We all see references to waterproof devices, water-resistant devices and water-repellent devices being thrown around on electronic products. The big question is: What’s the difference? There are a lot of articles written on this topic, but we figured we would throw in our two-cents as well and take a closer look at the differences between all three terms, with a specific focus on the world of devices.
First of all, let’s start with some quick dictionary definitions of waterproof, water-resistant, and water-repellent, as given by the Oxford English Dictionary:
Water-resistant: able to resist the penetration of water to some degree but not entirely
Water-repellent: not easily penetrated by water, especially as a result of being treated for such a purpose with a surface coating
Waterproof: impervious to water
What Does Water-Resistant Mean?
Water-resistant is the lowest level of water protection of the three. If a device is labeled as water-resistant it means that the device’s construction makes it more difficult for water to get inside of it, or possibly that it is coated with a very light substance that helps improve the device’s chances of surviving an encounter with water. Water-resistant qualities are great for products such as watches because they help those products withstand light rain or washing your hands.
What Does Water-Repellent Mean?
Water-repellent coatings are the next step up from water-resistant coatings. Devices labeled as water-repellent have properties that repel water from them, which makes them hydrophobic. Water-repellent devices have a better chance of surviving a watery encounter. Most have thin-film nanotechnology, which can coat the inside and outside of an electronic device. Many companies claim water-repellency, but the term is heavily debated because a durable water repellent is rare and because of all the questions and unpredictable elements associated with it.
What Does Waterproof Mean?
Defining “waterproof” is simple, but the concept is more complicated. Currently, there is no established industry standard to classify a device as waterproof. The closest thing currently available, as far as a rating scale is concerned, is the Ingress Protection Rating scale (or IP Code). The IP Code assigns items a rating from 0-8 in terms of how effective the device is at keeping water from entering into it, a process called the ingress of water.
SOURCE OF INFO & ARTICLE CREDITS:
https://www.hzo.com/blog/waterresistant-waterrepellent-waterproof-whats-difference/
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