Pixel 4a (5G) - Some water resistance??

[Matty]

Hello everyone, I'm very interested in purchasing the 5G version of Google's latest Pixel 4a family.

I know Google has not stated any IP rating for the Pixel 4A 5G, however, for those who have the device (either for review or purchase).

Are you able to do the following without any damage occurring?
1) Use while walking in the rain.
2) Rinse under a tap
3) Drop in a pool (couple seconds)

The IP rating isn't a deal breaker but it's nice to have that piece of mind that it won't break from some water

Thanks everyone for all your responses!

 

[hallux]

2) Rinse under a tap

I wouldn't do this even with a phone/device that has an IP rating.

I agree that it's nice to have that protection, but it's not a deal breaker for me.

See if anyone has a video of a teardown posted, that might give you an idea of the protection but I can't imagine anyone intentionally exposing a device they've bought for personal use to those kinds of tests except for the walking in the rain.

To be fair, walking in the rain shouldn't be much of an issue unless it's a torrential downpour.

 

[bkdodger2]

Exactly! walking with it while rain might happen but not for extended time... Possibly to send quick text response or call response

 

[sulla1965]

I've rinsed IP 68 phones many times without any problems. Non IP rated phones are a risk whenever water or dust is at play. Its the price, along with wireless charging, that one pays if your not going with a flagship phone.

 

[Mooncatt]

No manufacturer will warranty against water damage, even if it has an IP rating. That number is a meaningless marketing gimmick, much like the military spec durability ratings. They only account for controlled lab tests (the durability test is subjective as well), not real world environments. I just ignore it and treat my devices as if they are not protected.

 

[mustang7757]

No manufacturer will warranty against water damage, even if it has an IP rating. That number is a meaningless marketing gimmick, much like the military spec durability ratings. They only account for controlled lab tests (the durability test is subjective as well), not real world environments. I just ignore it and treat my devices as if they are not protected.

Agree

 

[sulla1965]

Its not a marketing gimmick. IP 68 means water won't damage the phone under any normal circumstances. I've got my s20 plus wet several times, and I've washed it in a sink. I would never even try that with a non IP 68 device like a 4a 5g

 

[mustang7757]

Its not a marketing gimmick. IP 68 means water won't damage the phone under any normal circumstances. I've got my s20 plus wet several times, and I've washed it in a sink. I would never even try that with a non IP 68 device like a 4a 5g

No it's not a gimmick, just a safety net incase something happens, those are tested in a controlled environment area and yes I've gotten my ip68 phones wet but I won't do it on purpose and any indication of water intrusion they won't warranty it.

 

[Mooncatt]

Its not a marketing gimmick. IP 68 means water won't damage the phone under any normal circumstances. I've got my s20 plus wet several times, and I've washed it in a sink. I would never even try that with a non IP 68 device like a 4a 5g

No, the IP rating means a device should be able to keep out water and dust under controlled laboratory conditions dictated by the ratings they are certifying for. It doesn't account for everyday uses and variables (I. E. dropped phones, or chemicals or other contaminants in the water) that could break the seals. If the rating is so trustworthy, manufacturers would warranty for water damage.

 

[Mike Dee]

Hello everyone, I'm very interested in purchasing the 5G version of Google's latest Pixel 4a family.

I know Google has not stated any IP rating for the Pixel 4A 5G, however, for those who have the device (either for review or purchase).

Are you able to do the following without any damage occurring?
1) Use while walking in the rain.
2) Rinse under a tap
3) Drop in a pool (couple seconds)

The IP rating isn't a deal breaker but it's nice to have that piece of mind that it won't break from some water

Thanks everyone for all your responses!

Any phone will offer resistance to a few rain drops but I would not rinse any phone under a tap regardless of rating even if others have done so successfully.

 

[Rukbat]

The phone is rated IP52. But even IP68 won't protect a phone from running water or being dropped into water. It's a pressure rating system, and 1.5 meters is a pressure of 2.13 psi. 6" from a faucet fed by 30psi way exceeds that. (Dropping the phone 5 feet into a pool? That's got to hit with at least 5 pounds, also exceeding an IP68 rating.)

Walking in the rain is usually fine, but I wouldn't take one out in a SE Asia monsoon. If your eyeballs aren't comfortable being exposed to the rain, your phone won't be either. (But there's always the baggie thing - put the phone into a zip lock baggie. Put that zip lock first into another bag. [Both zipped shut.] You can use the phone like that, you can hear, and be heard, through the plastic, but the phone will withstand a bit of water. [I've dropped a phone protected like that into about 60 feet of ocean water. With a bit of cork in the inner bag, I just netted the package and brought it back onto the boat. No big deal.])

 

[Matty]

Any phone will offer resistance to a few rain drops but I would not rinse any phone under a tap regardless of rating even if others have done so successfully.

Thanks for the reply Mike

Nice to get everyone's opinion on this. I've always been ultra cautious with my devices but always nice to have that little bit of protection from some rain or accidental drop in some water.

 

[Matty]

The phone is rated IP52. But even IP68 won't protect a phone from running water or being dropped into water. It's a pressure rating system, and 1.5 meters is a pressure of 2.13 psi. 6" from a faucet fed by 30psi way exceeds that. (Dropping the phone 5 feet into a pool? That's got to hit with at least 5 pounds, also exceeding an IP68 rating.)

Walking in the rain is usually fine, but I wouldn't take one out in a SE Asia monsoon. If your eyeballs aren't comfortable being exposed to the rain, your phone won't be either. (But there's always the baggie thing - put the phone into a zip lock baggie. Put that zip lock first into another bag. [Both zipped shut.] You can use the phone like that, you can hear, and be heard, through the plastic, but the phone will withstand a bit of water. [I've dropped a phone protected like that into about 60 feet of ocean water. With a bit of cork in the inner bag, I just netted the package and brought it back onto the boat. No big deal.])

Thanks for the reply Rakbat

May I ask where you got the IP52 rating from? I search high and low for one lol.

I think as long as the phone is ok with some rain (drizzle) that I can wipe away with my sleeve or something. Then I'll be happy. I used to only have Blackberry devices and if I even looked at water the phone broke lol.