Xperia 10 VIII: Water resistance done right

With the Xperia 10 VIII, Sony provides unusually precise information about dust and water protection. Instead of simply advertising an IP68 rating, the manufacturer lists three separate classifications: IP6X, IPX5, and IPX8.

IP6X exclusively describes protection against solid particles. The 6 indicates that the device is dust-tight and represents the highest level of protection in this category. The X does not mean that there is no protection; rather, it indicates that the other type of protection is not specified in that particular IP code.

For water protection, Sony lists two separate tests. IPX5 certifies protection against water jets from all directions. IPX8, on the other hand, indicates protection against continuous immersion under conditions specified in greater detail by the manufacturer. Sony states that the Xperia 10 VIII is tested for 30 minutes in fresh water at a depth of 1.5 meters.

Why are there two water-resistance ratings? IP ratings for water protection do not necessarily build upon one another. A device tested to IPX8 has therefore not automatically passed the separate IPX5 test. This is precisely the information that gets lost when a manufacturer only lists IP68. IPX5 is quite relevant in everyday use. Rain, splashes, or water jets are likely to occur far more often than a smartphone being completely submerged. By listing the ratings separately, Sony provides a clearer picture of the conditions the Xperia 10 VIII has actually been tested to withstand. However, this is still not a free pass to take the phone into the pool. Sony specifically warns against exposure to seawater, salt water, chlorinated water, and liquids other than fresh water. In addition, all covers must be properly closed.

Other manufacturers could therefore take a cue from Sony, not necessarily when it comes to the protection itself, but rather in how transparently it is communicated. IP6X, IPX5, and IPX8 simply provide more precise information about what has actually been tested than a single IP68 rating on a spec sheet.