Apple’s first foldable iPhone has arrived with IP68 protection, addressing one of the biggest durability concerns surrounding devices with moving hinges and flexible screens. However, the company warns that the dust and water resistance of the iPhone Duo may weaken over time.
The warning appears in a footnote on Apple’s product listing. It says the device was tested in controlled laboratory conditions to the IP68 standard, including submersion at a depth of up to six metres for 30 minutes.
Apple also states that the phone is resistant to splashes, water and dust, but adds that these protections are “not permanent conditions” and may decrease through normal wear.
Foldable iPhone protection may diminish with use
Such a caveat is less common on conventional smartphones, where water and dust resistance would generally be expected to remain unless the handset suffered external damage. Foldable phones have additional moving parts, including hinges and seals, which can be affected by repeated use, impact or repairs.
Google makes a similar qualification for its Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Its product information says the devices are designed to meet IP68 requirements when they leave the factory, but that resistance can diminish or be lost through wear and tear, repairs, disassembly or damage.
Google also warns that dropping a Pixel foldable may result in a loss of water or dust resistance, and makes clear that the handset is not waterproof or protected against drops.
Honor includes comparable wording for its Magic V6, saying the IP68 and IP69 protection is not permanently effective and that its performance may decline with daily wear.
The iPhone Duo’s IP68 rating nevertheless gives Apple’s foldable an advantage over Samsung’s latest Galaxy foldable models, which carry an IP48 rating. That provides a lower level of dust protection, despite offering resistance to some water exposure.
IP ratings are based on laboratory testing rather than a guarantee of protection throughout a phone’s lifetime. For owners of foldable devices, the manufacturers’ guidance means that exposure to water and dust remains a risk even when the handset carries an official resistance rating.
