One of the biggest changes we have seen over the past twenty years has been the shift from listening to our favorite music and watching our favorite movies and TV shows inside to enjoying our media in the great outdoors while we exercise, commute, or just lounge outside on the deck. Consumers have had the ability to enjoy music on-the-go for decades but do you remember how quickly you removed your headphones and Walkman and stuffed them inside your coat or backpack at the first drop of rain or snow?
The emergence of streaming media, smart phones, tablets, digital audio players (DAPs), wireless earbuds, headphones, and speakers has caused a paradigm shift in our listening and viewing behavior. And this shift has also meant that manufacturers have had to figure out how to keep dust, sand, rain, snow, and wind from penetrating that equipment and ruining it.
As a result, an industry standard (developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission) has been developed in order to qualify the precise level of protection from the elements a given piece of gear can provide. Referred to as the IP (Ingress Protection) or “IPX” rating, this standard can help a consumer choose the right product for their specific use case. Whether that’s jogging in the rain with a pair of earbuds, listening to music at the beach or even splashing around in the pool with a Bluetooth wireless speaker, there’s an IP rating that’s got you covered.
The IP rating indicates the degree of an electrical or mechanical enclosure’s resistance to various types of unwanted intrusion like dust, water or sand. The reason for having an IP rating system is to ensure the safety of electrical and mechanical devices in the outdoors or other locations which are exposed to the elements. And, ultimately, to help a consumer select the right tool for the job.
The IP Rating Format – “IPXX”
Instead of relying on ambiguous terms such as “waterproof,” “water resistant” or “dustproof,” which are too general, the IP rating includes a numeric scale designed to provide a more precise measurement as to the degree of water or dust resistance a specific device might have.
IP ratings are formatted with the letters IP followed by two digits. The first number represents resistance to solids like dust and sand. This varies from 0 (no protection) to 6 (full protection). The second digit applies to water or moisture resistance. It varies from 0 (no protection) to 9 (complete protection). This means the most secure devices, which are practically impervious to the elements, are rated IP69 (“Niiiice”).
Sometimes the first digit or the second digit is not included, and instead has an “X” as a placeholder. The use of an “X” in the rating means the device has not been tested for this type of intrusion (solid or liquid). This might appear as “IPX5” or “IPX7.” This means the device has not been tested or certified for dust or dirt resistance but has been rated for moisture or water resistance. On the flip side an “IP6X” rating would mean the device has been tested for dust resistance but not for water resistance.
Waterproof vs. Water Resistant
In general terms, IP water ratings from 1 to 6 (for example, IPX4 or IPX5) are considered “water resistant” to varying degrees. This means they can handle splashes of water but not full immersion in water. You can’t throw one of these into the lake (or drop it in a toilet) without suffering consequences. Meanwhile, IP water ratings of 7 or higher are considered “waterproof,” again on a scale. While a water rating of 7 can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in up to 3 feet of water, a rating of 8 or 9 can be submerged greater than 3 feet deep for extended periods.
We do still strongly recommend not dropping your phone in a toilet, even if it’s rated IP69. Some smells just don’t go away.
If you’re simply jogging in the rain, a pair of headphones with an IPX4 rating should be fine. But if you’re bringing that portable Bluetooth speaker out in the canoe with you, look for an IPX7 rating or above in case it falls in the water. On the beach, a device with a “4” in the first digit might be OK for sand, but to be safe against dust, look for a 5 (dust resistant) or a 6 (dust proof) in that first digit.
As a real world example, in our founder Brian Mitchell’s recent high-end Bluetooth speaker roundup, the Devialet Mania is only IPX4 rated (minimal water resistance), the Soundboks Go steps up to IPX6 (decent water resistance) while the Brane:X is the only one that can actually be submersed in water with an IP57 waterproof rating.
Even More Letters?
In some rare cases, you might also see a letter after the digits, “IP65M” or IP69K.” This adds another environmental protection indicator such as resistance to specific materials/hazards like oil or high voltages, or a specific manner in which the IP testing was conducted (for example, submersed in moving water). However, these letters are rarely used for consumer electronics products.
The following are two charts that summarize the commonly used IP or IPX Rating designations you might encounter with consumer electronics devices with details about the type of ingress testing and certification.
IP Ratings for Liquid Only
| IP Designation | Liquid Protection |
| IPX0 | No Protection |
| IPX1 | Protects from Condensation or Vertically Dripping Water |
| IPX2 | Protects from Sprays up to 15 degrees |
| IPX3 | Protects from Sprays up to 60 degrees |
| IPX4 | Protects from Splashing Water from any direction |
| IPX5 | Protects from Low Pressure Water Jets from any direction |
| IPX6 | Protects from High Pressure Water Jets in any direction |
| IPX7 | Protects when immersed in water for 30 minutes up to 3 feet (90 cm) deep. |
| IPX8 | Protects when immersed in water over 3 feet (90 cm) deep for extended periods. |
| IPX9 | Protects from High Temperature/High-Pressure Water Jets from any direction as well as full immersion over 3 feet (90 cm) deep for extended periods. |
IP Ratings for Solids and Liquid
| IP Designation | Dust/Solids (first digit) | Moisture (second digit) |
| IP | X – Not tested | X – Not tested |
| IP | 0 – No Protection | 0 – No Protection |
| IP | 1 – Protects against solid objects larger than 2 inches (50 mm) in diameter | 1 – Protects from Condensation or Vertically Dripping Water |
| IP | 2 – Protects against solid objects larger than 1/2 inch (12.5 mm) | 2 – Protects from Sprays up to 15 degrees |
| IP | 3 – Protects against solid objects larger than 1/10 inch (2.5 mm) | 3 – Protects from Sprays up to 60 degrees |
| IP | 4 – Protects against solid objects larger than 0.04 inch (1.0 mm) | 4 – Protects from Splashing Water from any direction |
| IP | 5 – Protects against dust – “dust resistant” | 5 – Protects from Low Pressure Water Jets from any direction |
| IP | 6 – no dust entry – “dust-proof” or “dust-tight” | 6 – Protects from High-Pressure Water Jets in any direction |
| IP | 7 – Protects when immersed in water for 30 minutes up to 3 feet (90cm) | |
| IP | 8 – Protects when immersed in water over 3 feet (90cm) for extended periods | |
| IP | 9 – Protects from High Temperature/High-Pressure Water Jets from any direction as well as complete immersion over extended time periods. |
Although these ratings are most frequently seen on portable products such as phones, speakers and earbuds, you can also find IPX ratings on select TVs that carry IP ratings for outdoor use.
The Bottom Line
If you are shopping for a portable or outdoor speaker, smartphone, or another device you plan to use outdoors or in the shower, its ability to resist the effects of dust and/or liquids is an important thing to take into consideration. So be sure to check the IP rating to make sure it can withstand the elements. Otherwise that super fun pool party might end in disappointing – or even shocking! – results.
Related Reading:
- Cleer Audio’s ARC 3 Gaming Edition Open-Ear Earbuds Support Dolby Atmos with Head Tracking
- Klipsch Wants You To Crank it Up With Their Music City Series Party Speakers
- Review: Brane X vs. Soundboks Go vs Devialet Mania Portable Bluetooth Speakers
- Ultimate Ears Refreshes BOOM Series Portable Bluetooth Speakers and Introduces EVERBOOM
