IP54, IP64, IP68, IP69: what phone water ratings mean
IP68 means a dunk, IP69 means a hot jet, IP64 means splashes only. Here is what each rating covers, and which Indian phones at ₹20,999 to ₹1,54,999 carry them.
An IP rating is a two-digit code for how well a phone’s body keeps out dust and water: the first digit is dust (0 to 6), the second is water (0 to 9). IP68 survives a dunk, IP69 survives a close-range hot jet, and IP64, the rating on many mid-range phones, survives splashes only, so keep it out of the pool.
What do the two digits in an IP rating mean?
The code comes from an international standard, IEC 60529. The 6 in IP64, IP66, IP68 and IP69 means fully dust-tight. The 5 in IP54 means some dust can get in, but not enough to stop the phone working. The second digit is where phones really differ.
| Rating | Dust | Water | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP54 | Limited dust ingress | Splashes from any side | Light rain, a wet hand |
| IP64 | Dust-tight | Splashes from any side | Rain and splashes, not a dunk |
| IP66 | Dust-tight | Powerful water jets | A hosepipe, briefly |
| IP67 | Dust-tight | Up to 1 metre for 30 minutes | A drop in the bucket |
| IP68 | Dust-tight | Deeper or longer than IP67, set by the maker | A dunk in fresh water |
| IP69 | Dust-tight | Close-range, high-pressure, hot water jets | A high-pressure wash |
Is IP68 better than IP69?
No, they test different things. IP68 is about sitting under still water; IP69 is about a hot, high-pressure jet fired from close range. That is why many phones print both: IP68 plus IP69 covers a dunk and a power wash. IP69 alone does not promise you can submerge the phone.
Some makers go further and list IP69K. That label comes from a separate road-vehicle standard, not from the phone standard, and the maker declares it on its own. Read it as extra marketing on top of IP69, not a new tier.
Is IP64 waterproof?
No. IP64 is dust-tight, and the 4 covers splashes from any direction. Rain on the way home is fine. Dropping it in a bucket, a toilet or a swimming pool is not, and a tap run over it is a gamble. Treat IP64 as splash-resistant, never waterproof.
Which phones in India have which rating?
The rating does not follow the price the way you might expect. Redmi 17C 5G and Nothing Phone (4a) both list IP64, even though one costs ₹20,999 and the other ₹36,999. Meanwhile POCO X8 lists IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K at ₹26,999.
| Phone | Rating listed | Today’s price in India |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi 17C 5G | IP64 | ₹20,999 |
| POCO X8 | IP66, IP68, IP69, IP69K | ₹26,999 |
| Nothing Phone (4a) | IP64 | ₹36,999 |
| vivo V80 | IP68, IP69 | ₹62,999 |
| Apple iPhone 17 | IP68 | ₹99,900 |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | IP68 | ₹1,54,999 |
The sharpest gap: the POCO X8 is ₹10,000 cheaper than the Nothing Phone (4a) and claims far stronger water protection. The Nothing has other strengths on its page, but on water resistance alone it is the poorer value. Our vivo V80 page lists IP68 and IP69, while the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S26 Ultra list IP68 only, which is plenty for a dunk.
What does an IP rating not cover?
Quite a lot. The tests use clean, still, room-temperature fresh water in a lab. Sea water, chlorinated pool water, soap, shampoo, tea and hot showers are not what the rating was measured against. Seals also age: a phone that has been dropped, bent or opened for repair may no longer seal as it did when new.
Most makers also exclude water damage from warranty, even on IP68 phones, so check the warranty terms before you test the claim yourself. No independent water test has been published for these specific phones that we have seen, so every rating in this article is the maker’s claim.
- Safe bet: rain, sweat, a coffee splash, a brief drop in a puddle (IP64 and up for splashes, IP68 for the puddle).
- Risky: swimming, the sea, the bathroom with hot steam, any soapy water.
Do you need IP68 or IP69?
For most buyers, IP68 is the number to look for if you want peace of mind from monsoon, a wet kitchen or a dropped phone. IP69 is a bonus for people who clean their phone under a tap or work in dusty, wet places. If your budget is tight, our best phones under ₹30,000 list is a good place to see which ratings fit which price. Software promises matter too: see how many years of updates your phone gets before you decide.
Quick answers
Is IP54 or IP64 safe in monsoon rain?
Yes for ordinary rain and splashes, since both ratings cover splashes from any direction. Neither covers a proper dunk, so if the phone falls in a flooded street, dry it quickly and do not charge it until it is dry.
Can I take an IP68 phone swimming?
The rating covers still, fresh water, not a moving pool or the sea. Salt, chlorine and the pressure of swimming are outside the test, and warranties usually exclude water damage. It is safer to leave the phone on the shore.
Is IP69 the same as IP69K?
No. IP69 is the phone-standard rating for hot, high-pressure jets. IP69K comes from a road-vehicle standard and is declared by the maker, so treat it as a claim on top of IP69, not a stronger rating you can verify.
