When
we are buying smartphones and wearable technology today, we are
constantly bombarded with messages and claims that they can be used
while swimming, in the rain, under water and so on. Of course, we
don’t want our newest gadget to get wet and stop working, so we are
paying attention to these messages. However, although it’s quite
cool to have a gadget you can use while doing your water related
activities, we have to ask ourselves is it always true? Are these
devices really waterproof?

The
whole truth is that there is no such thing as a waterproof device,
especially if we are talking about consumer technology. All these
gadgets around us are water resistant and that’s the main point. 

We
have to be aware that when it comes to technology, water is our
greatest enemy because we constantly get in touch with it. So,
although the word “waterproof” sounds great for us, it is often
misused and it can cost you.

Waterproof
vs. Water-Resistant

To
make things as simple as possible, let’s take a look at the meaning
of these two words.

Waterproof
– it simply indicates that water can’t get inside the device.
Ever.

Water-resistant
– water can get inside but only under specific conditions

Knowing
the difference between these two is very important. For example, your
phone can probably handle some rain on it without any damage, but
swimming with it will be a disaster. The same applies for
smartwatches, portable speakers and so on.

Now
when we know the difference, let’s take a closer look at water
resistance and the standards used to measure it: ATM and IP.

ATM

The
word ATM isn’t an acronym, it’s a short for atmosphere. For
example, the water surface level is at 1ATM. If you dive 10 meters
under the water it goes to 2ATM and so on. Basically, 1ATM equals 10
meters under water.

Smartwatches
and fitness bands will usually have the water resistance marked at
5ATM. It is enough to wear them while swimming, having a shower, do
some diving.  The important thing here is that water resistance
in wearable technology is measured in ATM which indicates how deep
you can go with it. However, the water resistance of such devices
depends heavily on the various seals in them. That’s why you should
avoid pressing buttons while you are under the water.

IP
Rating

Smartphones
on the other hand don’t use ATM as a water resistance measure. They
use the so-called IP (Ingress Protection) rating. This rating is
normally represented by IP followed by two numbers. The first number
after IP indicates the level of protection against solid materials,
while the second number represents the level of protection from
liquids.

For
example, your smartphone can be rated at IP67. First of all, it is
good to know the maximum values of these two. the maximum for the
first digit is 6, and the maximum value of the second is 9.
AudioReputation
offers a detailed explanation of the IP Ratings and their meaning and
it’s very well worth knowing what those numbers mean.

If
you are buying a water-resistant smartphone you should pay attention
to the second digit. A higher number indicates better protection
against water and other liquids. 

Tips
about water-resistant devices

Now
you know that the term waterproof actually means water-resistant.
Water protection is only possible under specific conditions, so let’s
take a look at what you should pay attention to.

Avoid
Sea Water

Although
you may thing it is OK to take your phone into the sea please don’t
do that. All these tests are performed in fresh water. The salt may
cause damage to your phone so it’s better to avoid using your
smartphone in sea water. However, if you have used it in sea water,
make sure to rinse it thoroughly with fresh water after that. 

Don’t
press any buttons

As
we have mentioned before, avoid pressing any buttons while using the
device underwater. The same applies if the device has any flaps. If
it has, close them before use. Of course, there are devices where the
manufacturer lets you press buttons underwater, but make sure to read
that in the manual first. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Avoid
other liquids

We
have also said that the IP testing is being done in fresh water.
Therefore, if you spill some coffee or juice on your device you have
to switch it off, take out the battery, clean and dry everything
before you switch it back again.

At
the end we can say that waterproof devices aren’t real, especially
for consumer technology. If we are talking about watches we have to
say that it is even illegal to mark a watch as waterproof. So, you
are actually buying a water-resistant device and, in most cases, it
is enough to protect our device, just pay attention to the ratings.