Powerbeats Pro Water Resistance Test: Find Out What Happens if You Drop Apple's Newest Earbuds in the Toilet

[truthertech]

All of Apple’s claims of water resistance are false advertising.

My iPhone X went submerged for a couple of seconds in 20 cm of water; it was sold to me with the claim of being fine with 30 minutes under 1.5 m of water.

It instantly broke, water was literally everywhere from camera to CPU, and I had to pay €650 even if I was under warranty. Bad, disappointing experience overall.

Well obviously you did something to your phone to "break" it as you say, since no smart phone will "break" simply if it is dipped in water. Once your phone was broken, it's no wonder that water went everywhere.

*This is also exactly why Apple doesn't warranty any phone against water damage, regardless of the water resistance rating. Apple has no idea what you did to your phone that exceeded, for example, the typical rating of "up to 30 minutes at at up to 1 meter," and they would be replacing phones that people went scuba diving with, dropped to the bottom of the ocean/lake, put in the washer, or as in this case, somehow dropped and cracked the screen before it went in the water.

 

[0388631]

Lololol. Take it back! Take it back!

Say that a lot then?

 

[truthertech]

What I I want to know is what is worth the up to $200 premium over wired headphones for those who choose to pay that much.

Are you implying that not having ANY wires is what is worth the cost? Or is there additional functionality not present in regular, old wired buds?

I'm looking for legit answers/opinions, not snark.

Glad to weigh in. First, until you go wireless, you can't appreciate how wonderful it is. The first time I flew on an airplane and didn't have the nightmare of wires getting caught and ripped out as I got up out of my seat or moved about the cabin, I knew I would never go back. Now I couldn't imagine working out, working in the yard, etc., dealing with wires again. As far as the additional price, with AirPods and the new Beats , keep in mind you are also paying for some great features like the accelerometer that detects when you take one out so it can stop automatically, you've got the H-1 chip to have fantastic pairing in seconds and no noticeable latency when watching video which is huge in of itself. You also have the ability to listen to audio source with either ear piece, so those times when you only want one in, it doesn't matter which one. So in sum, make sure your are comparing Apples with Apples.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Wireless headphones = yet even more EM radiation directed right at your brain (from both sides).
That is why I hate to see the HP jacks disappearing.

 

[genen]

Tests are all meaningless unless the headphones were playing music. The vibration from the music is likely to create micro waves around them which could increase pressure on crevices and flood them in a way that turned off devices never would.

Please tell us if you had them turned on and to what volume level.

Apple's new Powerbeats Pro earbuds feature a "reinforced design" for improved "sweat and water resistance" along with an official IPX4 water resistance rating, which means they should be able to hold up to a good amount of moisture.

Still, there were a lot of reports of the Powerbeats 3 failing due to sweat exposure, so we thought we'd test the liquid tolerance of the Powerbeats Pro with a series of water resistance tests.

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An IPX4 water resistance rating means that the Powerbeats Pro were able to withstand splashing water for at least 10 minutes, which is pretty decent because most people don't sweat buckets of water for an extended period of time.

We tested splashing water, jets of water, and even an extended dunk in water, and the Powerbeats Pro held up and worked well after every single test. Here's what we did:

- Test 1 - Simulated a drop in a kitchen sink with heavy splashes of water.
- Test 2 - Set the Powerbeats Pro in the shower for several minutes to simulate heavy rain.
- Test 3 - Dropped the Powerbeats Pro in the toilet, submerging them briefly.
- Test 4 - Dunked the Powerbeats Pro in a bowl of water for one minute.
- Test 5 - Dunked the PowerBeats Pro in a bowl of water for five minutes.
- Test 6 - Dunked the Powerbeats Pro in a bowl of water for 20 minutes.

After each water test, the sound coming from the Powerbeats Pro was muffled when we tested them, but once we got the water out, the earbuds were back to sounding normal.

The Powerbeats Pro survived all of our water tests. Nothing changed with the sound profile, the buttons continued to work, and charging was also fine. This suggests that the Powerbeats Pro do indeed have superior water resistance to the Powerbeats 3 and should hold up well to sweat.

We do not recommend showering with the Powerbeats Pro, using them in the rain, swimming with them, or otherwise exposing them to excessive moisture. Even when things are decently water resistant, the water resistance can wear down over time so it's going to be best to keep the Powerbeats Pro as dry as possible.

While the Powerbeats Pro did well in our tests, we've only continually exposed them to water and moisture for a couple of hours. We still don't know how they'll hold up to sweat over time, but right now, things are looking positive.

Article Link: Powerbeats Pro Water Resistance Test: Find Out What Happens if You Drop Apple's Newest Earbuds in the Toilet

 

[rmsanger]

Lol take your power beats to the gym then make the 20 yard Hershey squirt dash to the lockeroom only to drop them in them in the crapper.

I guess you flush wash hands then run your beats under the drier only to return to your lifting sesh.

 

[gnasher729]

Exactly. And beyond that, why not do the toilet test last? They claim it was the third of six different tests! I'd have made the toilet test #6 and tossed them after that rather than continue to test them.

You realise someone put them into their ears after the toilet test :-(
[doublepost=1558196468][/doublepost]

Well maybe someone come swim with them then. Swim test!

And a toilet really, that is dedicated to your job bro!

If I spent $250 on earphones to test, I'd also invest the money to buy a brand new toilet bowl from a builders store. I'm sure you can get one under $100.
[doublepost=1558196562][/doublepost]

Then it was a manufacturing defect and Apple should have replaced the phone. Except they never will. So they're falsely advertising a feature that they will never honour.

They don't pay if the phone has water damage. But that's not the point - the point is it is much more likely that there is no water damage in the same situation.

