You take your iPhone everywhere with you (including out in the rain). And, for the most part, it seems to hold up pretty well under various conditions. But you may still be wondering: how much should you actually test your device when it’s raining or snowing outside, or when you’re at the beach or near a pool? This is what is actually means when Apple says your phone is water resistant — you may be surprised to learn it isn’t quite what you thought.
Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
The first thing to keep in mind is that there is a difference between waterproof and water-resistant. Devices are measured with an IP rating that determines just how much water they can handle before liquid affects how they function. Typical waterproof IP ratings are IP67, IP66, and IP65. Here’s where the good news comes in: if you have an iPhone 11 or 11 Pro Max, your phone has an IP68, the highest rating of any other iPhone before it.
So, what does this rating mean in terms of protection from liquids? The iPhone 11 can withstand a depth of 4 meters of water for 30 minutes. If you have an iPhone XS or XS Max, it can stand up in water depths of 2 meters for 30 minutes. And if you have an older iPhone 7, 8, X, or their Plus/Max counterparts, these can handle depths of 1 meter for 30 minutes. Phones older than these models may be water-resistant, but lack the kind of water protection that has been added to newer designs.
There is a caveat here, though. Even though most iPhones have this protection, there is no way for Apple to individually test every single phone that it manufactures — and water damage is not covered by your warranty. In other words: do not test out the water-resistant theory by going for long swims with your device.
Interestingly, there is still one water source that can be very damaging to your phone: steam.
“While most of the newer iPhone models are resistant to water, Apple actually recommends staying away from steam,” says Tech Expert Alex Thompson, director of Festoon House. “Do not use your iPhone in the shower or other steamy areas. It will likely damage your phone even if it's not particularly evident.”
