Future iPhones could be more water-resistant, suggests Apple's patent
iPhone X is quite remarkably water-resistant. This recently came to light when the $1000 iPhone survived two weeks of being submerged in a river and was found to be working fine. And while the latest iPhones are merely IP 67 rated, Apple is now looking to make them more water-resistant, according to a recent patent filed by the Cupertino-based tech giant. Here's more.
What does the Apple patent tell us?
An iPhone's water resistance can be impaired when submerged with an accessory plugged in - say a lighting headphone. Now Apple's patent suggests that the company is looking to solve this very problem. According to the patent filed with the USPTO, Apple is working on "accessories for an electronic device" that 'form a liquid-tight seal' between the accessory and the device, when plugged in.
The importance of this patent
Apple's patent suggests the company is working on some accessories which, when plugged into your device, can be used underwater and not compromise the device's water-resistance. Moreover, Apple lists that these accessories can even be used in "moist, wet and/or dirty environments." Hence, in future, you could swim and simultaneously listen to music via your headphones - something that's not possible today.
Understanding Ingress Protection (IP) ratings
IP or Ingress Protection rating of a device defines the level of sealing effectiveness against intrusion from foreign bodies such as dust or moisture. The first digit after 'IP' represents dust resistance and the second digit indicates moisture protection. Notably, higher the values, the better the resistance. Currently, for dust protection, 7 is the highest standard while for moisture protection, the highest is 9.
