Nexus 2016 release date, specs rumors, updates: Google phones to have IP53 dust and water resistance rating?

The Google logo at Google's European Engineering Center in Zurich (April 16, 2015).Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann

Google has already scheduled a media event set to happen on Oct. 4. At this event, it is speculated that the company will release their own Android phone, dubbed in the reports as Nexus 2016, as well as the Pixel. Recent reports suggest that it will be carrying an IP53 dust and water resistance rating.

Android Police recently reported that the upcoming Pixel phones would have a very limited protection against water splashes. The overall design of the smartphone can only protect it from getting wet if the water pressure is on the low side and about 60 degrees from vertical. This is according to their reliable source.

To put it in a much simpler perspective, the alleged Pixel phones will be able to survive if it is used to make a call even when it is raining cats and dogs, as long as it is in an upright position, the normal position when making a call. However, submerging the device in water is out of the question because places such as the speaker, ports, and buttons are not designed to keep the water out.

In comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S7 is IP68 certified and can be submerged up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. The Apple iPhone 7 is rated at IP67, and it can handle water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. These devices have extra layers of protection against water seepages such as rubber gaskets and adhesives in critical areas.

Meanwhile, the search engine giant has made New York City feel its upcoming phones. Several advertising displays are already set up in the city. These marketing props consist of a phone-shaped outline, the "Oct. 4" date on the left, and the company's "G" logo on the right, similar to what the company has unveiled on a dedicated website. Now, building wall-sized billboards, a statue replica of the website layout, a big #MadeByGoogle hashtag, and a several others are occupying the city. Google is big on advertising on this upcoming product, according to 9To5Google.