In short: no phone is waterproof. IP68 means it survived set laboratory tests in fresh water when new. Seals wear out, drops weaken them, and liquid damage usually isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty – so treat water resistance as protection against accidents, not permission to swim.
What the IP code means
“IP” stands for Ingress Protection. The first number is dust, the second is water.
| Rating | What it was tested for |
|---|---|
| IP67 | Dust-tight; fresh water up to 1 metre for 30 minutes. |
| IP68 | Dust-tight; fresh water deeper than 1 metre for 30 minutes. The exact depth is set by the manufacturer – for example 1.5 m or 6 m. |
| No rating | No guaranteed protection against water. Many budget phones. |
Why it’s not a guarantee
- Tests use still, fresh water. Sea water, pools, showers, steam, soap, drinks and jets of water are all harsher.
- Seals age. Heat, drops and everyday wear weaken the adhesive seals.
- Cracks break the seal. Any crack in the screen, back glass or camera lens means no water resistance.
- Repairs by any shop mean the original factory seal has been opened. We reseal phones with new adhesive, but treat a repaired phone as less water-resistant.
Good habits
- Don’t take your phone in the shower, bath, sauna or sea.
- Rinse it in fresh water if it gets salty or sandy, then dry it.
- Never charge it while the port is wet.
- Use a proper waterproof pouch for the beach or pool.
If it does get wet, follow the first 10 minutes guide.
Walk in – no appointment
Home visit in London
Post it to us
Fix it yourself
Fix it yourself
Explained