Is the Huawei P30 Lite Water Resistant?
The Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro have won many plaudits with their photography capabilities and now it’s the turn of the Huawei P30 Lite. Despite being a mid-range offering, the Huawei P30 Lite comes with a host of features that are usually reserved for much more expensive devices. But is the Huawei P30 Lite water resistant? The Huawei P30 Lite is not ‘officially’ water resistant and does not come with a certified IP rating. That said, it is coated in aluminium silicate; a toughened glass that provides an extra layer of protection. The Huawei P30 Lite is available from Clove Technology in Peacock Blue, Midnight Black and Pearl White for £329.99 inc-VAT Huawei P30 Lite | £329.99 inc-VAT What is an IP rating and is it important? An IP rating is an international standard that is used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (such as dirt and dust) and moisture. An IP rating is presented in the form of ‘IP’ (Ingress Protection) followed by two numbers. The first of these numbers refers to the protection provided against solids. This number ranges from 1 to 6 and the higher the number, the better the protection. For example, 1 promises protection against solid objects over 50mm, whilst a 6 rating indicates that a device is dust tight. The second number then, refers to protection from liquids and ranges from 1 to 8. In this instance, a ‘1’ rating describes protection against vertically falling drops of water (such as rain), whilst a top-of-the-class ‘8’ rating promises protection against the effects of long periods of immersion in water, usually outlined by the manufacturer. As such, an IP68 rating is currently the best certification that can be ascribed to a smartphone device, however it’s important to remember that the relevant testing is only performed on fresh water. As such, you may experience an extremely different outcome in the face of salt water and other liquids such as spilt drinks. What is Aluminium Silicate, and does it help with water resistance? Despite not having an official IP rating, we contacted Huawei and the Huawei P30 Lite does have an aluminium silicate covering. This is essentially a chemically strengthened glass that is designed to be thin and light so that it can be used on a range of electronic devices, and importantly damage-resistant. Indeed, aluminium silicate undergoes a special ionisation process, to gain its surface strength and crack resistance. Further, aluminium silicate contains a good percentage of alkali content, which strengthens the surface of the glass and gives it a high transformation temperature. This offers great protection against impacts and scratches. As such, whilst not being produced to be water resistant, this essentially provides your smartphone device with a thin extra layer which is durable and resilient. When you think about it as an extra layer of protection to your device, you get a rough idea of how this might work in the face of small drops of water such as light rain. We certainly wouldn’t advise taking the Huawei P30 Lite swimming with you, but it should be able to cope with light rain. It’s always best to avoid this where possible and act with due care and diligence. Why is the Huawei P30 Lite not IP certified? One of the key reasons why many devices do not come with a certified IP rating is due to the extra costs that this entails. In this case, the P30 Lite is the more ‘budget’ variant of the P30 family. The standard Huawei P30 model has an IP53 certification, whilst the top-of-the-range Huawei P30 Pro comes with an IP68 rating. As you can see, the further up the line you go and the more you pay, the greater water resistance that is offered. The Huawei P30 Lite is a mid-range affordable variant of the device and if waterproofing were brought into this, then costs would rise significantly. Are there any other ways to protect the Huawei P30 Lite from water? Whilst the Huawei P30 Lite does not come with certified waterproofing, there are a number of ways in which you can protect your device from water. The best of these is by purchasing a waterproof case for your device. The DiCAPac Action Universal Case is perfect for wet scenarios and provides all of the protection that you need to be more adventurous with your smartphone device in tandem. As well as coming with the highest grade JIS IPX8 waterproof rating, the window on the front is crystal clear so that you can easily see the screen on your phone and still use all of the features that you need. Indeed, you are still able to make full use of the touchscreen whilst it’s in the case and also make calls. The case also protects against dust and other particles, as well as water. Is the Huawei P30 Lite worth it? For a so-called mid-range device, the Huawei P30 Lite offers a host of features usually reserved for flagship devices. A triple-lens setup adorns the rear of the P30 Lite and enables you to capture stunning images. Consisting of a 48MP main lens, an 8MP wide-angle lens and a 2MP depth sensor, you can capture sharp and detailed photos with brilliant colours. A powerful octa-core processor ensures that you have a smooth experience whether you are using the latest apps or playing graphically demanding games. Whilst the 6.15-inch Full HD Dewdrop notch display gives stunning results with impressive colour reproduction. Huawei P30 Lite Key Features Android 9.0 (Pie) with EMUI 9.0 48MP AI Ultra-Wide Triple Camera with 2x optical zoom 24MP Selfie Camera with AI scene recognition 15-inch Full HD+ De Display (2312 x 1080) Huawei Kirin 710 octa-core processor 128GB storage / 4GB RAM Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac & Bluetooth 4.2 Huawei P30 Lite | £329.99 inc-VAT
