- To be first shown at MWC – interactive demo to have operating handsets that exceed IPX8 fully submerged for up to 2 hours despite holes in casing
18 February 2019, Oxford, UK – P2i, the global leader in liquid repellent nanotechnology, today launches Dunkable®, a system-level waterproofing solution that enables a smartphone to operate normally even when it has been fully submerged for long periods, and the outer case breached.
It is the market’s most advanced waterproof coating solution, protecting every component in a smartphone handset to IPX8 level for the life of the device.
Dunkable uses a patented multi-chemistry approach, which is customised to the OEM’s manufacturing process and handset design. It is inert, and does not degrade through impact, heat, or environmental stress or when in contact with solvents.
Recent surveys have placed waterproofing and durability among consumer’s most demanded features on a smartphone. Yet current methods fail easily, carry high manufacturing costs, and place limitations on handset design – making them hard to differentiate to consumers.
A 2016 YouGov poll of US consumers ranked waterproofing as the third most in-demand feature; a 2017 Morning Consult/Statista survey ranked it as the most important feature1, and a 2018 Morning Consult/Statista poll stated 88% of phone buyers think durability (listed as waterproofing and shatterproof screens) is vital.
Mechanical seals currently used to protect handsets to IPX7 and 8 levels only act as a barrier to water, allowing short-circuiting if water enters the device via a cracked screen2 or a de-laminated seal3,4. They also use space that could be used for larger batteries, which will be essential for managing the power demands of 5G modems.
The durability and reliability of handsets are increased by Dunkable’s system-level protection to IPX8. Increasing handset costs and increased environmental awareness among consumers is causing people to keep phones for longer – average handset lifespan is set to rise by 15% in America and 5% in Europe/Asia5 – and with this rise, the need for more robust, longer lasting waterproofing features is paramount.
Advanced water protection technologies also reduce the cost of refurbishing, allowing more OEMs to access the refurbished phone market (set to grow from $19bn in 2017 to $52bn by 2022 – IDC).
Ady Moores, CEO, P2i said: “Dunkable is a world-first and represents a step change in the level of waterproofing available to handset manufacturers. The launch means that for the first time OEMs have access to the most advanced water protection capabilities that can be rolled out on virtually all form factors…not just the usual square designs.
“Its launch marks the next generation of ‘Protected by P2i’ products, where we will have the ability to treat over half a billion smartphones in 2019 alone.”
Dunkable enables handset manufacturers to create a competitive edge through bold, flexible designs that are thinner, foldable, or have smaller bezels – without compromising the water protection.
P2i’s technologies are trusted to protect a wider range of products – from smartphones (utilised by the world’s leading phone manufacturers including Huawei, Lenovo, Motorola, Sony and Xiaomi) to filtration systems – with over 160 patents granted or pending.
P2i is initially targeting Dunkable at smartphones, and the technology is also applicable to tablets, wearables and consumer devices, as well as industrial systems. The first devices protected by the Dunkable solution are set to enter the market in 2019.
On display at MWC 2019 – Congress Square CS126
- P2i will show Dunkable-treated handsets submerged in a tank of water, with their electronics exposed and the devices switched on.
- Visitors to the stand will be able to interact with the submerged devices – live tweeting, with their messages appearing on screen.
- World’s first demonstration at MWC 2019: P2i Stand @ Congress Square CS126.
To book a press demonstration at MWC contact p2i@cubaneight.com.
Visit the P2i MWC stand in Congress Square, Stand CS126.
