Apple iPhone 8, Samsung Galaxy 8 Tipped To Have IP68 Waterproof Certification

Both Samsung Galaxy S8 and Apple’s iPhone 8 may be fully waterproof. A new report by the Investor indicates that both devices will be IP68 certified.

For the uninitiated, IP stands for ingress protection. An IP68 protection basically means that device can be submerged in 1.5 metres of water for 30 minutes. Smartphone makers such as Samsung use a special nanocoating on their devices that does not let water get in, even through open ports such as the 3.5mm jack on the Galaxy S7. IP68 is currently the highest certification given to smartphones.

While Samsung was expected make its next-gen flagship waterproof, the iPhone 8 would be the first Apple flagship smartphone to have this feature. Although even the iPhone 7 was water-resistant, not waterproof.

“Apple’s iPhone 8 will feature the IP68 rating protection as part of drastic upgrades marking the 10th anniversary of the iPhone this year,” the Investor cited an anonymous industry source as saying.

Apple’s certification might be a special feature limited to just the iPhone and not other Apple models, but Samsung is expected to extend IP68 certification across its range of devices and not just keep it limited to its flagship device.

Samsung recently unveiled the new A-series devices — the 2017 edition A3, A5 and A7 smartphones, which were all IP68 certified.

“Samsung is considering water protection even for the cheapest J series phones as they are the best-selling Galaxy phones,” the Investor report cited another source as saying.

Besides Apple and Samsung, other smartphone manufacturers are also trying their hands at IP68 certification. The LG G6, expected to release at MWC 2017 is expected to waterproof.

Waterproofing materials for smartphones are currently manufactured by two major companies — the U.S.-based 3M and the South Korean NDFOS.