It is raining most days now, and your phone goes everywhere with you.
One dash from the auto to the front door is all it takes to get it soaked.
Is my phone waterproof?
Almost certainly not, though it may be water resistant, which is not the same thing.
Water resistant means it can survive a splash, and in some cases a short dunk.
Waterproof would mean you could take it swimming, and no phone maker actually promises that.
What is an IP rating?
IP stands for Ingress Protection, and it simply tells you how well a device keeps dust and water out.
It is written as two digits, like IP68.
The first digit is dust, rated 0 to 6, and a 6 means dust cannot get in at all.
The second digit is water, rated 0 to 9, and higher is better.
An 8 means the phone survived being held under fresh water for a set time in a lab.
Most flagship phones today carry IP68, and plenty of mid-range phones now manage IP67 or better.
That is a genuine improvement since I first wrote this post.
To check your own phone, search your exact model number along with "IP rating" and open the manufacturer's own page.
If the spec sheet says nothing about it, assume there is no protection at all.
So can I stop worrying?
Not entirely, and it is worth knowing why.
The rating is measured in a lab, with clean fresh water, on a brand new phone.
Monsoon water is not clean, and those rubber seals get a little older every year you keep the phone.
Here is the part that catches people out: water damage is usually not covered by warranty, IP rating or not.
What do I do if it does get wet?
Wipe it dry, switch it off, and leave it somewhere airy for a few hours.
Do not put it in a bowl of rice, because starch and dust in the ports do more harm than good.
Apple now says this in writing, so the old trick can finally be retired.
Above all, do not plug in the charger while the port is still damp.
If your phone shows a "liquid detected" warning and refuses to charge, believe it and wait.
Charging a wet port is how a survivable splash turns into a dead phone.
Things to Remember
- Look up your phone's IP rating before the next downpour.
- Carry a cheap ziplock pouch in your bag through the season.
- Never charge a phone with a damp charging port.
- Skip the rice and just let it dry in open air.
- Remember that water damage is rarely a warranty claim.