AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 5 are rated IP57. A rating that survives 30 minutes at a depth of 1 m sounds like it should handle a shower or a pool. The manufacturers' guidance says otherwise.
Apple's support article About the sweat and water resistance of AirPods (published September 18, 2026) says AirPods Pro 3 and its charging case, and AirPods 5, are rated IP57 under IEC standard 60529 (a maximum depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes). The same article states that these products are not designed to be worn during water sports such as swimming or while showering, and says not to expose them to running water from a shower or faucet, to saunas or steam rooms, or to high-velocity water such as water skiing.
The 7 is an immersion item
In Samsung Electronics Service's dust and water protection rating table, the first digit after IP describes protection against dust and the second digit protection against water. The second digit covers items of different kinds.
| Second digit | Description in the table |
|---|---|
| 4 | Protected against liquid sprayed from any direction |
| 5 | Protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| 6 | Protected against high-pressure water jets from any direction |
| 7 | Protected for 30 minutes underwater at a depth of 15 cm to 1 m |
| 8 | Protected for 30 minutes underwater at a depth of 1.5 m |
Running shower water is closer to the spray and water-jet items in the table. The IP57 marking alone does not show which water-jet level, if any, the product meets, and nothing in this table supports reading a 7 as stronger against water jets than a 5 or 6.
The test water is clean fresh water
Samsung Electronics Service's guide to the water resistance of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Buds Pro gives the IPX7 test conditions as room temperature, fresh water, 1 m and 30 minutes. It says not to expose the buds to or submerge them in liquids such as salt water, pool water, soapy water or sunscreen, and not to swim, do water sports or shower while wearing them, or use a sauna or spa. Apple likewise writes that soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, sunscreen and similar substances can negatively affect the water-resistant seals and acoustic membranes. A shower adds soap and shampoo to running water, and pool water is not fresh water.
The rating also does not stay the same. The AirPods Pro 3 technical specifications state that IP57 is the result of testing under controlled laboratory conditions. Apple's support article says water and dust resistance are not permanent and might decrease over time, and that they cannot be rechecked or resealed.
What differs for the IP57 models
Apple's article tells owners not to submerge AirPods Pro 1 and 2 or AirPods 3 and 4, and AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 5, which are IP57, are not on that list. The ratings in the same article are as follows.
| Model | Rating | On the "don't submerge" list |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 1 | IPX4 (earbuds) | Yes |
| AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning case), AirPods 3 | IPX4 | Yes |
| AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C case), AirPods 4 | IP54 | Yes |
| AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 5 | IP57 | No |
Apple says the MagSafe Charging Case and Wireless Charging Case for AirPods Pro 1 are not sweat and water resistant. In Samsung's guidance too, the IPX7 rating of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Buds Pro applies only to the earbuds; the charging case does not support water resistance.
In Apple's article, what sets the IP57 models apart from earlier ones is that they are off this list. Neither manufacturer includes showering or swimming in the permitted uses. If your earbuds get wet, follow Apple's guidance: wipe them with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth and let them dry completely for at least 2 hours before using them or putting them in the case. Do not charge them while wet. The Samsung guidance is a March 2022 document for the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Buds Pro; guidance for other Galaxy Buds models was not checked.