Exclusive: I put the foldable Honor Magic V6 in a washing machine to test its durability — here's what happened next
The Honor Magic V6 has IP69 protection, but can it survive a trip through a washing machine? Let's find out!
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/nirave-gondhia · TechRadarFeatures By Nirave Gondhia published 2 April 2026
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Smartphones have evolved considerably over the past 10 years, but one area that has remained relatively static is durability. The Galaxy S7, released in early 2016, was the first mainstream flagship phone to feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and it wasn’t until almost nine years later that this evolved to an IP69 rating with the OnePlus 13 (among other OnePlus and Oppo phones).
In the same period, the smartphone form factor itself has warped into something totally new. We now have flip phones and book-style folding phones, but one of the biggest issues preventing their widespread adoption is durability. Despite many of these devices being tested for hundreds of thousands of folds, consumers remain understandably concerned about durability in the elements.
Now, though, we're starting to see non-folding phones boasting the same durability credentials as their non-folding counterparts. And the first to go the whole way? The Honor Magic V6, which was announced at MWC 2026 a few weeks ago. But is it truly durable? What does IP69 in a folding phone really mean? I decided to test the rating by putting the Magic V6 in my washing machine, and the results shocked even me.
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IP68 vs IP69?
You’ve probably heard the term IP68 before, but what’s the meaning of the acronym, and how does IP69 differ from IP68?
IP68 means an Ingress Protection rating of 6 (the maximum available for dust resistance) and 8 (for water resistance). IP ratings range from 1 to 6 for dust resistance and from 1 to 9 for water resistance, and phones can have either rating or both. It was common for early folding phones to be rated only IPX6 or IPX8, meaning some water resistance but no dust protection.
The key difference between IP68 and IP69 is the type of water resistance they offer. The former is designed for submersion (usually between 1 and 3 meters for 30 minutes or longer), making it perfect for general waterproofing and protection against most everyday scenarios. IP69 steps this up considerably by offering protection against high-pressure, high-temperature jets, including those from dishwashers, washing machines, and steam cleaners. Industrial sanitation and other heavy-duty environments.
In short, IP68 protects against scenarios such as your phone falling in a puddle or you being caught in a torrential thunderstorm. Meanwhile, IP69 protects your phone from more extreme environments, the most common being accidentally dropping it in a dishwasher or washing machine without realizing it.
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