Understanding Water & Dust Resistance Ratings: IP67, ATM, and More

When buying a smartwatch, you’ll often see ratings like IP67 or 5ATM in the product description. These aren’t just random codes — they’re international standards that tell you exactly how much water and dust your device can handle.

Here’s a simple breakdown so you know what those ratings mean, and which ones matter most for your lifestyle.

1. IP Ratings – Dust and Water Protection in One Code

IP stands for Ingress Protection. It’s an international standard that measures how well a device is sealed against dust and water. An IP rating has two numbers:

First number = dust protection (0–6)
Second number = water protection (0–9)

Example: many of our watches will say "IP67 or IP68"

6 → Completely dust-tight.
7 → Can survive being submerged in water up to 1 metre deep for 30 minutes.

2. ATM Ratings – Water Pressure Resistance

ATM stands for Atmospheres — a measure of how much pressure a device can withstand underwater. It’s based on the equivalent pressure at a certain depth.

However — and this is important — ATM ratings are lab tests, not guarantees for real-world swimming depths. Movement in water increases pressure, so you shouldn’t push a device to its exact ATM rating in actual use. 1ATM is equivalent to the pressure at 10metres depth, 3ATM is equivalent to 30metres, and so on.

ATM Water Activity Guide

Watches with a rating of IP67, IP68 or 1ATM are often referred to as "life waterproof" or simply "water resistant". Here is a general guide on what you can do with your watch:

3. IP vs ATM – Which Matters More?

IP ratings are better for describing dust resistance and temporary water exposure.
ATM ratings are better for describing ongoing water pressure resistance (swimming, diving).

Some rugged watches have both ratings — for example, IP68 for dust and brief immersion, plus 5ATM for safe swimming.

4. Choosing the Right Rating for Your Watch

Choosing the right resistance level depends on your lifestyle:

Tradesperson or outdoor worker → High dust rating (IP6X) and splash resistance (IPX4 or better).
Gym-goer or runner → Sweat-resistant and rainproof (IPX4+ or 3ATM).
Swimmer → 5ATM or higher.
Snorkeller or diver → 10ATM–20ATM, preferably with a dedicated dive mode.

5. Our Models With Different Ratings

We offer smartwatches with a variety of dust and water resistance levels.
Each product page clearly lists its IP and/or ATM rating so you can choose the one that fits your needs.

Pro Tip: Even with high resistance ratings, always rinse your watch after saltwater use and avoid pressing buttons underwater unless the manufacturer specifically says it’s safe. Please note, due to the various ways people use their watches, it is not possible to warrant watches against water ingress.

Check out our watches that feature the highest water and dust resistance rating below: