Are you thinking about purchasing an iPhone 8? Or maybe you have already bought one and have been wondering how water-resistant the smartphone is? It may not seem like a big deal, but what would happen if you accidentally dropped it in the water? There is also a possibility that you forget about having the iPhone with you while taking a dip in a pool or lake.
If so, you may be wondering this: is the iPhone 8 waterproof, and whether you should feel relaxed in case the smartphone gets wet. This article will cover the information you need to know.
Waterproof and Water Resistant
It is important to know the difference between water resistant and waterproof. The latter means that liquids cannot enter the device because it is sealed off. Products that are waterproof can remain submerged in water, and if you take them out, they should function without problems.
Meanwhile, water resistant indicates that a device can sustain liquid damage under certain conditions. The two conditions that are used the most are water pressure and how long a device has been exposed to water.
How waterproof is the iPhone 8? To answer that, we need to look at the device’s IP rating and where it stands compared to other smartphones.
iPhone 8 IP Rating
IP rating stands for either International Protection or Ingress Protection. The important thing is that this code is a standardized metric to measure how water resistant a product is.
As far as iPhone 8 goes, you will find that the model comes with IP67. Wait, there are two digits? Well, yes, the first number, which is 6, defines how resistant a product is to solid particles. For example, dust. And since the highest rating can be 6, iPhone is at the top when it comes to solid particle resistance.
Now for the water resistance rating. 7 is not the best number, but it is still a pretty solid result given that the maximum is 9.
In practice, 7 means that the iPhone 8 should manage to hold against water damage for about 30 minutes and under 1 meter, which is roughly 3 feet. Anything more than that, and you will potentially end up with a malfunctioning smartphone.
Apple’s Warranty for Water Damage
You may think that Apple covers the liquid damage, especially given how Apple promotes iPhone 8 as waterproof. However, the reality is quite different, and if your iPhone comes into contact with water and suffers damage, you will have to pay out of your own pocket or look for a solution and fix the smartphone yourself.
How to Deal With the Problem
First and foremost, do not panic if the iPhone becomes a little wet. If anything, it should be fine. Like already mentioned, the IP67 rating is quite good and gives you some leeway as far as the limit goes.
Nevertheless, if you do not want to take any chances, here are some suggestions:
- Turn off the smartphone if it is still on. If it turned off itself after coming into contact with water, do not turn it back on right away.
- Use a dry cloth to dry the iPhone as soon as you can.
- Shake out excess water.
- Put the device in a dry location and let it rest until it dries off. Something like a bowl of rice is a popular suggestion, though it is not as effective as some people believe.
What About a Cracked Screen?
The rules mentioned above have exceptions. When it comes to smartphones and waterproof, do not expect to benefit from IP ratings if you have an iPhone with a cracked screen.
Wear and tear are natural, and it is a matter of time when a device’s water resistance becomes less effective. Having a cracked screen does not help since liquids can enter the smartphone easier.
iPhone Resistance to Other Liquids
It is not that easy to imagine a situation when a smartphone ends up in a cup of coffee or a juice container. The IP rating you have read about in a previous article section is meant for water, not other liquids.
Keep that in mind. Splashing the iPhone should still leave it intact even if it was liquid other than water. On the other hand, submerging an iPhone 8 and leaving it in a liquid other than water will lead to significant damage.
The Best Waterproof iPhone 8 Cases
Minimizing water damage risks is not that difficult. First of all, you should be smart and remember that you have a smartphone with you. Keeping it away from water and other liquids is a simple yet effective solution.
At the same time, you cannot be certain. It could be another person who takes the smartphone from you and accidentally drops it. Investing in a waterproof case for your iPhone 8 is a decent solution.
iThrough iPhone 8 Waterproof Case is a solid pick with its fingerprint identification and light and slim design.
If you are looking for something more stylish and expensive, LifeProof FRE is just the thing. A subtle screen cover that adds barely any weight to the smartphone and still leaves you with access to all the iPhone features you like. Also, the underwater depth that the case comes with is 2 meters.