When it comes to purchasing phones, tablets, or cameras that boast that they can withstand the outdoors, it is important to note its IP rating. Different IP ratings mean different things, as Archos’ CEO found out the hard way when he accidentally killed one of the company’s phones during a demonstration.
The company’s CEO, Loic Poirier, wanted to demonstrate the water resistance of one of his company’s products, a certain Quechua Phone that was unveiled last year. The phone was a collaboration between Archos and the Quechua outdoors brand and to demonstrate its water resistance, Poirier put the device in a glass and filled it with water.
Unfortunately when he pulled the phone out, it was dead on arrival. So what gives? Well it turns out that someone did not inform Archos’ CEO that he Quechua Phone was not IP57 rated, but IP54. According to the phone’s website, it reads, “The Quechua 5” Phone complies with the IP54 standard. Developed to withstand the most demanding outdoor conditions. It is designed to withstand splattering with water from all directions as well the harmful effects of dust and sand.”
This is versus IP57 which while not fully waterproof, has the ability to withstand immersion in water at a certain depth and for a certain amount of time. Had the Quechua Phone been IP57, this would have been an entirely different story. Oh, and did we mention that all of this was caught on camera?
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