IP68 Decoded
"IP68" is treated as one guarantee, but under IEC 60529 the second digit's "8" only means deeper than 1 meter, for a depth and duration the manufacturer itself declares — there is no fixed number in the standard. An iPhone 15's IP68 is tested to 6 meters for 30 minutes. A Samsung Galaxy S24's IP68 is tested to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Same two characters, a 4x difference in declared depth. We aggregate the actual per-product numbers so you can compare them directly, instead of trusting the badge.
Multiple sources explain the IP68-is-not-one-number problem in prose. None of them put the actual declared depth and duration for real products side by side — that comparison is the reason this site exists. Start with the IP Rating Reality Index, our named dataset of manufacturer-declared depth, duration, test medium, and warranty coverage for popular waterproof electronics.
IP Rating Reality Index
The named dataset: per-product declared depth, duration, test medium, and warranty coverage — versioned CSV.
12 products tracked →
IP Code Decoder
Every IEC 60529 first digit (solids) and second digit (liquids), what each level actually requires, and what X means in IPX4.
17 code definitions →
Start here — one device per category
The second digit of an IP rating is the water one, and IPX7 and IP68 are not the same promise. Read the rating first, then these are the lead picks in each category this site covers. Each links to a live Amazon search rather than a fixed listing.
JBL Charge 5
IP67 (1 m / 30 min, fresh water), 20 hr playtime, built-in powerbank
The category default for a reason: genuine IP67 dust-and-water protection plus a real USB powerbank to charge your phone.
Best for: Poolside and beach use where occasional dunking is a real risk
Watch out: IP67 means 1 meter for 30 minutes in FRESH water only — a splash at the beach is fine, but a real ocean dunk exposes it to salt water the rating was never tested against, and JBL doesn't publish a salt-water-damage warranty exception.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
GoPro HERO13 Black
Manufacturer-stated waterproof to 10 m without a housing (not an IEC 60529 IP-tested figure)
GoPro's own marketing states waterproof to 10 meters without any additional case, removing the separate dive-housing purchase most competitors require.
Best for: Snorkeling and swimming footage without buying an add-on housing
Watch out: GoPro's waterproof claim is a manufacturer performance statement, not an IEC 60529 IP-code test result the way a phone's IP68 is — there's no published depth/duration test protocol behind the '10 m' figure the way there is for IP68 phones, so treat it as a use-case claim rather than a lab-verified spec.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
Sony WF-1000XM5
IPX4 (splash resistant from any direction, no depth/duration rating — not submersible)
Class-leading noise cancellation with genuine IPX4 splash resistance for sweat and light rain.
Best for: Gym and commute use where sweat and light rain are the real risks, not swimming
Watch out: IPX4 has NO depth or duration figure because it only tests splashing, not immersion — these are not swim-proof, and the charging case has no water resistance rating at all.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
Ultimate Ears BOOM 3
IP67 (1 m / 30 min, fresh water), floats on water, 15 hr playtime
One of the few speakers in this class that actually floats if it goes in the pool, on top of a genuine IP67 rating.
Best for: Pool days where you want a speaker that survives falling in, not just splashing
Watch out: Floating is a bonus, not a substitute for the rating limit — it's still only tested to 1 meter for 30 minutes in fresh water, and prolonged full submersion beyond that isn't covered.
Check price on AmazonNot deciding today? Add it to your cart over there — Amazon keeps it saved (and flags any price change) until you're ready.
Shop by category
Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers
IP67 vs IP68, and why 'floats' isn't the same claim as 'submersible.'
4 picks →
Waterproof Action Cameras
Most action-cam waterproof claims aren't IEC 60529 IP-tested at all — here's the difference.
3 picks →
Waterproof Earbuds
IPX4 splash resistance vs full IP68 — and why the charging case is usually the weak link.
3 picks →
The claims worth decoding first
How we work
We're a research-based site: every fact traces to a manufacturer spec sheet, an IEC 60529 standard summary, or a named public source — never a claim we invented. We don't test devices ourselves, we never publish exact prices, and we name honest drawbacks. Read our full methodology →