Final month, Apple quietly launched an up to date model of its widespread second-generation AirPods Professional, that includes a brand new USB-C charging case and some other minor but interesting improvements.
Amongst these is a barely increased IP54 score than the Lightning model, which can have you ever questioning if the brand new AirPods Professional are any higher at dealing with water than their predecessors.
Like most digital units, the quick reply is that Apple’s AirPods Professional are water resistant, however they’re most positively not waterproof, and the brand new score doesn’t change that equation in terms of water resistance; they’ll deal with sweat and splashes of water about in addition to all different AirPods, going again to the second-generation AirPods launched in early 2019, however don’t count on them to outlive a dunk within the pool, and positively don’t attempt to wash them below operating water.
What does an IP54 score imply?
All of Apple’s AirPods launched within the final 4 years have carried an IPX4 score or water-resistance, together with the second-generation AirPods Professional with the Lightning case.
With the USB-C AirPods Professional, Apple has upped that to an IP54 score, however what this modifications is not any water resistance, however quite their capability to deal with mud and different small stable particles.
An IP score is made up of two numbers, the primary of which represents resistance to stable overseas objects corresponding to mud. The second is the place water resistance is available in.
For Apple’s AirPods, that’s a “4” for each the USB-C AirPods Professional and all different present AirPods, which implies they will deal with water splashing and even spraying towards them at very low strain. This makes them okay for sweaty exercises and walks within the rain and likewise means you shouldn’t want to fret about sporting them by the pool or on a boating journey — so long as they don’t fall out. Nonetheless, Apple makes it clear the water resistance score is “for non-water sports activities and train,” and also you definitely shouldn’t put on them within the bathe or take them for a swim.
An IPX4/IP54 score remains to be fairly shy of the iPhone’s IP68 score, which is typical of most high-end smartphones. All iPhone fashions for the reason that 2018 iPhone XS carry an IP68 score and may deal with immersion in water in depths of a minimum of two meters for as much as half-hour; the iPhone 12 and later fashions improve that depth to 6 meters. That’s what the “8” represents in IP68.
In contrast, the AirPods Professional can’t deal with immersion in water in any respect. In case you plan on utilizing them round water, you’ll need to watch out they don’t fall out of your ears, and you might need to consider putting the AirPods case in a waterproof case.
As for the primary quantity, the USB-C AirPods Professional have gained further safety towards mud and different stable objects, with the “5” indicating that some mud and dust may nonetheless get in, however not sufficient to trigger an issue.
It’s value noting that the “X” within the Lightning-cased AirPods Professional’s IPX4 score doesn’t imply they’re not dust-proof — that will be a zero. The “X” simply signifies that Apple hasn’t examined or licensed them towards the ingress of mud.
So, we don’t know if the USB-C AirPods Professional have really modified in any vital approach or if Apple simply determined to run these assessments this time round. Since Apple applies this score to each the AirPods and the case, it’s additionally attainable that the Lightning connector itself was the weak hyperlink, and it shored issues up with the change to USB-C.
The place Ought to I Keep away from Utilizing My AirPods Professional?
As we famous earlier, you don’t want to fret about sweat or average rain, however you must most likely keep away from going out in a torrential rainstorm.
Along with not submerging your AirPods or inserting them below operating water, Apple additionally recommends avoiding utilizing them in a sauna or steam room or in conditions the place they could be uncovered to high-velocity water, corresponding to water snowboarding, kayaking, or white-water rafting.
What Ought to I Do If My AirPods Professional Get Moist?
Even after a heavy exercise or a run within the rain, Apple recommends that you just wipe down your AirPods earlier than placing them again within the case to ensure any extra moisture has been eliminated.
To do that, use a comfortable, dry, lint-free material. In case you’re involved that some moisture might have gotten inside, depart them out of the case for some time to allow them to dry out. Don’t use any sort of warmth or compressed air to hurry up this course of.
Water resistance can be based mostly on publicity to recent water. In case your AirPods take a dip in a sink or tub, you possibly can merely wipe them down as famous above and depart them out of the case to allow them to dry off. Nonetheless, in the event that they’ve been uncovered to saltwater, pool water, or water that incorporates soaps, shampoos, oils, or different chemical compounds, you’ll want to make sure these are rinsed off in addition to attainable, as they will harm the water resistant seals and the acoustic membranes that produce the sound.
Nonetheless, don’t panic and run them below your faucet, as that can make issues worse. As a substitute, Apple recommends that you just wipe them clear with a material that’s “barely dampened with recent water,” then dry them with one other comfortable, dry, lint-free material and allow them to utterly air dry earlier than utilizing them or placing them again within the charging case.
By no means try to cost your AirPods or put them within the charging case till you’re certain they’ve absolutely dried out, and by no means use something apart from clear, recent water on a dampened material to scrub them.