What is IP69 rating?

If you’ve ever read the spec sheet of a rugged smartphone, an industrial device, or even certain premium wireless earbuds, you might’ve stumbled across a cryptic combination of letters and numbers, IP69. Sounds technical, right?

And while it may not grab your attention like “5G” or “AI,” this tiny code actually represents one of the most brutal and demanding standards in consumer and industrial tech today. Understanding what IP69 really means can change how you evaluate durability and help you make smarter buying decisions.

Let’s break it down

“IP” stands for Ingress Protection, a globally recognised rating defined by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) under standard IEC 60529. It tells you how well a product is protected from solids (like dust) and liquids (like water).

The first digit indicates protection from solids, the second from liquids. So when you see IP69, the “6” means dust-tight, absolutely no dust can enter the enclosure, even under vacuum conditions for up to eight hours. That’s the highest level for solid ingress. The “9” refers to liquid protection, and this is where things get intense.

READ MORE: What are IP ratings on your smartphone? Everything you need to know

While IP68 is often touted as the gold standard in consumer electronics. This includes smartphones that can survive underwater, and IP69 takes it to an entirely different league.

What it takes to earn an IP69 rating?

Devices are subjected to high-pressure, high-temperature water jets from very close range (just 0.15–0.2 meters away). We’re talking water heated to 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit) blasted at 80 to 100 bars of pressure, with a flow rate of up to 16 litres per minute. If you’re wondering how intense that is, imagine cleaning your phone with a pressure washer used in commercial kitchens, and then throwing in steam.

Smaller devices are placed on a turntable and rotated to hit four angles; larger ones are sprayed freehand for a minimum of three minutes. The nozzle requirements and spray angles are precisely defined by IEC standards and visualised in diagrams that look like something from a NASA checklist. This is more of simulated warfare against water than a casual splash test.

So why should you care?

Let’s take a real-world example. You’re a construction supervisor, and your phone is clipped to your belt as you walk through a muddy site. It starts raining. Later, your phone gets washed with a pressurised hose because it’s caked in cement dust and grime. A standard IP68-rated device might survive that. But one rated IP69? It’s built for it.

Or think about kitchen environments which house industrial blenders, smart ovens, and even meat processing equipment. These tools get hosed down daily, often with scalding water. IP69 ensures electronics in these settings don’t just survive but thrive under regular high-pressure cleaning.

Even premium motorcycle action cameras or off-road gear sometimes feature IP69 ratings, meant to endure extreme terrain, mud splashes, and cleaning with jet sprays. It’s a durability standard that caters to the messy, rugged, high-impact moments of life, not the sanitised ones in lab conditions.

But there’s a twist

Despite its benefits, IP69 isn’t widespread in mainstream consumer electronics. Why? Because most people simply don’t need that level of protection. Your iPhone with an IP68 rating can handle a drop in the pool or a rainy jog.

But IP69? That’s overengineering for average daily use. It’s the Hummer of ingress protection. Less about necessity and more about resilience under extreme conditions.

Still, as technology blends further into real-life settings, from smart homes to wearable health tech and outdoor gadgets, the demand for ultra-rugged, IP69-rated products is slowly rising. Especially in regions with extreme climates or industries where failure isn’t an option.