 

[troyhouse]

these are still backordered, and earliest delivery is jun 10th. Are they really that much in demand?

 

[gnasher729]

Remember the Samsung Champagne commercial? At that point Samsung was not covering water damage in the Galaxy phones. They subsequently pulled the commercial. Having water resistance benefits the consumer more than the manufacturer, but as you said, you can't get a false sense of security.

You should really treat your water-resistant devices exactly the same as devices that are not water resistant. The only difference is that if you mess up (don't remove the watch while washing your hands, or using your phone in the rain) you will most likely not get punished for it.

 

[Khedron]

Not if the seals became damaged due to a drop...

Or because of their manufacturing processes, like the ones that cause iPads to arrive bent in box
[doublepost=1558198080][/doublepost]

Or, the phone could have been damaged due to user. Either way Apple is very clear (and Samsung has the same warrantyon some of its phones). Water damage is not covered. Which is why it is said on the forums to treat your water resistant phone as if it weren't.

In other words, treat the IP rating as worthless once the phone is in the real world.

Which is why OnePlus makes its phones cheaper by not bothering with official certification even though it is also fully functional underwater.

 

[Renho]

these are still backordered, and earliest delivery is jun 10th. Are they really that much in demand?

I think it was just a soft launch. They didn’t have that many from the jump. Only one color at that. If you think, everyone has AirPods or tried them. So this is just the active lifestyle AirPods. Lots of athletes out there!

 

[IIGS User]

Sounds like butt spirit

 

[Crowbot]

You should really treat your water-resistant devices exactly the same as devices that are not water resistant. The only difference is that if you mess up (don't remove the watch while washing your hands, or using your phone in the rain) you will most likely not get punished for it.

Right. Apple makes the point that seals degrade with continued exposure.

 

[I7guy]

Or because of their manufacturing processes, like the ones that cause iPads to arrive bent in box

Or user damage.

In other words, treat the IP rating as worthless once the phone is in the real world.

Correct. Water resistance benefits the consumer not the manufacturer.

Which is why OnePlus makes its phones cheaper by not bothering with official certification even though it is also fully functional underwater.

Right. And if the phone gets damaged from water, throw it away and buy another.

Edit: environmentally friendly.

 

[russell_314]

Wireless headphones = yet even more EM radiation directed right at your brain (from both sides).
That is why I hate to see the HP jacks disappearing.

Covering your head with aluminum foil blocks this

 

[dgdosen]

Anyone try swimming in them? I like the idea of swim-proof headphones - but I'm not sure how they'd hold up, or even sound with water rushing by your ears...

 

[russell_314]

Anyone try swimming in them? I like the idea of swim-proof headphones - but I'm not sure how they'd hold up, or even sound with water rushing by your ears...

I don't think anyone would risk destroying them. IPX4 isn't good enough for that.

 

[Morgenland]

Summary: Apple tests new products extensively.
That's what sets them apart from the competition.

 

[truthertech]

Or because of their manufacturing processes, like the ones that cause iPads to arrive bent in box
[doublepost=1558198080][/doublepost]

In other words, treat the IP rating as worthless once the phone is in the real world.

/QUOTE]


No, the IP rating tells you everything you need to know and that 99.99% of people care about. You don't need to worry anymore if you should accidentally drop your item in the pool, toilet, lake, etc. And that you don't need to worry about a steam filled bathroom, or walking in the rain, or sweating. What you aren't getting is an assurance that you can wash them in the clothes washer by mistake or lose in the bottom of a deep lake or waterski, etc., etc., (Although in each of those cases, the water resistant features, such as elimination of the headphone jack, is so effective, that there are countless examples of where people have done that and the devices have been just fine!)

 

[ipponrg]

these are still backordered, and earliest delivery is jun 10th. Are they really that much in demand?

Are you sure that's only correlated to demand?

Some companies are known for limiting orders to artificially create demand.
[doublepost=1558207915][/doublepost]

Anyone try swimming in them? I like the idea of swim-proof headphones - but I'm not sure how they'd hold up, or even sound with water rushing by your ears...

I probably wouldn't buy these for swim proof headphones. There are other more qualified options in the market for that niche.

 

[Jamesk811]

When are these supposed to be released in Australia? Is there any indication of when to expect them as they just say “coming soon” in black and “coming this winter” in other colours.

Does “coming soon” in black mean it will be before winter? If so that mean she they are coming out before June.

 

[I7guy]

Are you sure that's only correlated to demand?

Some companies are known for limiting orders to artificially create demand....

What companies do this? Cut off their nose to spite their face?

 

[inhalexhale1]

I thought about giving the Powerbeats Pro a try for running, but I want to know that they'd hold up over time with sweat, rain, etc. I'm not willing to gamble $250.

I ran with a pair of earbuds that came with an iPod Shuffle for four years through every type of condition, even putting them through the washing machine a few times. Talk about durability!

I’ve owned the Powerbeats 2 and 3. Great while they last, though both stopped working after 1-2 years.

 

[ipponrg]

What companies do this? Cut off their nose to spite their face?

I wouldn't say it's cutting their nose to spite their face. It's a valid marketing tactic. Look up artificial scarcity. No company will admit to this, but it's a common product tactic. It's risky but when executed well the return is more than worth the risk.

I think one plausible example is Nintendo. Can't say for the current generation, but they were under suspicion for their earlier consoles.

 

[thirteen1031]

I predict complaints that "Because of this review, I wore these in the shower/went swimming with them and now they're dead! This is all your fault, MacRumors!" That said, it is good to know that if you're wearing them in the morning and forget to take them off as you step into the shower, or ditto, if you're wearing them poolside and forget to remove them when you dive in, there is a good probability you won't do them any harm.