Google Pixel water resistance IP53

Samsung has been experimenting with water and dust resistance since the Galaxy S5 with its IP67 water and dust resistance, but Sony has been doing water resistance forever — though the Japanese OEM has now dropped water resistance and dust resistance in its latest Xperia X series. Samsung’s Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, and Galaxy Note 7 all have IP68 water and dust resistance, and Apple, for fear of falling behind its fiercest rival (Samsung), decided to add IP67 water and dust resistance to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus this year. With these major smartphone companies adding such staunch water resistance, Google Pixel water resistance questions have started floating around, especially since we now know that the search engine giant has dropped the Nexus name for Pixel and has started showing off the new phone in smart thermostat commercials.

Android Police has a reliable source that has been feeding the site information about the upcoming Google Pixel lineup. We’ve seen renders of the devices, prices confirmed, and the exact monikers given (Pixel and Pixel XL, in case you were wondering), but hopes of Google Pixel water resistance have been spoiled. In short, Google Pixel water resistance will be non-existent. The Google Pixel and Pixel XL will have IP53 certification, meaning that the phones will only be “splash-resistant” or “spray-resistant” instead of water dunking-resistant:

IPX3 is essentially saying the device will not experience water ingress (i.e., water won’t get inside) when held at a relatively upward angle in your hand during use in very heavy rain or when lightly splashed. If the device is left flat on a surface, IPX3 does not guarantee it will be protected from water ingress by heavy rain or mist,

the publication says. The bold font above is mine.

What this means is that, as long as it’s in your hand being used in the normal way people use their phones, the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL should be okay. In many other situations, though, you may just want to make sure your phone has something of a waterproof case available (and on the phone, that is).

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL will be manufactured by HTC, and it’s no surprise. Looking at renders of the two phones, one can see just how much HTC influenced their design. Additional photos show the design we can expect, but it seems very influenced by HTC (even though the Pixel phones will be made of glass, not the metal build quality of the HTC 10). Interestingly enough, HTC’s flagship, the HTC 10, is only IP53 splash-resistant as well as the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, which is no surprise given who’s making them. The HTC 10 flagship cuts too many corners at its $700 retail price, and we’re starting to think that, at $649 for the 5-inch Pixel (and $750 for the Pixel XL), Google’s newly-branded smartphones will cut numerous corners as well.

For those who’re looking to pick up either of these new phones, perhaps wireless charging will return to Google’s phone line (even if it does under a new phone moniker).

Does the IP53 splash resistance of these phones impact your buying decision, or are you neutral on water protection for your smartphone?

Kaynak