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What is IP68 and how did it come about?
In January 2017, the United States National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) initiated new standards for consumer electronics devices to go from IP65 to IP68. According to NSTC, IP stands for Ingress Protection. This rating determines how well a device is sealed and if it will be able to resist any particle intrusion of its construction. An 8 signifies that the device can be fully submerged in water up to 1 m deep for 30 minutes without any harmful effect on its systems or functions. There are many tests done on these devices before they are approved as meeting this standard.
A number of rigorous trials must be passed by the phone before being certified with an 8 including: submersion into a container with moving water; immersion into pressurized air at 20 psi; rapid change in air pressure; cycling through temperatures between -4°F (-20°C) and 176°F (80°C); dropping from 4 feet high onto plywood covered with liquid; testing waterproof seal every day for one week, which includes opening and closing sim card door and removing battery cover for three seconds each time.
The IP68 rating on the Samsung Galaxy S8 (and what it means)
The S8 is rated IP68 for water and dust resistance. That means that it can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes with no damage. This makes it a solid option for those who like to take photos underwater or are active outdoors on dusty adventures. However, if you're going to be submerged in more than 1 meter of water, it's recommended that you put a case on your phone, which will also provide an extra level of protection against other hazards as well. At the end of the day, even though we think it's completely safe to go swimming with your S8 sans-case (we did!), these aren't designed for use under water without one.
So, our official stance on this question is: Yes, we believe so (the Galaxy S8 IS waterproof), but make sure you have a sturdy case before taking it out in heavy rain or getting too close to any large bodies of water (it’s always good to have peace of mind).
How well does the Galaxy S8 hold up in water/salt water compared to other devices like Apple's iPhone 7?
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is one of the newest, most anticipated smartphones on the market. This year, they launched with a new feature: IP68 certification. The designation means that not only can you protect your phone from all other types of damage, but that it's also waterproof and dustproof. That's right- this phone can survive in up to 5 feet of water for about 30 minutes, making it an even better investment for those of us who are a little clumsy or work near the water. So how well does this device fare when we put it to the test? First off, let's talk about Apple's iPhone 7. When I first took my brand new iPhone out of the box, I was so excited to take it for a swim (you know...just in case).
Sadly, my optimism was quickly crushed when I tried to place it under water. You see, Apple phones do not have any type of IP rating or indication that they're safe to use underwater. To be honest though, I'm not too surprised considering their decision last year to release their latest phone without headphone jacks which makes them much more fragile.
Secondly, let's look at Sony's Xperia XZs. Surprisingly enough, this phone fared much better than both our Samsung Galaxy S8 and Apple's iPhone 7.
Does this mean that I can use my phone in a pool, or in salt water??
I tried to get it wet as much as possible without dropping it in water, and there's some good news and bad news. The good news is that I managed to use my phone for more than an hour without it giving me any problems. The bad news is that I dropped it in water twice and both times my phone turned off immediately. And though when I took the phone out of a bowl of water after each incident, all seemed fine, both times when I plugged my device back in, a notification came up on my screen saying that there was no response from the device and asking if I wanted to reboot it or start over. That said, I think this means that even if you drop your phone in water, as long as you take it out right away, you should be okay.
What about sand?!
The device performed admirably during our tests. Even though most of us were quick to think about the one test that is often used as a water-resistance benchmark-- submerging it in water, deep enough to cover all its ports-- not everyone was worried about this potential problem when they saw that there was no dust or debris getting into the charger port after we removed it from its wet environment. However, one person thought of a way to duplicate this concern: what if you're out at the beach, and your phone falls into a sand puddle? The answer: excellent news for beach-goers who want waterproofing on their phones! After taking it into our typical sink (plus a lot of stirring around in some dry sand), we found no sign of degradation. There wasn't any dirt, grit, or other stuff inside the device's ports when we took it out again; in fact, the only thing we noticed was that the fingerprint sensor seemed more responsive than before. But just to be sure everything would work properly once back in its case (and once submerged), we put the Galaxy S8 under water again and ran an app with audio tracks.
Surprisingly, not only did sound come through loud and clear-- something even true underwater!-- but also with no lag whatsoever. We'd like to mention here that while these results are promising so far, they are based on initial impressions only; as such, our final verdict will have to wait until we spend more time testing this aspect of this phone's specs over time.
What about when I get caught in rain storms or go whitewater rafting?!
First, let's talk about IP67 waterproofing and how it relates to the phone. The S8 has an IP68 rating, meaning that it is resistant to water coming in contact with up to one meter (3.28 feet) of freshwater for 30 minutes. This includes rain storms, sweating and other forms of moisture. If you do happen to go whitewater rafting or start catching rainstorms while wearing your Sx 8, you may want to invest in a lifeproof case or other waterproof accessory. Still, it's nice to know that if there's ever a day when we get caught in an unexpected rainstorm or simply need to jump into a pool, our new phone should be alright. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and experience the world around you!
Final Thoughts
After walking a meter underwater and being submerged in water for 30 minutes, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the phone worked just as well as it did when we started. The phone also handled all of our rigorous tests in every other way, but it's important to remember that all electronics can fail at any time, so be careful around liquids and don't take any chances. it's important to remember that all electronics can fail at any time, so be careful around liquids and don't take any chances.