Its several current smartphones that have water resistance certifications. From a couple of years to this part, many firms ventured to endow their devices with resistance to splashes, dust and even complete submersions under water. Sadly though IP67 or IP68 certifications ensure that a smartphone can "survive" even continuous dives, each manufacturer includes different objections and recommendations in this regard.
A patent recently registered by Apple brings the "water" telephones debate back to the fore. Several years ago, the iPhone on duty almost completely set the course for the design and performance of the other firms. Although fortunately this stopped being so and manufacturers experiment and innovate without external 'inspirations'Always looks askance at Apple products.
IP water and dust resistance certifications
Until now, the resistance of an electronic device to liquids or dust, is guaranteed by each manufacturer thanks to the «IP» certifications (Ingress Protection). A standard established by the International Electronic Commission (CEI) called «IEC 60529 Degrees of Protection«. In this certification, the two numbers following the letters "IP" determine, the First of all, the level of protection against ingress of solid objects (dust), and the second, the level of protection against ingress of water. Their maximum values being 6 and 8, respectively.
Most of today's mid-range or high-end smartphones have the IP68 certification. In theory this certification guarantees two things. The first is that they have a full protection against dust, which cannot enter under any circumstances. And the second, guarantees the resistance to full and continuous investment in water. More specifically, it states that: «Electrical / electronic equipment must withstand (without any filtration) the full and continuous immersion to the depth and for the time specified by the manufacturer of the product with the agreement of the client, but provided that conditions more severe than those specified for the value 7 ″ result.
According to the data, the IP68 certification must be more complete than the IP67, which guarantees the resistance of the device without any filtration full immersion at 1 meter for 30 minutes. But it points to the depth and time specified by the manufacturer. Certifications aside, each manufacturer adds a ton of extra fine print to the use that we are going to give the device. Even warning that certain practices, which is supposed to support the device, are out of warranty.
What can you do with a submerged smartphone?
That a smartphone is waterproof, almost in most cases it serves so that let's not have problems in case of accident. If some time ago you suffered the experience of a smartphone falling into the water, you will know how much it "hurt". Currently, that our mobiles get wet with the rain, or some liquid spills on us, worries us much less than before. But, Can I use an IP68 certified smartphone underwater?
According to the theory we have seen, the IP68 certification could ensure that our smartphones are prepared for it. Then we find a huge problem that we have been able to experiment with tests to rugged smartphones. Touchscreens don't behave the same underwater. The only functionality we can think of to use the phone underwater may be to take photos. AND the simple act of opening the camera application, or pressing the button to take the photo is very difficult. With wet fingers and the phone submerged, we will not be able to use it normally.
Apple's patent for a supposed underwater iPhone unveils an interface change if the device detects that it is underwater. Undoubtedly a novelty that so far no firm has developed. This could be a way to simplify the use of the device when we want to use it in the water. Will manufacturers refocus on real water resistance so we can actually use our phones in the pool?