More and more devices carry the IP label. As this item is more accurately called along with the description of electronic devices, IP certification is becoming more common among smart devices, especially smartphones. IP is an abbreviation of “Ingress Protection”, which could be translated as “input protection”.
In simple language, IP is the protection of devices from external factors. Also, you’ve probably seen two numbers in addition to the IP tag. It is usually number 67, but you will come across other variants.
The IP certificate is obtained after performing special tests, and depending on the resistance to solid objects and liquids, a special number is obtained. The higher the number, the more protected the device is, with the first digit referring to dust protection and the second to water protection.
IP certificate as protection against dust and water
It is interesting that the IP certificate represents protection from objects such as fingers and the whole hand. It sounds interesting that the IP22 certificate guarantees protection against fingers and vertical water dripping.
On the other hand, mobile devices as we know them today are almost always with us, that is, they are constantly on the move, so they need more protection. One of the first mobile devices to receive IP certification is the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, which is dust-resistant with IP58 certification but can also spend 1.5m to 30 minutes in water without damage.
Sony was among the first to start producing devices with enhanced protection against external factors, so the Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z2, and the Xperia Z2 Tablet were once and now the leading models.
Thanks to the IP certificate, they could boast that, at least in this respect, they are ahead of the competition (all three phones are IP58 certified). However, be careful as this resistance does not apply to seawater, so test the resistance of your Sony phone either in the pool or in the bathtub.
Samsung has better IP certification than Sony
Slightly more advanced certificates were given to new smartphone models, such as the Samsung Galaxy S5, which “earned” IP67 certification, which guarantees a high level of resistance to dust and water. In practice, this means that Samsung’s flagship phone has better resistance to sand, or finer particles of the earth (dust, if you prefer), so don’t be surprised if someone says they just bought the Galaxy S5 so they can use it on the beach.
IP-certified phones usually have all the external ports covered, usually in the form of rubber covers that can be removed as needed ( Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and Galaxy S5), which are necessary to stop the penetration of dust and water into the phone. Some other models, like the Xperia Z1, have internally sealed ports.
And what if you don’t have the money for these expensive phones and tablets? Then try with masks and cases, which also exist in our market, but before buying, ask if they have any of the mentioned IP certificates.
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