Apple Watch Display Issue

[BurneyFM]

Hi there!

This morning I took my Apple Watch on my usual morning-ride to work. In the beginning the time on the upper side of the fitness tracker was hard to read, but I ignored it. One our later when I was navigating the watch's apps, I noticed a glitch on the upper side of the display. A small brown circle formed beneath the glass and the display wasn't working anymore in this area (see pictures).

We had 38°C the whole weekend and we went hiking for quite a long time. Do you think it possible that the watch suffered some kind of heat damage? I also take the watch swimming (rather short, no diving), but to me it doesn't look like water damage. Also no pressure damage involved. I didn't have time yet to check with apple support yet since the next store is located a one hour drive away.

Cheers!
Burney

 

[Armen]

I'd have to say contact Apple. It looks like a defect and does not deserve any type of "gate" tag.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Apple is the only one who can answer this.

I agree with skipping the "Gate" thing, it is over done.

 

[Eightyone]

Hi there!

This morning I took my Apple Watch on my usual morning-ride to work. In the beginning the time on the upper side of the fitness tracker was hard to read, but I ignored it. One our later when I was navigating the watch's apps, I noticed a glitch on the upper side of the display. A small brown circle formed beneath the glass and the display wasn't working anymore in this area (see pictures).

We had 38°C the whole weekend and we went hiking for quite a long time. Do you think it possible that the watch suffered some kind of heat damage? I also take the watch swimming (rather short, no diving), but to me it doesn't look like water damage. Also no pressure damage involved. I didn't have time yet to check with apple support yet since the next store is located a one hour drive away.

Cheers!
Burney

View attachment 566688 View attachment 566689

That looks like h20 ingress.

If water comes in contact, it literally destroys an OLED (or part of) screen.

It is an inherent characteristic of the technology.

 

[iConnected]

Hard to tell, but it looks rather like impact damage to me.

Regardless, you've worn it whilst swimming and used it in ambient temperatures above 35° C, each of which is contrary to Apple's handling guidelines as detailed in the User Guide (and no, they don't say swimming is OK as long as there's no diving involved).

If Apple is willing to offer an out of warranty repair, you can count yourself lucky.

Otherwise, buy yourself a new one and treat it more carefully.

 

[Newtons Apple]

That looks like h20 ingress.

If water comes in contact, it literally destroys an OLED (or part of) screen.

It is an inherent characteristic of the technology.

I have to agree on the water intrusion. Seems we have seen another image here with similar results.

Apple should replace without a question.

 

[CellXor10]

I'd have to say contact Apple. It looks like a defect and does not deserve any type of "gate" tag.

This. Please, no "gate" jibber jabber. Eyes rolled upon reading the thread title.

But on to the real point of the thread- I would agree with people that Apple will have to answer, don't think anyone here is going to have a definitive answer. And I wouldn't be surprised if it is some sort of water damage, though that would be the first I've seen of a Watch being affected by water.

 

[iConnected]

... And I wouldn't be surprised if it is some sort of water damage, though that would be the first I've seen of a Watch being affected by water.

Perhaps that's because most people don't mistreat their watches by wearing them whilst swimming.

 

[CellXor10]

Perhaps that's because most people don't mistreat their watches by wearing them whilst swimming.

Ha! Yes indeed, though I have been surprised to see a fair number of people posting about taking their Watches for swims. I know the Watch is much more "water resistant" than Apple may make it sound, and I've worn mine in the shower a number of times, but swimming seems a little much in my opinion...

 

[AppleWes]

Ha! Yes indeed, though I have been surprised to see a fair number of people posting about taking their Watches for swims. I know the Watch is much more "water resistant" than Apple may make it sound, and I've worn mine in the shower a number of times, but swimming seems a little much in my opinion...

I agree.

Plus there are a lot of strong chemicals in most swimming pools compared to normal 'water'. I'd be even more worried about that. Who knows how corrosive they can be to Apple Watch components.

I still can't understand why it's so hard to just take off your watch before swimming? I can't afford to risk $400+, but I guess others can.

 

[iConnected]

I agree.

Plus there are a lot of strong chemicals in most swimming pools compared to normal 'water'. I'd be even more worried about that. Who knows how corrosive they can be to Apple Watch components.

I still can't understand why it's so hard to just take off your watch before swimming? I can't afford to risk $400+, but I guess others can.

Don't forget the urine

 

[mcdj]

Yes, this is definitely HEAT GATE, if by "GATE" you mean isolated issue that only affects one person, as opposed to the previously accepted meaning of widespread large scale issue with an attempted cover up.

I will PayPal $10 to the first person to come up with a Safari extension that changes the word "gate" to "problem".

 

[dhlizard]

That looks like h20 ingress.

If water comes in contact, it literally destroys an OLED (or part of) screen.

It is an inherent characteristic of the technology.

I agree with water damage, have seen other water damage pics and yours looks the same.

 

[BillyTrimble]

Hi there!

This morning I took my Apple Watch on my usual morning-ride to work. In the beginning the time on the upper side of the fitness tracker was hard to read, but I ignored it. One our later when I was navigating the watch's apps, I noticed a glitch on the upper side of the display. A small brown circle formed beneath the glass and the display wasn't working anymore in this area (see pictures).

We had 38°C the whole weekend and we went hiking for quite a long time. Do you think it possible that the watch suffered some kind of heat damage? I also take the watch swimming (rather short, no diving), but to me it doesn't look like water damage. Also no pressure damage involved. I didn't have time yet to check with apple support yet since the next store is located a one hour drive away.

Cheers!
Burney

First off, how is this a "..gate"? Watergate was a political scandal. Nowadays, it's become a meaningless utterance used to describe anything that the speaker doesn't like. If anything, it's an "I abused my watch by immersing it in water in a way not officially approved by Apple and voids any warranty.. gate". And your watch looks beat up. Just toss the watch and buy a new one and treat it more respectively.

 

[Armen]

So are we all in agreement that the cause of the issue is " I also take the watch swimming"?

 

[iluvgadgets]

My son had his watch on while he was outside in direct sunlight for several hours. He said the watch started randomly displaying stuff and flickering on and off . He took it off and put it inside for a while and when he tried it again it was fine. I'm guessing they don't work well in extreme heat.