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Is Pixel 7 Waterproof?

June 08, 2022

We're almost halfway through 2022 and it's time to talk about the future addition to Google's arsenal – the Pixel 7. The phone has been in development for some time now and various leaks and rumors are constantly appearing on the internet, such as its price, release date, specs, and so on.

But what about the protection level that the Pixel 7 will have? Read on to find out more about the water and dust resistance levels of Google's Pixel 7 model.


Is Pixel 7 waterproof?

Like most, if not all, smartphones today, Google’s Pixel 7 will be waterproof. The best phones on the current market (iPhone 13 series, Samsung Galaxy S22 series, etc.) all have a protection index of IP68, and the Pixel 7 will be no different.

This will protect your future new Pixel 7 from accidental drops into the water as if nothing happened. Of course, forgetting about your phone immersed in water for hours will destroy it as no phone fully protects against pressure and constant exposure to water.

Still, the IP68 index rating is the best that phones can do today, therefore the Pixel 7 will have the ultimate protection against water and dust.

In further text, the analysis of phone protection will be explained.


What is IP rating

Phone manufacturers use different descriptive terms when advertising their products, but there are specific differences between them that are not always visible at first glance nor are they easy to understand for most users.

To avoid arbitrary interpretation of these statements, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization has developed a unique system that reveals exactly how much a phone is resistant to water and dust, and whether it really is.

It's called - IP rating. 

The IP rating represents the level of protection of the device against solid and liquid substances. There are usually two numbers. The first number represents the level of protection against solids, such as dust and sand, while the second number indicates the level of protection against liquids.

  • Solids protection: This number indicates the level of protection from solids and it ranges from 1 to 6 (number six being the highest level of protection).

  • Liquid protection: The second number represents the liquid protection level and ranges from 0 to 9 (number nine being the highest protection level).

When a phone manufacturer wants an IP rating for their product, it must be tested by an independent and certified company. The company then gives the product an IP rating to indicate how well it is protected from solids and liquids.

The existence of this label gives manufacturers the opportunity to state the above statements with complete certainty that they are true but also gives customers a clear conviction about what kind of phone they are buying.

At the same time, phone owners clearly know how protected their phone is and can use it in accordance with the specified label and do not expose it to liquids if the level of protection is low, or do not care about water if it is high (which is still not recommended).

For example, there are phone manufacturers that offer maximum protection for their devices, such as CAT (CAT makes industrial phones that are almost indestructible, which can’t be expected from other manufacturers, Google included), or some other manufacturers specializing in the production of solid and protected phones. Also, phones from all other manufacturers can have an IP mark, regardless of the fact that they are not specially manufactured phones, but the degree of their applied protection is important.

See the exact meaning of all IP rating tags to make sure you are buying a phone with the level of protection you need.

IP solid-state protection (the first number):

  • 0 - There is no level of protection.

  • 1 - Protection against objects larger than 50 millimeters such as the palm, but there is no protection against intentional contact with body parts.

  • 2 - Protection against objects larger than 12 millimeters, protects against finger contact and objects of similar size.

  • 3 - Protection against objects larger than 2.5 millimeters, tools, and thick cables are included in this level.

  • 4 - Items larger than one millimeter include most wires and screws.

  • 5 - Dust protection, as long as the phone is not exposed to a lot of dust.

  • 6 - Complete protection against dust, a vacuum that protects against dust is used.

IP protection against liquid substances (the second number):

  • 0 - There is no protection.

  • 1 - Water dripping on the device for 10 minutes at an angle of up to 90 degrees.

  • 2 - Water dripping on the device tilted at an angle of 15 degrees for two and a half minutes.

  • 3 - Spray with water at an angle of up to 60 degrees for at least five minutes.

  • 4 - Spray with water from any direction for 10 minutes.

  • 5 - Water spray for one minute per square meter/12.5 liters of water per minute from a distance of three meters and a pressure of 30 kPa (nozzle diameter of 6.3 millimeters).

  • 6 - Spraying with a strong jet of water for one minute per square meter/100 liters of water per minute from a distance of three meters and a pressure of 100 kPa (nozzle diameter 12.5 millimeters).

  • 7 - Immersion in water to a depth of one meter for 30 minutes.

  • 8 - Immersion in water to a depth of one meter or deeper - the depth and duration of immersion specified by the manufacturer.

  • 9 - Protection against short-range splashes under high pressure and temperature.


Pixel 7 is well-protected

For smartphones, protection level 9 is not present, therefore protection level 8 is now common for all newer smartphones. As the Pixel 7 has the IP68 rating, it will be resistant to dust and particles, while also being resistant to water immersion up to 2-3 meters for about 30 minutes.


Final Words

While new smartphones can be used underwater (to some degree), this should be avoided at all costs. The protection against water is there in case of an accident and should be treated that way. Plus, it is recommended to read the warranty conditions, especially in small print, because some manufacturers, despite the IP mark in the service, do not recognize the warranty if the phone is damaged by water or any other liquid.

Keep your new Pixel 7 safe, don’t let a few underwater photos ruin it. But in case you drop your phone into a swimming pool or bathtub, it will be okay.