Just like the iPhone XS and the iPhone X before it, the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max are also dust and water-resistant. The iPhone 11 Pro series carries the same IP68 rating as the iPhone XS before it. Despite that though, the iPhone 11 Pro actually has better water-resistance than any other iPhone launched by Apple so far.
Wondering how? Read our detailed guide below to know everything about the iPhone 11 Pro’s IP68 rating.
iPhone 11 Pro IP68 Water-Resistant Rating: What It Means
Before I explain how the iPhone 11 Pro’s IP rating has improved, it is important you know what the rating means. The IP in the ‘IP68′ stands for Ingress Protection, while the ’68’ refers to the level of protection. IP68 is the highest level of certification that a consumer device can get.
The ‘6’ in IP68 stands for protection against dust ingress while the ‘8’ stands for protection against liquid ingress. Both are at the very highest level possible which means the iPhone 11 Pro offers among the best dust and water-resistance possible for a consumer device. Yes, water-resistant and not waterproof. There’s a world of difference between the two terms and you should treat your iPhone accordingly.
The iPhone 11 Pro’s IP certification is not as good as the Apple Watch Series 3 -5 which means you should not take the phone swimming with you.
Why the iPhone 11 Pro’s IP68 Rating is The Better than Other Smartphones
When you go through the spec sheet of the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max, you will see that it features the same IP68 rating as the iPhone XS before it. However, that’s not the complete picture. The iPhone 11 Pro series features improved dust and water-resistance capabilities.
The iPhone 11 Pro can be submerged in up to 4m depth of water for up to 30 minutes. That’s up from 2m depth for which the iPhone XS series was certified for. What this means is that even if you end up accidentally dropping your iPhone in a swimming pool, there’s a great chance of it surviving the ordeal without any issues. The same was not true for the iPhone X and iPhone XS which despite their IP67/68 rating have ended up with liquid damage in many scenarios.
In fact, almost all other smartphones in the market which feature an IP68 rating are certified for up to 2m depth only.
The Catch
Despite the improved water-resistant rating, Apple’s standard warranty still does not account for any liquid damage for the new iPhones. This means that if you somehow end up liquid damaging your iPhone 11 Pro, it will not be covered under Apple’s standard warranty and will not be replaced or repaired for free.
However, if you live in the United States, Europe, or any other developed market, chances are Apple will end up fixing or replacing your iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max for liquid damage under warranty. It is recommended that you use this option only as a backup and you should avoid unnecessarily throwing your iPhone 11 Pro into the water every other minute.
It’s also important to note that the water-resistance rating of a smartphone can actually go down over time due to wear and tear. Plus, if there’s too much pressure, the liquid might be able to breach the seal and flood the internals of your iPhone 11 Pro. If you continuously expose your iPhone 11 Pro to high-pressure water or take it swimming with you in the ocean or swimming pool, the internal sealing will weaken over time and eventually break under the immense water pressure. Similarly, if the chassis of your iPhone 11 Pro is damaged in any way due to a drop or ding, you should avoid taking the phone in water. This is because the chassis damage can compromise the strength of the water-resistance sealing.
AppleCare+
What you can do to avoid this situation is to get AppleCare+ for your iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max. This will protect your iPhone not only against theft but also against accidental damages including any kind of liquid damage. If you are someone who frequently ends up liquid damaging their phone, you should definitely get AppleCare+ for your iPhone 11 Pro.
