What Does IPX7 Waterproof Rating Mean? (Everything You Need To Know)

What Does IPX7 Waterproof Rating Mean? Have you ever heard about the IPX7 rating? Have you ever discovered it on the back of your headphone or speaker box but had no idea what it stood for? If this is the case, we recommend that you read this article to learn why it is so important.

Even if you have some basic knowledge of IP ratings, stick with us because we may have some interesting information you haven't heard before. Many products today have some level of intellectual property protection, and the extent of that protection varies depending on the item's purpose.

This article, on the other hand, focuses solely on IP protection of electronic devices in order to explain to users why it is so important and how to properly handle IPX7 devices. So, let's get this party started.

What Is IPX Rating And Why Is It Important? (Comprehensive Guide)

WHAT DOES IP STAND FOR AND DO WE REALLY NEED IT?

If you’ve been reading your device’s specs list and noticed IP rating, even if you bought that specific device because of its IP protection, you've probably been wondering what it stands for. IP stands for International Protection or Ingress Protection, and it describes the level of protection provided by your device against the intrusion of any solids or liquids that may cause a malfunction.

The IP rating system consists of two rating scales: dust and water protection. This is expressed by two letters/numbers following this well-known abbreviation, with the first number/letter indicating the level of dust protection and the second number/letter indicating the level of fluid intrusion protection.

Occasionally, the third letter (in this case, just a letter), H, M, S, F, or W, indicates other types of device protection that haven't yet become common. For example, H denotes that your device was tested in high voltage conditions, M denotes that it passed some kind of “moving through water” test, S denotes that your device can withstand water, W denotes that it was tested in various weather conditions, and F denotes oil resistance.

Now that we've covered the most important terms in intellectual property protection, let's look at why we need it. When purchasing a new electronic device, one of the most basic requirements should be IP protection. To be honest, many devices already have it, but we believe that people are still unaware of its significance.

When exposed to real-world conditions, devices such as smartwatches, smartphones, headphones, and speakers are quite fragile. Watches and smartphones are constantly subjected to various impacts, particularly weather conditions, raindrops, and so on, but don't forget about your headphones or Bluetooth portable speaker, which are frequently used outdoors.

If you use them in the woods, by a pool, at the beach, or even in the shower, you should be more concerned about IP protection. We say this because these numbers and letters show you how and where to use your device, as well as how to protect it from a malfunction.

As the greatest number of these devices are usually more endangered by water than by dust, we have decided to dedicate this article to the IPX7 level of protection.

When reading about various types of water protection, you will come across various terms that are used in different articles. The authors of those articles frequently use terms like water-resistant, water repellent, and waterproof to confuse us.

Water-resistant, water repellent and hydrophobic are terms that should be used mostly with products made from some kind of fabric such as clothes. When a piece of clothing is water-resistant, it means that the fabric is so dense that it will take quite some time before you get wet (although you eventually will).

Water repellent, on the other hand, implies that the item of clothing has a coating that keeps it from getting wet. Being hydrophobic is similar, with a slight quality difference. Hydrophobic products repel liquids more effectively.

Finally, waterproof refers to a product's complete resistance to water intrusion. Coating is also used to achieve this, and it is commonly used to define the level of protection of electronic devices more than other products.

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HOW SHOULD YOU USE DEVICES WITH IPX7 RATING PROPERLY?

All of the headphones, earbuds, speakers, phones, and watches that have this level of protection have been tested in specific conditions to see if they can withstand being submerged in such deep water for such an extended period of time. Scientists immerse test devices in water and leave them there for a set amount of time to determine the maximum protection value.

These tests are only performed on devices that are supposed to be IPX7 and IPX8 rated. The devices that survive the test get their label and are classified as waterproof, which means you can leave them next to a pool or at the beach while you’re swimming.

If you suddenly drop it into the water, it will survive, as long as the water isn’t deeper than 1 meter and if you take it out in less than 30 minutes. This does not imply that a device with the IPX7 rating has been tested for all other IPX ratings.

More specifically, having an IPX7 rating does not imply having an IPX4, 5, or 6 rating. As a result, just because your device is waterproof and submersible in water doesn't mean it can withstand powerful water jets or splashes from any angle. It may seem strange, but a waterproof device can be damaged if it is hit by a water jet or even if it is rained on.

In addition, you should be very careful about taking your waterproof speaker or headphones in the shower or to the beach. This usually relates to headphones because many people like to swim while listening to music.

However, headphones with an IPX7 rating are usually not tested in these conditions (moving so fast through the water) and this kind of contact with the water can severely damage the electronic parts. Unfortunately, none of the additional information is listed in the specifications, so you'll have to contact the manufacturer if you want a detailed explanation.

To summarize, if you require an outdoor Bluetooth speaker, you should first determine why you require it. If you want to listen to music while swimming in a pool or the sea, for example, you should choose a device with an IPX7 or even an IPX8 rating.

If you need it for hiking or a picnic in the woods and your biggest concern is rain destroying your device, look for IPX4, IPX5, or IPX6 – rated devices because they are resistant to water splashes and water jets hitting the device from various angles.

THINGS TO BE AWARE OF ABOUT IPX7 RATINGS

As you are probably aware, the market is flooded with numerous types and models of electronic devices, many of which have phony specifications because some manufacturers are only interested in deceiving people and making more money.

As previously stated, you should carefully read and analyze the specifications before purchasing a device that meets your needs and is worth your money. When purchasing an outdoor device, you should be extra cautious because it must be designed for specific conditions.

If you have any doubts, contact the manufacturer and ask for a detailed explanation. For example, most waterproof devices are only rated as IPX7, with no mention of whether the device has any additional levels of protection.

Some manufacturers are honest, and if their product is resistant to both splashes and submersion, they will state that it has the IPX6/IPX7 rating. However, this is not always the case because most devices either do not have double protection or do not specify it. This means that if you require more than one level of protection, you should contact the manufacturer and try to obtain all of the necessary information.

Also, don’t ever trust the manufacturers who label their products as IPX-7 or IP-67. The minute you see this, run away from it because IP ratings are never written with hyphens or any other way apart from the way that was already presented in this article.

FAQs IPX7 Waterproof Rating Mean