If you’ve recently bought a pair of Apple AirPods or are considering it because all your searching has proven that they’re some top-notch earbuds, you might be curious if they’re waterproof. The short answer is no, so it’s best to avoid using them in overly rainy conditions or around water. However, you’re in for some good news if you’re eyeing the third-gen AirPods or the first- and second-gen AirPods Pro. They are indeed water-resistant.
Let’s examine what this means and examine how each AirPod model handles water. We’ll also discuss the levels of water resistance and what that means for your use. Let’s dive in!
Water resistant vs. waterproof
As we mentioned above, none of Apple’s AirPods — AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPod Max — are waterproof. But what is “waterproof” anyway? From an electronic device standpoint, being waterproof means that the device is watertight and can be completely submerged in water. There’s a common ratings system designed for electronics to measure this (as well as dust and dirt resistance) known as the IP (Ingress Protection) rating, which we cover in our post on the water-resistance rating system.
