, 5-inch 720p screen, and 13-megapixel camera makes it even more attractive. What’s more, it has Android 5.0 installed as standard, and the battery should be good for two days. It was announced in March, and the on-sale date is expected in the near future.
Xperia Z4
Sony has announced the Xperia Z4, but so far only for Japan. The 2015 flagship Android phone continues with tradition, and the body holds an IPX5/IPX8 rating, which puts it in the same category as the Xperia Z2, but not quite as impressive as the Z3. The phone isn’t released until later this year, when it should also see a wider release.
Samsung’s Galaxy S5
Samsung’s flagship phone for 2014, the Galaxy S5, scores a rating of IP67. That means it can be submerged up to 1 meter in depth for up to 30 minutes, and no dust particles are able to enter the phone at all. You will need to make sure that the plastic flap that covers the USB port is securely closed and, since you can open the back, double check that the cover is firmly in place.
The trouble is, Samsung’s newest flagship phone, the Galaxy S6, is terrified of the water. The Galaxy S5 is still available to buy new, and also as a pre-owned smartphone through networks such as AT&T, but it won’t be around for ever now it has been superseded.
