Is my smartwatch water resistant?

Posted 11 July 2019 by Miriam

When you are planning to buy a smartwatch you may have noticed that the specifications contain a special designation for water resistance that is different from 'normal' watches. The most common are IP67 and IP68. In this article we explain what that stands for and whether you can shower or swim with your smartwatch.

For watches, the water resistance is indicated in meters, Bar or ATM, which stands for a certain amount of pressure that the watch can withstand. Electronic equipment - such as smart watches - is of course even more sensitive to water, temperature and other environmental factors than a regular watch.

Other requirements apply to this. For portable electronic devices such as smartphones and smartwatches, there is a separate standard, the International Protection Rating (IP code).

What does the IP67 code mean?

The IP Code is structured as follows: The first digit (6) stands for 'Protection against intrusion'. The higher the number (on a scale of 1-6), the better protected. This concerns dust and dirt, tools, touch, etc. Here the figure 6 stands for completely dustproof. The second digit (7) stands for 'Protection against moisture'. Here too, the higher the number (on a scale of 1-8), the better protected. In the table below you can see the descriptions.

IP	Protected against	Tested for	Meaning
0	None	Does not apply	Use indoors only
1	Vertical drops	No damage if subject to vertical drops	10 minutes in drizzly rain.
2	Drops at an angle	No damage if drops falling at an angle of 15 °	10 minutes in light rain.
3	Splash water	No damage if sprayed (maximum 10 liters / minute) at an angle of up to 60 °	5 minutes in the rain.
4	Hose water	No damage if sprayed (maximum 10 liters / minute) at any angle	Rain, spraying and spilling (contents of a glass of water falling over the device).
5	Water spray	No damage if sprayed (maximum 12.5 liters / minute) at any angle	Hold it under the tap, which runs gently.
6	Water resistant	No water penetration if sprayed (100 liters / minute) at any angle	Keep under the tap or stormy conditions outside.
7	Immersion proof	No intrusion when submerged (30 minutes on 1 meter)	Survives an occasional immersion.
8	Waterproof	Remains usable under water under conditions specified by the manufacturer	For example: accidentally leaving it in the sink while you let it run full (without soap and no more than lukewarm water)

▴ Casio ProTrek water resistant smartwatch

Can I shower or swim with my smartwatch?

Now you might think "Great, my smartwatch is IP67 waterproof and so I can just wash, swim and shower with it". Unfortunately, there is a snag. Smartwatches with this IP code can indeed withstand a little water, but the IP67 Rating only means that the device is completely dust-proof and can withstand a 30-minute immersion in standing water. Unfortunately, it is not the case that devices receive the rating of the highest test that they pass. An IP67 score does not mean that IP61 to IP66 have also been achieved. And since these test spray, it is therefore not wise to shower with a smartwatch with this rating. But if you forget to take off your smartwatch by accident, this will not immediately destroy the watch. If a smartwatch has multiple IP ratings, then it might be possible. So pay close attention when purchasing a smartwatch, depending on what you want to be able to do with it. Always read the manufacturer's instructions and warranty conditions carefully. Unless otherwise stated, it is not desirable to press buttons while your device is under water. In this way, water can still penetrate, causing damage.

Be careful around salt water and heat

Just like with regular watches, most tests are done with tap water in temperatures between 15 - 35 degrees Celsius. Seawater, but also swimming pool water with chlorine is therefore often not covered by the warranty, unless stated otherwise. It is also not wise to wear your smartwatch in a Turkish steam bath, sauna or hot tub.

Easily interchangeable watch straps

Do you want to use your smartwatch more often under circumstances where the watch comes into contact with moisture, for example for running or hiking outside? Then choose a watch with a water-resistant strap made of plastic, rubber or textile. Many smartwatch brands have easily interchangeable bands, so you change to a nice but not water-resistant leather strap for a night out.