I’m trying to choose between two devices, but one is rated IP67 and the other is IP68, and I’m not sure if that actually matters for everyday use. My phone recently got splashed and now I’m worried about water resistance, accidental drops in water, and whether paying more for IP68 is worth it. I need help understanding the real-world difference before I buy.
I ran into this same argument before, and I ended up reading way too many posts about it. The same back-and-forth shows up in this Reddit thread.
My take is simple. For normal day-to-day use, IP67 and IP68 usually feel the same. Still, it helps to know what those numbers mean, because the marketing around them gets fuzzy fast.
What the ratings mean
Both labels use the same scale. The first number, 6, means dust stays out.
The second number is the water part:
- IP67 means the device passed a test for up to 1 meter of fresh water for 30 minutes.
- IP68 means it passed beyond 1 meter, but the exact depth and time depend on what the manufacturer tested for.
So yes, IP68 sits above IP67 on paper. In real use, the gap is smaller than people think.
Why the label does not tell the whole story
The IP rating system is based on controlled testing. Still water. Fresh water. Room temperature. That is not how phones usually get wet.
I would worry more about the kind of water and the condition of the phone than the single digit. Pool water, saltwater, soap, steam, all of those are rougher on seals. Swimming with a phone adds movement and pressure, which is different from a lab dunk test.
I have seen people baby an IP68 phone and still lose it after a storm. I have also seen an older IP67 device survive a sink drop with no issue. Seals wear down. Adhesive ages. One bad fall changes things. If your phone is a couple years old, I would not trust its original water rating like it was still fresh out of the box. maybe that's obvious, but a lot of people miss it.
Does IP67 vs IP68 matter for your use
For most people, not much.
- Rain, splashes, wet hands, no big difference. Both ratings cover this fine.
- Sink drops, toilet drops, quick accidents, same story. Either rating is usually enough.
- Underwater photos, this is where IP68 gives you a little more margin, though you are still leaning on a rating people tend to overtrust.
If I had to choose what matters more, I would look at the phone maker, the build quality, and how well the seals hold up over time. A solid IP67 device from a careful brand might outlast a sloppy IP68 one. The number alone does not save you.
Also worth saying, water damage claims still go bad for owners all the time. The rating is not a promise your warranty experience will be painless. not even close.
If two phones are otherwise the same and the only standout spec is IP67 on one and IP68 on the other, I would not make my purchase around that. If you plan to use your phone in water on purpose, get a waterproof case and stop trusting the label.
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I mostly agree with @mikeappsreviewer, but I’d put a bit more weight on IP68 if you keep phones for years or you’re around water a lot.
Short version:
IP67 = dust tight, 1 meter for 30 min.
IP68 = dust tight, deeper than 1 meter, test limit depends on the brand.
For daily use, rain, splashes, wet counter, sink accident, both are fine on paper. So if your choice is based only on normal use, don’t pay a big premium for IP68.
Where IP68 matters more:
- You drop your phone in water more than once.
- You use it near pools, boats, kitchens, tubs.
- You want more margin as seals age.
One thing people miss. Water resistance is not permanent. A drop, screen repair, heat, age, all of it hurts sealing. So your older phone after a splash is less about IP67 vs IP68, more about whether the seals are still intact.
If your phone got splashed:
Dry it off.
Power it down if anything seems off.
Do not charge it wet.
Check port moisture alerts.
Wait before plugging in. A few hrs is smarter than forcing it.
If both devices cost close to the same, I’d pick IP68. If the IP67 one is cheaper and better in other ways, I’d take that instead. The rating matters, but not as much as poeple think.
I’d split this into two questions: what the rating means on a spec sheet, and what it means after the device has lived in your pocket for a year.
On paper, sure, IP68 is better. I slightly disagree with @mikeappsreviewer on one part though: in real life, that extra margin can matter if you’re clumsy, around water a lot, or keep devices for a long time. Not because you should take it swimming, but because a bigger safety buffer is still a buffer.
That said, @reveurdenuit is right that aging matters a ton. A fresh IP67 phone can be safer than a beat-up IP68 phone with tiny frame damage or a replaced screen. The rating is a lab result, not a lifetime guarantee.
For everyday stuff like rain, hand washing splashes, kitchen counter spills, both are basically in the same lane. I would not pay a huge premium just for 68. If the price gap is small, I’d take IP68. If the IP67 device is better overall, battery/camera/support matter more tbh.
For your splashed phone: if it’s acting normal, don’t panic. Dry the outside, leave the port alone, don’t charge it right away, and watch for weird stuff over the next day. If it starts fogging up or the speakers sound messed up for hrs, that’s a bad sign. The difference between 67 and 68 matters less than whether the seals are still intact now.