If you’re shopping for a new phone, speaker, headphones or something else, you might have come across an IP rating of IP50.
But, what is an IP rating and what does IP50 mean for your device’s ability to withstand dust and water?
What is an IP rating?
IP50 is a type of IP – or Ingress Protection – rating.
An IP rating is a certification that indicates precisely how resistant a device is to dust and water. That makes IP ratings an important factor to consider if you plan to take your device to the beach, pull it out in heavy rain or wear it in the shower.
IP ratings are divided into two numbers.
The first number refers to a device’s ability to withstand solids (such as dust) on a scale of 0 to 6, while the second digit describes how well that device can withstand liquids (such as water) on a scale of 0 to 9.
In each instance, 0 is the lowest, signifying no protection at all. A 6 for solids indicates a tight seal against intrusions, while a 9 for liquids points to a device protected against high-pressure and high-temperature water jets.
A device carrying an IP rating of X (the IPX8-rated Galaxy Z Fold 4, for example) is not tested for one of these two categories, meaning it cannot guarantee either dust or water resistance.
What is IP50?
An IP rating of IP50 refers to a device that can be categorised as a 5 on the dust resistance scale and a 0 in water resistance.
According to the organisation behind IP standards, the IEC, a solid or dust rating of 5 points to a device that is “dust-protected”. This is one step down from being dust-tight – the highest score possible.
A liquids rating of 0, meanwhile, indicates that this device offers no protection from water at all. This means the device does not even offer protection against vertically falling water drops as a device rated IP51 would.
What devices are IP50 certified?
Not many devices are rated IP50 in 2023.
Many flagship smartphones – including the Samsung Galaxy S23, the iPhone 13 and the Google Pixel 6 – carry scores of IP68 which would indicate much better water protection, while Samsung’s foldables are generally rated IPX8.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
