Waterproof and IP Ratings Explained: IPX4 vs IPX7 vs IPX8

“Waterproof” is the most abused word on a product page. It sounds absolute, but it has no fixed legal definition and no test behind it. The IP code does have a test, and it is the only honest way to know what a device can survive near water. This article decodes the digits, separates splash from immersion, and explains why a rating still has edges.

How the IP code works

IP stands for Ingress Protection. The code is “IP” followed by two digits. The first digit rates protection against solids like dust; the second rates protection against water. A device marked IPX7 has an X in the first position, meaning dust protection was not separately certified (or the manufacturer chose not to claim it), and a 7 in the second, meaning immersion-tested.

Common water digits:

The depth and duration for IPX8 are set by the manufacturer, so one IPX8 device may be rated for two meters and another for ten. The number alone is not the whole story.

What “waterproof” can and cannot mean

Because “waterproof” is not a standard, a brand can apply it to anything from a splash-resistant item to a dive-rated one. The IP code, by contrast, points to a repeatable test. When a page says “waterproof” with no IP code, you have no basis to trust a submersion claim.

Two limits even a real rating has:

• Seals age. Gaskets compress and deform over time and with temperature swings. A device that passed IPX7 at launch can lose that seal after a year of use. Our cleaning guide covers inspecting seals before washing.
• Heat is separate. IPX7 says nothing about temperature. Boiling or a hot dishwasher can soften adhesive and destroy a seal the water test would have passed. Our charging care guide notes why heat and batteries do not mix.

Why the X matters

An X in the first position is common and not a red flag by itself; many body-safe silicone products simply are not dust-rated because the test is irrelevant to use. But an X in the water position (IPX0 or no second digit) means no water protection was claimed. “Splash resistant” without a code is the same problem as “waterproof” without one.

What this means for cleaning

Most devices rated IPX7 or better can be washed under a running tap and briefly submerged, which is why they suit shower and bath use. The We-Vibe Tango X carries IPX7, a realistic claim for a compact rechargeable item. Wands such as the Magic Wand Rechargeable vary by generation and connector design, so the rating, not the category name, is what to check.

How to apply this when buying and cleaning

1. Read the IP code, not the word “waterproof.” IPX7 or IPX8 is the floor for submersion.
2. For IPX8, find the stated depth; “IPX8” alone is incomplete.
3. Treat IPX4 as rinse-only; never submerge a splash-rated item.
4. Re-check seals periodically, and stop submerging if a seal looks compressed or cracked.

Where this gets misreported

The first error is equating “waterproof” with a tested standard; it is marketing, the IP code is engineering. The second is reading IPX7 as “safe forever underwater”; it is one meter for thirty minutes, once tested, and seals degrade. A third myth is that a high dust digit (IP6X) implies water safety; the two digits are independent and one can be strong while the other is absent. We list the actual rating in every device review rather than repeating the adjective.

The takeaway

The IP code is the only honest water claim: the second digit tells you splash (IPX4), immersion to one meter (IPX7), or a maker-stated depth (IPX8). “Waterproof” without a code is not a claim you can verify. Even a real rating ages as seals compress, so inspect before washing and never boil a battery item. This is engineering education, not medical advice.