Is iPhone 12 Waterproof? Apple’s Water & Dust Resistance Explained

When Apple announced the iPhone 12 at its ‘Hi, Speed’ event on October 13, it answered questions about what features it would boast and to what extent it would be waterproof. Apple has provided dust, splash, and water resistance to varying degrees on its iPhone SE, 7, 8, X, and 11 models, so the same could be expected of the newest member of the family. It’s worth knowing what the limits to any protection are, though, before diving in.

The headlines from the launch were the inclusion of 5G connectivity and LiDAR, a fast A14 processor, and improved low-light photography compared to earlier iPhone models. From a design perspective, meanwhile, there are smaller bezels and a larger display. Water and dust resistance is commonplace on phones now, but their importance can be overlooked until they are actually called into action.

The iPhone 12 has an IP68 rating. The same rating is afforded to the full range, so users will be equally protected if they have one of the Mini, Pro or Pro Max models. In short, this means they are totally dust-tight and are resistant to water up to a depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes. The IP rating itself is an international standard developed by the IEC. To understand that, it helps to break it down into three parts. 

The first two letters, IP, stand for ingress protection. This is the extent to which things are stopped from entering the body of the device. The first number provides a rating of how well protected against dust a device is. The scale runs from 0, offering no specific protection, to 6, like on the iPhone 12, indicating complete protection from dust and particulates. That leaves the second figure, which refers to protection against moisture on a scale of 0 to 9. While the iPhone 12 can’t boast the highest level of protection, which protects against high pressure and high-temperature sprays, it does offer the second-highest level of protection as outlined.

Unsurprisingly, Apple has improved the level of dust and water resistance provided over time, and that has continued with the iPhone 12. Of course, as the company is rightly keen to point out, just because a device is protected up to a certain rating doesn’t mean it’s sensible to test its limits. Dust and water resistance can wear down over time, and liquid damage isn’t covered under the iPhone 12 warranty.

To avoid any disappointments, Apple advises users against swimming or bathing with their device, using it in places like saunas or steam rooms, or exposing it to pressurized water, among other things. Basically, while users should remain cautious around dust and water, they can be confident in a good level of resistance during day-to-day use. Perhaps most tellingly, Apple promises protection against “everyday spills, including coffee and soda,” threats that are all too familiar to users.

Source: Apple, IEC Blog