Out of their depth

Just how waterproof are Apple's iOS devices?

The iPhone XS and XS Max are ‘splash, water, and dust resistant’ to IP68 — Apple’s highest ever rating. ‘IP’ stands for ‘ingress protection’ as defined in IEC standard 60529. What do those IP numbers mean?

You might think you could find out by reading the standard, but a licensed copy will cost you upwards of $250. To summarize, there are always two digits, although one can be replaced by an X, and they indicate conformity with conditions laid down by the IEC, as assessed by the manufacturer.

The first digit refers to protection from ‘solid particles’. A 5 means not enough dust can get in to stop things working, while 6 means nothing gets inside even after blowing dust at the product for up to eight hours. ‘Inside’ doesn’t include features like the USB–C port, but means less dust can get in.

The second digit is for water. A 7 means the product can be immersed under a meter of fresh water for 30 minutes without harm — good for a dunk in the tub, but not necessarily the sea, especially considering salt water can damage electronics and finishes. Apple says the iPhone XS, XS Max and the IP67 XR will resist common liquids like soda, beer and coffee… which implies earlier models may not.

An 8 means the product can stay underwater indefinitely, generally up to three meters. That’s impressive, but it doesn’t cover fast or hot water, as in showering or water-skiing. The same applies to the Apple Watch (see support.apple.com/en-us/HT205000). Early models were IP67 and unsuitable for swimming, while Apple ditched IEC ratings from the Series 2 onwards, instead citing the ISO 22810:2010 50–meter standard, which refers to swimming, but not diving. Apple says these models will also survive in both the shower and when submerged in seawater.

Steel and leather Watch bands aren’t water–resistant, however, and spa fans should note Apple’s advice to keep all products out of the steam room.