So they're equally water-resistant, right? Well, no. The iPhone 14 Pro has an IP68 rating, meaning it's protected from dust getting inside and can withstand being submerged in water. An IPX8-rated device can survive being submerged in water then, but it hasn't officially been rated for any protection from dust. In this instance, a company hasn't provided testing details so the rating number is replaced with an X. Sometimes you'll see an IP rating with a number replaced with an X, such as IPX8. Nothing's earbuds are IPX4 rated, which is enough to keep them safe from sweat during your workouts. The second number represents the degree of protection against the entry of moisture or liquid, with protection levels ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 8. These protection levels range from a low of 0 to a high of 6. The first number in the rating code represents the amount of protection provided against the entry of foreign solid objects, such as fingers or dust. According to the organization, the codes are designed as a 'system for classifying the degrees of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment.' IP, or ingress protection, ratings (aka international protection ratings) are a standard set forth by the International Electrotechnical Commission. Let's break down the jargon and find out. But what do those ratings really mean and, crucially, how waterproof is your expensive new phone? If you've shopped for a phone recently, then you'll have come across terms like 'water resistant' as well as the now common IP67, IP68 or IPX8 ratings. Almost no phones should be taken swimming in a pool, and sea swimming is out of the question.

Not all phones can withstand a dunk in water, and some shouldn't be near liquid at all. It can mean the difference between a quick wipe with a napkin and an expensive trip to the store. The value of water resistance in a phone is clear to anyone who's ever spilled tea, coffee or soda over their device.

But things have changed, and in 2023 you'll find some kind of water resistance built into most mainstream phones, including the iPhone 14 Pro, Galaxy S23 Ultra and Google's Pixel 7 Pro.

Water resistance used to be something found on beefy, rubber-sealed rugged phones designed for construction workers or downhill mountain bikers. This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2023, CNET's collection of news, tips and advice around Apple's most popular product.

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