The best earbuds of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

Your earbuds are likely water-resistant, but they may also be waterproof. To ensure they can withstand bouts in the rain, sweaty workouts, or accidental drops in the pool, you should find their ingress protection (IP) rating. An IP rating consists of two numbers. The first number indicates a product’s ability to avoid damage from solid foreign objects, and the second number indicates a product’s ability to prevent water damage.

You want your earbuds to have at least an IPX4 rating. This rating means the earbuds were not formally tested for solids ingress but will not be damaged by water splashes. If your earbuds have a more robust IP rating, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (IP57), they will not be damaged by dust and can survive accidental drops in water.

Manufacturers send their products to IP testing facilities to certify a product. To determine dust ingress, a device is placed in a dust chamber, sprayed with dust, and disassembled to assess how much dust is inside. Water testing is more comprehensive, exposing devices to water and other liquids. The lab will subject a device to constant water droplets, simulated rain, water jets, or water submersion to determine liquid ingress.

If your device doesn’t have an IP rating, it doesn’t necessarily mean the product cannot withstand sweat or trips in the rain. Instead, the company did not formally send a product to a lab for testing. However, it’s best to ensure your device’s protection levels and choose earbuds with an official IP rating.