Can you imagine summer without a dream vacation somewhere near the water? Or without a good book? All outdoor reading lovers will be happy to know that our three current PocketBook models are protected from the effects of water according to the IPX8 standard: PocketBook Touch HD 3, PocketBook InkPad 3 Pro and PocketBook Era.

But what do these “IPX8” letters and numbers mean? Is an e-reader really capable of diving into a bath or a pool, and why swimming with an e-reader in the sea is not the best idea? The answers to these and many other questions are waiting for you in this article!

IP protection standards – what are they, and what do they protect your gadget from?

IP or Ingress Protection is an international standard for protecting your device from solid particles and liquids. In other words, it shows how protected your e-reader is from dust, dirt, and water.

The first two letters IP are followed by two more characters: numbers or the letter X. For instance, IP20 or IPX8.

• The first number (0-6) indicates the level of protection against solid particles.
• The second number (0-9) shows the level of protection against water.
• If the number is replaced by the letter X, the device has not been tested for resistance to dust or water.

As you can see, everything is pretty simple! For example, if the level of protection of the device is IP20, it means that it is not afraid of solid particles larger than 12.5 mm, but it is not protected from water. If the manufacturers report protection according to the IPX8 standard – the device is waterproof, but tests to protect it from dirt and dust have not been conducted.

You can learn more about the meaning of each digit of the IP code on the website of the International Electrotechnical Commission. https://www.iec.ch/ip-ratings

IPX7 and IPX8 - what’s the difference?

As you can see, there are lots of IP protection variants, but let’s look at two of them, which are the most relevant for e-readers – IPX7 and IPX8.

Both codes indicate the e-reader’s water resistance: the device will withstand immersion in fresh water and continue providing comfortable and safe reading. The only difference between IPX7 and IPX8 is the depth of immersion and the time the device can spend underwater.

• A device with IPX7 protection withstands immersion in fresh water to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
• A device with IPX8 protection can cope with immersion in fresh water to a depth of over 1 meter for more than 30 minutes. There are no clear numbers here, as in IPX7, so each manufacturer can independently determine the maximum immersion level for the gadget. The main thing is that it must be deeper than 1 meter. It means that not all IPX8-protected devices can show exactly the same level of water resistance. PocketBook e-readers with IPX8 protection withstand immersion in fresh water to a depth of 2 meters for up to 60 minutes.

Is it okay to immerse a waterproof e-reader in the sea?

If this summer, you plan to combine diving at sea with underwater reading – we don’t have the best news for you. Any liquid protection according to the IP standard applies only to fresh water without harmful impurities and salts. In other words, no manufacturer guarantees the serviceability of a waterproof e-reader after immersion in seawater.

Why a waterproof e-reader is a great idea?

Have you ever been in heavy rain with a paper book? Or, say, dropped it in the water while taking a bath? If so, you know that for a while you will have to forget about reading, or even buy a new book. The waterproof PocketBook e-reader can survive even a heavy downpour, immersion in the bath, or acquaintance with a bottle of water that accidentally opened in your bag.

If you like to read not only at home but also in nature, on trips and vacations, we recommend you choose one of the waterproof PocketBook devices, which, even after falling into the water, will not leave you without your favourite novel.