Does an IP68 Rating Degrade Over Time?
Yes. Manufacturers themselves say so: Apple's support documentation states that splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and may decrease from normal wear. The rating on the spec sheet describes a new device in a lab test — not a device that's been dropped, charged daily, and exposed to years of temperature swings.
What actually degrades a rating
- Drops and impacts — can shift the frame or crack seals invisibly, without cosmetic damage.
- Charging-port wear — the physical opening for cables is a common ingress point; debris buildup and repeated insertion degrade its seal.
- Temperature cycling — expansion and contraction of rubber gaskets over repeated heat/cold exposure loosens seals gradually.
- Adhesive and gasket aging — the seals holding a device water-resistant are physical materials that age and shrink over years, independent of any single incident.
The practical takeaway
Treat any IP rating as describing day-one performance under lab conditions, not a durability promise for the life of the device. This is also why liquid damage is typically excluded from warranty even on day-one-rated devices — see Is Water Damage Covered by Warranty?
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Apple's own documentation states that splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and may decrease as a result of normal wear. The IP68 test is performed once, on a new device, under lab conditions — it doesn't account for years of drops, charging-port use, or aging seals.
Repeated drops that stress the frame and seals, dirt and lint accumulation in charging ports, temperature swings that expand and contract gaskets, and the simple aging of adhesive and rubber seals over years of use all reduce a device's real-world resistance below its original tested figure.
Yes — charging ports are a common ingress point, since they're a physical opening with a gasket or mesh seal that can accumulate debris or degrade with repeated cable insertion, unlike the sealed body of the device.
Treat the original rating as a description of day-one performance, not a lifelong guarantee. This is exactly why manufacturers exclude liquid damage from warranty even on day-one-rated IP68 devices — see Is Water Damage Covered by Warranty?