Apple has finally unveiled its iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, two smartphones that will be hit the stores sometime later this month.
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The “IP” in the rating refers to “ingress protection” or how well it protects against foreign materials entering the enclosure. The second number relates to water protection and is on a scale from 0 to 8.
Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are the Cupertino major’s first iPhones ever to be IP67 certified for dust and water resistance. IP6x is the highest dust resistance rating and new iPhone models are completely protected against dust. Not only is water resistance becoming an industry standard, it aligns with their new Apple Watch focus on sports and fitness (hello GPS) rather than just fashion. That’s one step up from a 6 rating’s “Protection from water projected in powerful jets”.
For more, my colleague Dan Graziano explains water and dust ratings for your gadgets. IP67 under IEC standard means the devices are dust tight and can work under water up to one meter for a maximum of 30 minutes.
At first blush, that might surprise prospective iPhone 7 owners.
The above message seems to indicate that the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus should be able to handle accidental drops in the shower, bathtub, pool, or light splashing. But, gods forbid if you do, you will have little less to worry if you own either of their near waterproof phones. Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. This theoretically means you can safely submerge your phone in liquid or get it wet without damaging it, but according to Apples fine print, liquid damage is not covered under warranty.
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But before descending into a storm of outrage, it’s worth bearing in mind that Apple isn’t the only company to lay out such conditions regarding its water-resistant devices.
