IP rating of fairphone devices - is it impacted by opening the phone?

Discuss The Products
1

The website article about the refurbished FP6 contains a very interesting (and worrying) clause (I have bolded a concerning part)

Please Note: The internal specifications of a new and refurbished Fairphone (Gen. 6) are completely identical, with one minor exception: because refurbished phones may have been opened during tech checks, the original IP (ingress protection) water-resistance rating cannot be guaranteed.

I have always assumed that Fairphone IP rating is lower due to its modularity. That is why I followed the development of Shiftphone 8 with their promise of delivering a higher IP rating - they kinda promised higher, ended with IP66 and had a special article* outlining the challenges

In our laboratory tests, the SHIFTphone 8 successfully met the requirements of the IP67 protection rating. However, this enhanced protection only applies under certain conditions:

  • The device is fitted with one of our custom-fit bumpers,
    a newly fitted, nano-coated display is installed,
    and the device has not yet been opened or taken apart for repair.

Shiftphone further explains

As the IP67 protection rating would only be guaranteed under certain conditions, and we don’t want to raise false expectations, we have deliberately chosen to market the SHIFTphone 8 as a water-resistant device with IP66 certification. (…)

but also notes (again bolding mine)

The SHIFTphone 8 is equipped with optimal water protection as supplied. However, this protection may be compromised if the device is opened. If, for example, the sealing lips are positioned incorrectly, screws are not tightened properly or the display is not fitted precisely during reassembly, the original water protection can no longer be guaranteed.
Despite the SHIFTphone 8’s good water protection and the certifications it has achieved, damage to the device caused by water or other liquids is excluded from the warranty.

(*) The article is in German, my understanding and quotations are then DeepL based.

I tried to dig deeper and compare with other non-modular phones. I was not able to find anything conclusive. Some customer forums have had questions on battery-replacement impact on IP rating and reassuring answers that if repair is done in an authorised centre, IP rating is maintained. Plus one fixit reply that it cannot be guaranteed and no service does it :wink:

The fairphone website on IP rating does not mention anything on the issue of opening the phone and affecting the IP rating, instead we can read

It makes us very proud to get an IP certification while respecting the right to repair and allowing our customers to fix their phones by themselves.

All of that makes me upset that refurbished fairphone devices - checked and reassembled by professional technicians are to have lowered IP ratings.

This post was edited and moved to create a new topic. Apologies for the wall of text (the weakness of a researcher), TLDR version below

TLDR: refurbished FP6 devices have allegedly lower IP rating due to them being opened (sic!)

2

Just adding that I have submitted a ticket asking for more information on that.

And got some information from TIN, not extremely reassuring

Opening your Fairphone can reduce its original water and dust resistance. Once a device has been opened for inspection or repair, the factory IP rating can no longer be fully guaranteed. (…) An opened device should be treated as less reliable for water and dust protection. Refurbished devices are carefully reassembled and tested, but you should not rely on the original water and dust resistance. Keep opened devices away from heavy rain or submersion.

TIN referred the same two pages I did before :slight_smile:

3

So, does that mean that even by replacing the back with the finger loop I invalidated the IP rating? I don’t remember seeing any rubber gasket in there

4

Frankly I don’t know what they meant here.
The first thing I did with my new FP5 was to dismantle the display;-)

I will report back anything official I hear back.

5

Reporting that I received a reply from the Support on my query

A properly disassembled and reassembled Fairphone (Gen. 6), following the recommended procedures, is not expected to lose its water-resistance characteristics simply because it has been opened. This applies whether the device is opened by the user for routine maintenance, such as replacing the battery, or by an authorized repair center performing a repair.
The statement regarding refurbished devices is primarily about certification and guarantee. Refurbished devices have been used, handled, inspected, and in some cases repaired before being resold. Because of this history, we cannot provide the same formal guarantee regarding the original IP rating as we do for a brand-new device straight from production.
This does not mean that a refurbished device is no longer water resistant, nor does it mean that opening a device automatically compromises its water resistance. Rather, after a device has been in use and undergone inspection or refurbishment processes, we do not perform a new IP certification process on each individual device. As a result, we cannot officially guarantee that the device continues to meet the original certified rating.
We understand that the wording can be confusing. The intention is not to discourage users from maintaining their devices, but rather to be transparent about what we can and cannot officially guarantee after a device has been refurbished.

I find it at least somewhat reassuring. I also enjoy the fact that the reply came in three days’ time.

6

A rating below 7 says only one thing: These devices are NOT waterproof! Dividing this characteristic into six levels seems completely pointless to me. If I have to worry about the direction the rain is coming from and whether it’s just a drizzle or something a bit heavier then Fairphones are generally only usable in dry conditions …

7

Please note that this is a widely recognized classification so I think it is only understandable that Fairphone uses it to communicate with their users.

I agree that these devices are not waterproof but personally I always pay attention to the rating and try yo adjust my behaviour accordingly. I also welcome the fact that newer FP devices have higher IP rating, which is an improvement in my eyes :slight_smile:

8

It may be recognised but in this context it is of very limited value. If moisture can somehow reach the sensitive electronics inside, such a phone can only be used in dry conditions.