What Does IPX4 Mean for Headphones?
Sweat and Water Resistance, explained.

Beats offers a variety of sweat and water resistant products. Here’s a breakdown of what that means for you.

A woman in pink Beats over-ear headphones stretches her arm across her chest during a gym workout, her skin glistening with sweat

At a Glance

IPX4 is a water resistance rating under IEC standard 60529. On Beats headphones and earbuds, IPX4 means sweat and water resistance for non-water sports and exercise. Beats 360¹, Powerbeats Pro 2², Powerbeats Fit³ and Beats Studio Buds +⁴ are all rated IPX4. In addition to their IPX4 ratings, Beats 360 and both Powerbeats models are made to stay comfortable and secure even during a workout or a run, even in the rain, heat, or snow. Swimming falls outside what the IPX4 rating covers. Sweat and water resistance might also decrease as a result of normal wear. It’s also important to note that each of these products should be dry before charging.

You’re two miles into a run when the sky opens up and the raindrops start falling. By the time you get home, your shirt is soaked, your headphones are dripping, and you’re standing in the hallway wondering if they’ll still work great. The answer starts with a short code on the spec sheet: “IP”, followed by two numbers, or perhaps one number and an “X” (like in “IPX4”). Here’s what that rating means, including those first two letters and the two characters after it. We’ll also go over what it doesn’t mean, and how to look after your gear when it gets wet.

What does IPX4 mean for headphones?

IPX4 is a rating for sweat and water resistance. A device earns it by being tested under controlled laboratory conditions against IEC standard 60529. The rating gives applicable products a shared, tested way to describe how much water they were built to handle.

The “IP” in “IPX4” stands for “ingress protection.” Literally, whether a product or device is protected against the ingress, or entrance, of water.

Interestingly, the “X” in “IPX4” signifies something that wasn’t tested: protection against solids like dust or dirt. If a product has been tested for solid ingress, the first character after “IP” would be a designated number instead of an X (for example, the Beats Pill has an IP67 rating⁵).

Lastly, the “4” in “IPX4” signifies the level of water resistance a product has. Being designated with a 4 specifically indicates that a product has been shown to be resistant to water splashes coming from any angle or direction.

A man in a navy tank top leans over an outdoor tap and splashes water on his face, wearing an orange Beats earbud

What IPX4 means on Beats

On Beats products, IPX4 indicates sweat and water resistance for non-water sports and exercise. Our over-ear Beats 360 headphone is a good example. Beats 360 was tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and has a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. The same rating applies to every Beats product in this article except the Beats Pill speaker, which has its own IP67 rating.

Is water resistant the same as waterproof?

No, the term “water resistant” is not technically the same as “waterproof,” although in common usage the two descriptions can sometimes be mistakenly treated as interchangeable. Every IPX4 product from Beats is described as sweat and water resistant, for non-water sports and exercise.. That means they’re OK in the rain, but it doesn’t mean you can swim in them.

How does IPX4 compare with IP67?

Our Beats Pill speaker carries a different rating: IP67 for dust and water resistance. That means the Beats Pill has been shown to offer protection from dust and sand intrusion, water, and other sources of ingress when used indoors and outdoors. For Beats products, that IP67 rating belongs to the Beats Pill alone.

Does water resistance last forever?

No. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions, and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. That applies to every rated product in this article, the Beats Pill included.

Think of the rating as a snapshot of the product on the day it was tested. Months of use in the gym or on runs can impact the product, and that’s where looking after your gear comes in.

What should you do when your headphones get wet?

Start with the one rule every product here shares: don’t charge it while it’s wet. For cleaning and drying, follow the instructions at Apple Support.

Is the charging case water resistant too?

It depends on the product. For Powerbeats Fit, the charging case is also sweat and water resistant with an IPX4 rating.⁶ For Powerbeats Pro 2 and Beats Studio Buds +, the charging case is not sweat or water resistant. Beats 360 has a woven ripstop carrying case that is designed for durability, but is not IPX4 rated. With those three products, it can help to dry them before storing them.

Which Beats headphones and earbuds are IPX4?

Here are the Beats headphones and earbuds rated IPX4. All four products mentioned below also have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode, so you can tune out the gym when you want to focus or hear more of your surroundings when you like.

Two runners pass a sunlit concrete wall, one in white Beats over-ear headphones with a towel tucked into his shorts

Beats 360

The first over-ear Beats headphones with sweat and water resistance, Beats 360 is rated IPX4 and is designed for lasting comfort and stability even while running.

That’s because with Beats 360, we wanted to make an over-ear design that could finally hold up to everywhere we see headphones show up — starting with the gym. The fact is, people love to lift weights and run in headphones, especially Beats. So Beats 360 is designed to withstand that extra abuse, thanks to sweat and water resistance and that IPX4 rating against liquid ingress — making it a great choice for high-fidelity headphones you can work out in.

