GoKawiil
Tech News
Some USB-C cables sold on retailers like Amazon include sealed connectors designed to resist water and dust, but not all are genuinely waterproof. The International Electrotechnical Commission's IEC 60529 standard assigns an Ingress Protection code, where the first digit rates dust resistance and the second rates water resistance. Cables with IP67 or IP68 ratings meet the threshold for true water protection.
Samsung's Galaxy A37 5G is an incremental update to last year's A36, now featuring an IP68 dust and water resistance rating alongside Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on front and back. The phone keeps the same dimensions, 196-gram weight, and flat-edged design as its predecessor, with the Lavender colorway reviewed here better at hiding fingerprints than the Charcoal option.
iFixit has published its teardown of Apple's iPhone Duo, awarding it a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10—the highest the site has given any foldable phone. The analysis focused heavily on the device's hinge mechanism, which combines gears, springs and interconnected metal joints with a waterdrop-shaped bend to protect the display, and the device carries an IP68 dust and water resistance rating.
Comparison of Apple's iPhone Duo and Xiaomi's 18 Fold shows both have 7.6-inch inner and 5.4-inch outer screens at 120Hz, but Xiaomi claims 4,000-nit peak brightness versus Apple's 3,000 nits. Apple uses a titanium frame, Ceramic Shield glass and IP68 rating with a 2nm A20 Pro chip and 12GB RAM, while Xiaomi's aluminum-framed phone weighs less at 219g, lacks a listed IP rating, and runs a 3nm XRING O3 chip with 16GB RAM.
Amazon has cut the price of JBL's Endurance Peak 4 sports earbuds to $79, a $51 discount from their usual price and the lowest price recorded for the model. The earbuds carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and offer up to 48 hours of battery life with their charging case.
Samsung warns that dirt, coins, and keys can scratch or puncture the internal screens of its Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra models, especially when closing the device. The level of protection varies, with these models rated IP48, indicating some resistance to solids but not dust-tight, unlike the IP68-rated iPhone Duo. Users in dusty or sandy environments should exercise caution to prevent damage.
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra keeps the same 45W charging speed and 11,600mAh battery as its predecessor, the Tab S11 Ultra. The two tablets share identical IP68 ratings, thickness of 5.1mm, and weight of 692 grams, with the main difference being the S12 Ultra shipping with One UI 9.0 out of the box, an update the S11 Ultra will also receive soon.
Smartphone makers including Apple and Google caution that IP67/IP68 water-resistance ratings do not mean phones are waterproof, and that steam from hot showers or saunas can condense into liquid that seeps in through charging ports, speakers, buttons and seals. Apple's support documentation specifically advises against bringing iPhones into saunas or steam rooms, noting that liquid damage isn't covered under warranty; Google offers similar guidance and suggests using a Bluetooth speaker instead.
New render images from leaker Evan Blass show the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra retains last year's design, including its small notch and dual separate rear cameras. Separately, leaker Roland Quandt shared purported Samsung EU Energy Labels for the Tab S12 Plus and Ultra, listing model numbers SM-X840 and SM-X846B and rating the Ultra for nearly 89 hours of battery life versus just over 80 hours for the Plus, with both tablets carrying IP68 protection. Leaks point to an October 7 debut for the lineup.
According to a blogger tracking Chinese social media chatter, Samsung is moving up the release of its Galaxy Z Trifold 2, seemingly in reaction to Apple's incoming iPhone Duo. The move comes despite the original trifold device's lackluster commercial performance, and the new model is expected to carry a similar price tag.
Apple and Google have each released premium foldable phones—the iPhone Duo and Pixel 11 Pro Fold—that carry IP68 durability ratings, a first for foldables in terms of dust and water protection. The Duo starts at $1,999 with preorders opening Oct. 16 ahead of an Oct. 23 launch, while the $1,899 Pixel 11 Pro Fold is already on sale. The two differ mainly in form factor: the Pixel uses a book-style fold with a standard-size cover screen, while the Duo has a shorter, wider passport-style design.
Apple has unveiled its first foldable iPhone, dubbed the Duo, and early hands-on impressions describe a matte-finish inner display, a smooth hinge with barely detectable crease, and IP68 water resistance. The device has a compact 5.4-inch outer screen and animates a gradual visual transition as it opens and closes, rather than simply switching displays on and off.