91mobiles trend analysis: high IP protection is no longer just for flagships

• By Dhruv Joshi
Published On: 19 June 2026 | 13:29 IST

Over the past three or so years, smartphone makers have increasingly adopted more concrete measures to improve the durability of their offerings. What was once treated as a premium extra has slowly turned into something far more common, with better dust and water protection now showing up across a much wider range of phones.

The change came about with a mix of changing buyer expectations, tougher competition between brands, and a market where even affordable phones need to feel more dependable in everyday use. The result is a landscape where IP ratings are no longer just a flagship talking point but a feature that has steadily moved into the mainstream.

That begs the question of how this shift took shape and what pushed phone makers to make durability a regular part of the conversation. By the end of the story, you’ll have your answer and a complete picture of how smartphone durability evolved in India.

What Are IP Ratings?

IP stands for Ingress Protection, and it tells you how well a phone is protected against common elements such as dust and water. The rating is usually denoted by a two-digit number. The first number ranges from 0 to 6 and shows dust resistance, while the second ranges from 0 to 9 and indicates water resistance. The higher the numbers, the better the protection usually is.

The most common IP ratings people come across on smartphones are IP54, IP67, IP68, and IP69. IP54 means basic dust and splash protection. IP67 means the phone can handle dust and survive brief submersion in water. IP68 means better dust protection and better resistance to deeper or longer water exposure. IP69 means the phone can withstand high-pressure water jets, which goes beyond normal everyday use.

How do IP Certifications Work

IP ratings are based on a formal standard called IEC 60529, which sets out how a device should be tested for dust and water protection. The numbers are not just marketing shorthand, as they reflect specific test results.

Brands usually have to pay for this testing, either through their own labs or through outside testing agencies. Those labs carry out controlled dust, water, and pressure tests, then issue the report that supports the claimed IP rating.

That is why an IP rating is not something a phone gets casually. It takes time, money, and proper testing to back up the claim, which is also why some phones could actually be impervious to dust and water exposure without carrying an IP badge. Testing is often voluntary rather than mandatory, but brands tend to pay for recognised third‑party reports because the certification adds credibility and keeps them on safer ground should anything go wrong.

The IP ratings timeline in India

We’ve collated the data for all the phones we’ve tested since 2024 to see whether a clear pattern emerges and how IP ratings have evolved over time.

Smartphone IP ratings across price bands in 2024:

Price band	IP52/IP53/IP54 or lower	IP64/IP65/IP66	IP67/IP68/IP69 or higher
Under Rs 30K	43	23	10
Rs 30-60K	4	10	15
Over Rs 60K	0	1	6

Across the three years, the under Rs 30,000 segment saw the sharpest change: the share of higher protection ratings rose from 12 percent in 2024 to 23 percent in 2025 and 29 percent in 2026, while lower IP52/IP53/IP54 phones fell from 58 percent to 41 percent and then 36 percent, respectively.

Smartphone IP ratings across price bands in 2025:

The Rs 30,000-60,000 bracket stayed the most balanced, but it still moved toward higher protection, with IP67/IP68/IP69 phones rising from 70 percent in 2024 to 73 percent in 2025 and 81 percent in 2026.

Smartphone IP ratings across price bands in 2026 (as of June):

At the over Rs 60,000 level, premium protection was already common in 2024, and the mix was heavily skewed toward IP67/IP68/IP69, easing only slightly from 84 percent in 2024 to 90 percent in 2025 and 91 percent in 2026.

Smartphones with high IP protection in India

Why high IP Ratings have become common in affordable phones

For a long time, high dust and water resistance was mostly reserved for more expensive phones. It made sense then, because adding proper sealing, testing, and certification increased cost, and brands did not always see enough demand for it in their more affordable products.

In a market where many phones already offer similar chipsets, cameras, and battery life, durability has become one of the ways to make a device feel more complete. There is also a practical side to it, as phones are used in unpredictable conditions, and in markets like India, dust, sudden rain, and accidental spills are part of everyday life. Brands know this, so an IP rating gives them a way to show that a phone is better prepared for real-world use.

At the same time, the cost of adding this protection has become easier to absorb. Sealing methods, adhesives, and production processes have improved over the years, so brands can now offer better protection without pushing prices up as much as they once did.

That is a big reason why IP67, IP68, and even higher ratings have started appearing in phones that are no longer just at the top end of the market. Once a few brands started offering stronger ratings in lower price brackets, others had to follow. That is how a feature that once looked premium slowly turned into something more ordinary.

Does each phone have to have an IP rating?

Not every phone gets an IP rating, as some devices may still use seals, coatings, or stronger build choices, but the brand may choose not to go through formal testing and certification.

That can happen for a few reasons. Certification costs money, takes time, and adds another layer to the launch process. In some cases, brands may also prefer to keep the phone positioned as durable without making a formal claim that would need to be tested and defended.

There is also a difference between being resistant and being certified. A phone can be reasonably well protected in daily use and still not carry an IP badge, simply because the company did not pay for the testing or did not want to market it that way.

Some brands also focus on other durability standards instead, such as drop or shock protection. So a phone may be built to handle rough use in one sense, but still not have an official IP rating for dust and water.

Why do major brands still stick to IP68?

If you look at the way the market has moved, it is mostly Chinese OEMs that have pushed IP69 into the spotlight. Brands like OPPO, Vivo, OnePlus and Realme have used it as a clear talking point, while companies such as Samsung, Apple, Google and Nothing have mostly stayed with IP68.

That does not mean IP68 is weak. It already covers the level of protection most people actually need in daily life, from dust to rain to the odd splash or short dip in water. For the bigger brands, that has been enough to call the phone durable without going further.

There is also a simple marketing angle here, as IP69 rating gives Chinese brands a way to stand out on the specification sheet, especially in crowded mid-range and flagship segments where many phones look similar on paper. So while the standard itself is not new, the way it has been used very much is.

What IP ratings mean for Indian consumers

For most buyers, IP ratings are mainly about peace of mind. They do not make a phone indestructible, but they do give you a better idea of how it may fare against dust, rain, and the occasional spill. In India, that distinction matters quite a lot. A phone with IP67 or IP68 is safer for everyday use, especially if you travel a lot, use your phone outdoors, or just do not want a small accident to turn into a costly repair.

However, the highest rating is not always the most useful one for every person. For many users, an IP67 or IP68 rating is more than enough, while IP69 is only worth caring about if you want the extra safeguard or are regularly present in an environment where chances of mishaps tend to be greater.

Conclusion

Overall, the data makes one change quite clear: higher IP ratings are no longer confined to premium phones. Since 2024, better protection has steadily moved down the price ladder, with the strongest momentum visible in the under Rs 30,000 segment.

That makes the trend less about waterproofing as a flagship badge and more about it becoming a mainstream expectation. In other words, IP ratings are no longer just a premium expectation and are increasingly becoming a basic part of the feature set across the market.

This matters because it shows how quickly a once-top-end spec can become widely adopted. The market is not only bringing more protected phones, it is also normalising better protection across price bands.