After extensive work and investigation, we implemented a custom mechanical firewall behind Beats 360’s acoustic driver to seal the electronics from liquid ingress while still allowing the proper venting architecture to enable our advanced acoustic performance. The result is an IPX4-rated headphone that pairs a refined, comfortable, and stable-fitting design with the durability needed for daily life — from workouts to travel and everything in between.

Beats 360 has Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to block out unwanted noise to help you focus, with up to 1.75x more total noise cancellation than Beats Studio Pro.⁷ For times when you want to hear more of your surroundings, you can choose Transparency mode.

Beats 360 also has interchangeable cushions for both earcups and headband, so you can have a fresh set ready post-workout.⁸ Having extra Cushion Kits can help extend the life of your Beats 360 headphones, in addition to giving you fun personalization options.

Powerbeats Pro 2

Powerbeats Pro 2 is sweat and water resistant with an IPX4 rating, so you can go as hard as you want to even in the rain, snow or heat. It has secure-fit earhooks that stay locked in as you train, along with advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode. The IPX4 rating covers the earbuds only. The charging case is not sweat or water resistant.

Powerbeats Fit

Powerbeats Fit is sweat and water resistant with an IPX4 rating, so these workout earbuds can also handle intense training even in the rain, snow or heat. The case is also sweat and water resistant with an IPX4 rating. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) blocks external sounds to give you absolute focus, and the comfortable, universal secure-fit wingtips gently tuck in your ear for exceptional stability and all-day comfort.

Beats Studio Buds +

For Beats Studio Buds +, IPX4 sweat and water resistance lets you take them anywhere you want to go. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) adapts to your personal fit to keep you immersed in the music. The IPX4 rating covers the earbuds only; the charging case is not sweat or water resistant.

Key Takeaways

IPX4 is a sweat and water resistance rating under IEC standard 60529, given after testing under controlled laboratory conditions.
On Beats, IPX4 means sweat and water resistance for non-water sports and exercise. Swimming is outside that scope.
Beats 360, Powerbeats Pro 2 and Powerbeats Fit can handle workouts in the rain, snow or heat.
Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions, and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Never charge wet gear.
All four products mentioned above are rated IPX4, but only Powerbeats Fit has an IPX4-rated case too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if my headphones are sweat or water resistant?

Headphones that are water resistant come with a sweat and water resistant IPX4 rating that lets listeners know their audio equipment is safe during workouts or if caught outside in light rain.

Can you swim with IPX4 headphones?

No. IPX4 Beats products are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise, and swimming is a water sport and therefore not covered.

Is IPX4 waterproof?

No. IPX4 is a water resistance rating. Every IPX4 Beats product is described as sweat and water resistant, for non-water sports and exercise.

Can you wear IPX4 earbuds in the rain?

Yes. Beats 360, Powerbeats Pro 2, Powerbeats Fit and Beats Studio Buds + can be used in the rain.

Can you charge headphones or earbuds when they’re wet?

No. Every product in this article carries the same instruction: dry it before you charge it. Apple Support has cleaning and drying instructions.

What does the X in IPX4 mean?

The “X” in “IPX4” signifies something that wasn’t tested: protection against solids like dust or sand. If a product had been tested for dust resistance, a number would be where the X is. The second number after “IP” is reserved for indicating protection against water ingress. For example, the Beats Pill is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance.

¹ Beats 360 is sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise. Beats 360 was tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and has a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge wet Beats 360 headphones; refer to Apple Support for cleaning and drying instructions.

² Powerbeats Pro 2 are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise. Powerbeats Pro 2 were tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and have a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge wet Powerbeats Pro 2; refer to Apple Support for cleaning and drying instructions. The charging case is not sweat or water resistant.

³ Powerbeats Fit earbuds are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise. Powerbeats Fit earbuds were tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and have a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge wet Powerbeats Fit earbuds; refer to Apple Support for cleaning and drying instructions.

⁴ Beats Studio Buds + are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise. Beats Studio Buds + were tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and have a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge wet Beats Studio Buds +; refer to Apple Support for cleaning and drying instructions. The charging case is not sweat or water resistant.

⁵ Beats Pill is dust resistant and water resistant, providing protection from sand intrusion, water, and other sources of ingress when used indoors and outdoors. Beats Pill was tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and has a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529. Dust and water resistance are not permanent conditions and might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge Beats Pill when wet; refer to Apple Support for cleaning and drying instructions.

⁶ Powerbeats Fit case is sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise. Powerbeats Fit case was tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and has a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge wet Powerbeats Fit case; refer to Apple Support for cleaning and drying instructions.

⁷ Up to 1.75x more combined active and passive noise cancellation compared with Beats Studio Pro when tested in accordance with IEC 60268-24.

⁸ Beats 360 sold with color-matched ear and headband cushions; additional cushion kits sold separately.

What Does IPX4 Mean for Headphones? Sweat and Water Resistance, explained.