While your AirPods Pro is designed to be water-resistant, submerging them in certain situations, like when taking a shower, can damage the device. If you plan to wash your hair without exposing your expensive AirPods to potential damage, consider using a showerhead to avoid directing water toward your ears.
Furthermore, Apple warns that the water protection feature wears off with age and use. Even though the water protection capability of Standard AirPods and their AirPods Pro counterpart may differ, showering with either is not a good idea. Let’s try to understand this feature more and learn a few tips on protecting your AirPods from water damage.
Is AirPods Waterproof?
Apple’s AirPod line of headphones is waterproof, but that doesn’t mean you should wear them while you shower. There are still some limitations to some water-resistant products, and a good knowledge of how Apple AirPods work will help you to use them safely for as long as possible.
There are two types of AirPods: standard and Pro. The earbuds are smaller than the over-ear headphones. It isn’t easy to distinguish between standard and pro-level earbuds, but the differences between standard and pro-level earbuds are subtle.
AirPods Premium and AirPod Pro differ slightly in their design and features, with the Premium version having more protection from harsh elements, including water and solid noise cancellation capability.
Unlike the standard AirPods, AirPods Pro is water-resistant. It’s important to note that although the latter are water-resistant, they aren’t waterproof. In reality, it is much better to think of the AirPods Pro as splash-proof than genuinely waterproof. Moreover, Apple also warns that users should not assume that the protection they receive will always be the same but that the protection will likely decrease over time.
AirPods & Showering
Because the standard AirPods are not water-resistant, so they should not be used in the shower. Despite the fact that AirPods Pro are better protected now, Apple recommends not using them in the shower. AirPods Pro has the highest water resistance available on the market.
AirPods Pro can withstand heavy rain or a vigorous workout, but they are not specifically built to withstand the water that comes from running showerheads. This includes not just the water from bathroom and kitchen faucets but shower heads too. AirPods Pro should not be used while you are showering or in other situations where the running water level is causing you to have trouble.
AirPods Pro will not survive the water that comes out of a shower head, and it is highly recommended that they do not come into contact with any other liquids often found in bathrooms, such as shampoos and conditioners. Additionally, Apple recommends avoiding using your AirPods Pro while using a sauna or steam room.
This makes it clear that AirPods users (whether they’re Pro or not) should stick to listening to music through their Bluetooth speaker when they are showering. That also means swimming with your AirPods or exposing them to sweat or rain is not advisable. In addition, you should make sure that you thoroughly dry your AirPods before you start charging them.
Certain activities, such as swimming or showering, are not recommended when using AirPods Pro. But what if you get caught in the rain or sweat when working out? While such situations are dicey, you should generally avoid getting your AirPods wet as much as possible. For instance, if it rains a lot, keep your AirPods Pro dry by putting them in a dry pocket and waiting for the rain to stop.
You can use the AirPods Pro just fine if it’s only raining for a short while, but any amount of water that gets in can damage them. When your AirPods Pro become wet, avoid storing them in the charging case. Instead, please place them in a dry place, such as a wallet or a jacket. Store the batteries in a dry pocket, and wait to charge them until you’ve completely dried them.
FAQs
What is the Ingress Protection (IP) of AirPods?
AirPods Pro is as protected as AirPods 1 and AirPods 2, IPX4. Therefore, the devices are designed to withstand water splashes from all directions and angles. This level of protection is often associated with sweat-resistant devices, as sweat is likely to splash on any part of the product while you are working out.
If you are wearing the AirPods Pro in a pouring down rain, it will protect them from water splashes. If you want your device to be safe in the shower or while swimming, look for earbuds with a rating of IPX7 or better. AirPods Pro, which has a rating of IPX4, will easily become wet when exposed to water that is more than just light sweat or a few light splashes. They will also probably be damaged when completely submerged in water for any time.
How do I protect wet AirPods?
If you accidentally get any water on your AirPod Pros, it’s essential to dry them quickly before you use them or charge them. Trying to use or charge your AirPods, even if they are wet, can damage them more. So don’t just put the earbuds in a charging case. How you should dry your AirPods depends on what happened to them and how badly they were wet.
AirPods Pro is designed to endure sweating during normal activities like exercising and while doing other physical activities, like going for a walk or while it drizzles, and even light splashing when it rains. Whenever you experience any of those conditions, remove the AirPods Pro from the case and dry them with a dry, lint-free cloth. Next, place the AirPods Pro in a charging case without contact with any water.
Wrap Up
Apple warns that the potential of damaging your AirPods worsens over time! It’s upon you to take good care of your AirPods Pro so you can enjoy years of amazing listening experiences. After all, why not take them off when you hit the shower for a few minutes and have them back on once you’re done?
You definitely don’t want to start budgeting for a new pair of AirPods Pro just because you have to take a shower with your AirPods almost all the time. Regardless of how careful you’re not to aim the water directly at your AirPods while in the shower, hitting the shower with them is not a good idea.
