May 28, 2020

IP68 and MILSPEC: How they protect your smartphone investments

Joel Snyder

“Water is the enemy!” has been the creed of field workers for years, seeking to protect their companies’ investment in smartphones. Despite these efforts, cellphone repair is still a $3 billion industry. And it’s not just water: We’ve all seen someone valiantly using a phone with a cracked screen, a testament to the fragility of glass. 

In recent years, smartphone manufacturers have responded by making their devices more water-resistant. Some have also introduced specialized models that are ruggedized, offering greater protection against drops, extreme temperatures and other environmental hazards.

IT managers looking for water-resistant, durable smartphones can use two sets of reference specifications: the International Protection (IP) standard, which defines protections against dust and water, and the U.S. Department of Defense’s test standard, known as MIL-STD-810.

 

IP ratings explained

The international standard IEC 60529 defines different levels of “ingress protection,” providing quantifiable data on how well a device is protected against dust particles and liquids. Rather than have a manufacturer simply say something like “this technology is safe around water,” they can refer back to a specific definition — such as IP68 — that defines exactly how water-resistant it is.

The first number in an IP rating is for solid particles. The higher the number, the greater the protection against dust entering the device. For IT managers, it doesn’t get interesting until that number is 6, as in IP67 or IP68. IP6X means the phone is completely dust-resistant.

The second number is for liquids. As with solid objects, the higher the number, the greater the protection. Here, there are really only two ratings worth looking for: IP67 and IP68.

IP67 means a device is water-resistant: It can be immersed for a short period of time in up to a meter of water without being damaged. The next level up is IP68, which means it can handle continuous immersion, up to a certain depth. Today, an increasing number of high-end smartphones feature the IP68 rating, including Samsung’s Galaxy S20 and Note10 lines, as well as the new XCover Pro.

 

Understanding MILSPEC testing

MILSPEC, short for military specifications, is a term used for equipment that has been tested against standards developed by the Department of Defense. Manufacturers who want to demonstrate a level of ruggedization beyond IP ratings can conduct environmental lab testing according to the MIL-STD-810 standard to validate their product’s durability.

First introduced back in 1962, the MIL-STD-810 standard has continued to evolve and provides detailed guidance for evaluating the durability of various types of equipment. The tests outlined include everything military personnel might care about: pressure, radiation, fungus, explosive atmospheres, vibration, acids, shocks and more. In all, the latest MIL-STD-810 standard covers 28 different tests.

Not many smartphones are tested against the MIL-STD-810 standard, but one that has been is Samsung’s Galaxy XCover Pro. Developed specifically for frontline workers, the XCover Pro was put through a series of 22 MIL-STD-810 lab tests. These included being dropped 26 times from a height of 1.5 meters, exposure to constant vibration, operating at temperatures as high as 160 degrees Fahrenheit, exposure to solar radiation, rain and salt spray, being blasted with dust, immersed in water and coated with ice.

IT managers who want to spend less time worrying about smartphone repair can use the IP68 ratings, as well as MILSPEC testing, to identify devices that will stand up to the rigors of field service and harsh weather, or even just coffee spills and being jumbled around in a pocket or briefcase.

Go rugged with Samsung Knox, and learn about the defense-grade security features on Samsung smartphones that help protect enterprise data.

[Icon] close

Get the right solution for your business

Join 25,000+ organizations around the world.

[Icon] suitcase
Are you a reseller or solution partner?

Get access to the Knox Partner Program for helpful partner tools, such as the Knox Deployment Program portal, Knox MSP portal, partner SDKs, and more.

[Icon] info
Unified Endpoint Management
Knox Suite
Rebranding and customization
Knox Configure
Fraud and theft protection
Knox Guard
Device protection plan
Samsung Care + for Business
Other products & services

Get started with

[Image] Knox Suite

All-in-one solution bundle for enterprise mobility.

[Icon] Check mark

Join us and get a 90-day free trial for Knox Suite and other Knox products. *Approval required

[Icon] Check mark

A complete set of tools to secure, deploy, manage, and analyze your enterprise's corporate mobile devices.

[Icon] Check mark

Try powerful features bundled with Knox Suite, such as Knox Remote Support.

Knox Suite include:

[Icon] Knox Platform for Enterprise Knox Platform for Enterprise
[Icon] Knox E-FOTA Knox E-FOTA
[Icon] Knox Mobile Enrollment Knox Mobile Enrollment
[Icon] Knox Asset Intelligence Knox Asset Intelligence
[Icon] knox manage Knox Manage
[Icon] knox capture Knox Capture

Get started with

[Image] Knox Configure Logo

Remotely configure Samsung devices in bulk and tailor them to specific needs, right out of the box.

[Icon] Check mark

After approval, you can try both the:

  • Setup edition — designed for a one-time deployment
  • Dynamic edition — deploy and update policies as many times without a factory reset.
[Icon] Check mark

Try either the Setup edition or Dynamic edition of Knox Configure on up to 30 devices.

[Icon] Check mark

Get a free Knox Suite trial upon approval to try our UEM.

Get started with

[Icon] Knox Guard Logo

Remotely control Samsung devices to reduce financial risks and protect assets.

[Icon] Check mark

After you get approved, generate your free trial license for 90 days.

check-mark

Try all the features of Knox Guard on up to 30 devices, including SIM control and device locking.

[Icon] Check mark

Get a free Knox Suite trial upon approval to try our UEM.

Get started with

[Image] Samsung Care Plus For Business Logo

Protect your business devices against accidental damage and mechanical breakdowns.

[Icon] Check mark

Are you already a Samsung Care+ for Business customer? Create an account and access the Samsung Care+ for Business console.

[Icon] Check mark

Contact the Samsung sales team and get peace of mind for your devices.

Other products & services

[Image] Others logo
[Icon] Check mark

Samsung offers additional solutions to serve the unique needs of your business. Talk to a Samsung expert today.

CONTACT SALES
Back to top