No one is safe from suffering an accident with their smartphone, much less from the changing weather conditions of the place where they live or spend their holidays. Therefore, depending on the conditions, this can affect the performance of the device and it is important to know what do the protection types mean offered by manufacturers.

IP52, IP68 e IPX8 are some of the most common certifications, but MIL-STD-810H, or simply MIL-810H, takes durability a level further. Each one will protect the smartphone in different situations and that is why it is very important to know the differences between them.

The acronym for protection IP They are a standard created to classify the level of protection of equipment against foreign materials, usually dust and water. AND MIL? This is a broader military certification.

IP68 or IPX8: details of each acronym

The acronyms IP they mean Ingress Protection (protection against penetration). The first number indicates the degree of protection against solids (mainly dust) and the second is related to liquids.

The solids protection scale goes from 0 to 6, while that relating to liquids goes from 0 to 9, reserving this last grade for devices that require extra protection against vapors or high water pressure. Among the smartphones intended for the general public, the maximum protection level against immersion is 8. And the 9? Ensures that a device is capable of withstanding short-range, high-pressure, and high-temperature water jets.

Thus, the IP68 certification ensures that a device has full protection against the ingress of dust and complete and continuous immersion in water. Specifically, an IP68 smartphone can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for a maximum of 30 minutes and continue to function without problems once out of the liquid. It will also not allow dust to get in when carried for a long time in a pocket or case. Smartphones like motorola edge 50 ultra, motorola edge 50 pro y motorola edge 50 fusion offer IP68 protection.

What is the difference with IPX8? The X indicates that it has not been tested in that regard. Although a smartphone's design can help repel solids, it does not have a dust-proof rating. For example, the hinge design of the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Helps prevent dust from entering. At the same time, withstand immersion in 1.5 meters of fresh water for a maximum of 30 minutes.

And an IP52 smartphone? It is effectively protected against the entry of dust and withstands moderate exposure to fresh water, such as accidental liquid spills, splashes or light rain.

MIL-810H standard, military grade durability

If you work or frequently travel to places of extreme cold, heat, humidity, heavy rain, or if you think that for certain reasons the device could suffer bumps and falls, the solution is to look for a smartphone MIL-STD-810H.

The military standard MIL-STD-810H, also known as MIL-810H, certifies that the device has passed certain durability tests developed by the United States Department of Defense to evaluate the resistance of equipment and devices in extreme environmental conditions:

• Temperature: exposure to high and low temperatures, as well as sudden changes in temperature.
• Humidity- Operation in environments with high humidity or heavy precipitation.
• Vibration: resistance to shocks and vibrations, such as those that occur in vehicles or aircraft.
• altitude: operation at high altitude, where atmospheric pressure is low.
• Dust and sand: protection against the entry of fine particles that could damage internal components.
• solar radiation: resistance to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
• Saltpeter: operation in marine environments with high salt concentration.

Achieving this certification implies pass multiple extreme endurance tests, like operate at temperatures up to 60°C, something that could happen, for example, If you forget your smartphone in a car parked in direct sunlight.

On the other hand, it resists freezing temperatures down to -20°C. Furthermore, the smartphone resists direct rain, high humidity and high levels of salinity (not seawater), which is common in coastal regions.

MIL810H or IP68?

Neither replaces the other. The certification IP68 focuses on maximum resistance to dust and water, while the MIL-810H It is much broader, since it takes into account extreme environmental conditions.

To avoid everyday problems, most people will be covered with certification IP68. A smartphone MIL-810H It will be recommended for those who want an extra layer of protection in their routines.

Likewise, both certifications coexist with each other. For example, the motorola edge 50 and the moto g75 5G they have IP68 and MIL-810H certification, the latter being the first device in the Moto G family to incorporate these two certifications.

“It is important to clarify that the presence of certifications such as IP68 y MIL-810H It does not mean that smartphones are waterproof, that they can be used submerged or that they can be recharged while wet, but that they resist splashes, water, dust and extreme conditions.", he pointed out Pablo Brancone, Motorola Argentina product manager.