How beach-proof is your device?
Lee Suckling explains how to check if your phone and other tech gear are safe to take to the beach.
With water- and dust proofing becoming standard in high-end smartphones, it would be easy to think one’s tech devices are now basically invincible against the elements.
When it comes to the beach, however, do tech companies’ weather-and-wear-proofing claims still cover you? First things first: let’s talk about device screens. Most phones and some tablets have Gorilla glass, now in its fifth generation, which is supposed to be pretty sturdy.
Anybody who has dropped a new iPhone or Samsung know this is more marketing spiel than fact (technically, Gorilla glass’ manufacturer Corning says screens will survive ‘‘1.6-metre, shoulder-height drops onto hard, rough surfaces up to 80 per cent of the time’’).
However, sand may create micro-scratches on most glass – even coated/protected screens and casings – because of sand’s relative mineral hardness compared to such glass, which is still softer.
Few understand what dust protection really means – the tech companies never really tell us. We are given ‘‘IP ratings’’ but have little knowledge of whether or not a rating is good or bad.
IP stands for Ingress Protection, or, in simpler terms, how resistant it is to foreign matter.
The maximum IP rating a product can get for dust is 6, and some tech will have none – meaning they are completely unprotected through a device’s joins, screws and other hardware.
If a device has a 6 rating, it will have been tested against solid particles, including sand, and found that it cannot penetrate the interior workings.
Some devices have an X dust rating, which is not the same as a nil rating.
The first generation Apple Watch, for example, is not specifically rated against dust so it received an X, but this doesn’t mean it can’t withstand solid particles.
All it means is that Apple wasn’t comfortable selling it with a full guarantee of dust protection – perhaps because anecdotes from Apple Watch owners (via Apple forums) suggest sand can get into the turn cog.
Water resistance is the last digit on an IP rating, with maximum protection set at 8.
So, a device with IP68 (eg Samsung Galaxy S8) has the highest dust (6) and water (8) resistance available. The 8 at the end of that rating means the device has been tested in full water submersion at a depth of beyond one metre, and come out alive.
Many devices currently come with IP67 ratings (e.g. iPhone 7,8, X; Google Pixel 2), which provide water resistance at a depth of one metre or less, and for no longer than 30 minutes. However, there’s a caveat. IP water testing is not done in salt water. The requirements are for fresh water only.
Salt water is a lot harsher on all materials and has an accelerated corrosion effect. If you drop an IP67 or IP68 in the sea and then rinse it with fresh water you’ll probably be fine, but again – no guarantees. Key exceptions here are the Galaxy S8, S8+, and Note 8, which Samsung marketed as ‘‘made for summer’’ with sand and water resistance, but official advice from Samsung if a phone gets wet in salt water is ‘‘special attention must be paid to the device’’ and ‘‘if the device is allowed to dry naturally after exposure to sea water, it is possible that points such as the microphone, speaker and earpiece may be blocked due to salt or sand’’.
Heat poses yet another issue at the beach (or anywhere, especially considering the temperatures New Zealand has been seeing this season).
When the sun beats down onto your tech devices it can crack the screens, drain the batteries, and even cause them to explode.
It is best to keep all devices out of direct summer sunlight, and instead fold the corner of fabric (eg, from a towel or T-shirt) over them, or keep them in a bag.
As for tablets, if you want to be safe at the beach your options are to get a specific water- and sandproof case unless you have a specific ‘‘tough’’ tablet (eg Samsung Galaxy Tab Active, Panasonic Toughpad). The iPad and similar tablets are not IP certified.
One device that can offer you a bit more peace of mind is some of the late model GoPro cameras, such as the HERO5 Black, HERO5 Session, and HERO6.
These GoPros can withstand saltwater submersion down to 10 metres on their own without housing, or with a ‘‘Super Suit’’ can go diving with you down to 60 metres.
With all that said, what’s the cheapest, easiest way to feel safe about taking your other devices to the beach?
It goes without saying that many people don’t want to invest in purpose-built covers and cases for just a day or two near the ocean.
A zip-lock bag from the supermarket on the other hand, when fully sealed, is mostly air-, dust-, sand- and water-tight. It provides a reasonably reliable adhoc solution.