What is MIL-SPEC?
MIL-SPEC or MIL-STD stands for Military Specification and Military Standard. These are a series of standards set out by the U.S. Military to ensure the proper dependability of their equipment. To be granted a MIL-SPEC rating, a device must pass several tests.
Environmental Testing.
MIL-SPEC 810 assesses the working range of our devices in a number of environmental conditions including. This includes working at high and low temperatures, salt mist exposure, random vibration testing and humidity testing.
The Wet Bit.
The last number is water protection. 8 means that it is tested to withstand temporary submersion in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes. 9 means that the device is designed to withstand high-pressure jets of water from close range.
And remember to check the small print...
Many non-rugged phones are also rated IP68, but this can sometimes give users false confidence in their phone. Any drops or damage can make the IP rating void, so your waterproof phone might no longer be very waterproof.