HOW IT WORKS
IP ratings
The IP rating is a crucial piece of information for any outdoor device
The Apple Watch Ultra has a waterresistance rating of 100 metres, and can be worn while scuba diving.
Image credit: Apple Inc
Every new technology has its own assortment of jargon and technical
terms that we all have to try to learn and understand. Computers have CPUs and GPUs, headphones have ‘decibels’ and ‘frequency response’, and Wi-Fi routers have truly mind-boggling jargon like ‘orthogonal frequency division multiple access’ – which is kind of the Wi-Fi equivalent of ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’.
However, the term ‘IP’ is one that cuts right across different product categories and technologies, and can be applied to a wide range of different devices. In fact, those two letters – IP – actually have multiple meanings, ranging from Internet Protocol to the Intellectual Property involved in so many legal battles these days. However, the version of IP that we’re looking at here refers to Ingress Protection, and it’s a term that applies to everything from hard drives to headphones, smartphones, and even ‘ruggedised’ laptops that are designed for outdoor use.