Apple Watch series 3 die after first swimming

[coldwaves]

I got an Apple Watch Series 3 last night from the Apple store and took it to pool swimming this evening in the gym. The watch died after about 10 laps of swimming. The screen first turned purple with multiple vertical lines and then turned black. It won’t turn on again. At the same time, the watch is pretty hot. I suspect this is a defect watch that the water seal is bad.

I am going to take it to the same Apple store again tomorrow. Should I exchange it or just return it for refund? I am not sure how common a problem it is. Tracking swimming is one feature I use often. So if it is a very common problem, I would rather return it and get something else more robust.

 

[waw74]

seeing as it being water proof is one of the big selling points.
it's built to swim with.
it's a defective unit, and that should not have happened.
take it back and have it replaced.

from the apple watch web site

Apple Watch Series 3 has a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means that it may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, Apple Watch Series 3 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth.

 

[BChaseWest]

I got an Apple Watch Series 3 last night from the Apple store and took it to pool swimming this evening in the gym. The watch died after about 10 laps of swimming. The screen first turned purple with multiple vertical lines and then turned black. It won’t turn on again. At the same time, the watch is pretty hot. I suspect this is a defect watch that the water seal is bad.

I am going to take it to the same Apple store again tomorrow. Should I exchange it or just return it for refund? I am not sure how common a problem it is. Tracking swimming is one feature I use often. So if it is a very common problem, I would rather return it and get something else more robust.

[doublepost=1512183586][/doublepost]I am a Swim Instructor and Assistant Aquatics Director at a YMCA in Seattle. I regularly swim 1000 yards at a time as well as wear mine hours at a time during lessons. Never 1 problem. Sounds like a defective unit.

 

[44267547]

I got an Apple Watch Series 3 last night from the Apple store and took it to pool swimming this evening in the gym. The watch died after about 10 laps of swimming. The screen first turned purple with multiple vertical lines and then turned black. It won’t turn on again. At the same time, the watch is pretty hot. I suspect this is a defect watch that the water seal is bad.

I am going to take it to the same Apple store again tomorrow. Should I exchange it or just return it for refund? I am not sure how common a problem it is. Tracking swimming is one feature I use often. So if it is a very common problem, I would rather return it and get something else more robust.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is rated at 50 m water resistance, which there have been a multitude of Apple Watch users who have never experienced water failure with these watches as they were intended for a pool use. Its likely exactly what you stated, a defective seal. I would give it a second opportunity and hopefully a replacement will work better for you.

 

[Newtons Apple]

No doubt you got a defective unit. Get it replaced and swim all you want.

 

[coldwaves]

Got to the Apple store today and made a exchange. I am going to test it in the pool again soon to see if this new one works. Hopefully it does.

 

[wvayens]

I'm on my 3rd Apple Watch and swim about 2,000 yards 4-5x a week and have never had a problem.

 

[coldwaves]

I'm on my 3rd Apple Watch and swim about 2,000 yards 4-5x a week and have never had a problem.

That's great to know. I have only started swimming for about four months, and I cannot swim very long distance. it is good know that it is good for swimming.

I tested the exchanged watch this evening and swam 250 yards with it. The watch survived. The auto sets is very useful for a new swimmer like me because I am not able to swim very long before I need to take a rest. The auto detection of stroke type is also very nice.

 

[JenNacd]

That's great to know. I have only started swimming for about four months, and I cannot swim very long distance. it is good know that it is good for swimming.

I tested the exchanged watch this evening and swam 250 yards with it. The watch survived. The auto sets is very useful for a new swimmer like me because I am not able to swim very long before I need to take a rest. The auto detection of stroke type is also very nice.

I got an Apple Watch Series 3 on Wednesday (12/13/17) and swam with it for the first time today on Sunday (4 days later). it lasted six laps and the screen went blank. I returned it to the Apple Store. Water was still oozing out of it when I pressed on the glass face. I’m currently awaiting another one. I wonder how common this problem is. Hopefully, the new one works, because I swim about 100 miles a year. Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[wvayens]

I got an Apple Watch Series 3 on Wednesday (12/13/17) and swam with it for the first time today on Sunday (4 days later). it lasted six laps and the screen went blank. I returned it to the Apple Store. Water was still oozing out of it when I pressed on the glass face. I’m currently awaiting another one. I wonder how common this problem is. Hopefully, the new one works, because I swim about 100 miles a year. Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm on my 3rd Apple watch and have hit a little over 150 miles this year and the only problem I've had was getting my 2nd one replaced because the microphone stopped working. Sounds like you indeed got a defective one but I haven't really heard many tales of water problems.

 

[The Game 161]

Yeah as mentioned it's a defected unit. Won't be an issue getting that replaced

 

[JenNacd]

Thanks! Hopefully, I’ll be less nervous about swimming with the new one.

 

[44267547]

Hopefully, the new one works, because I swim about 100 miles a year. Has this happened to anyone else?

When you take a piece of technology that's mass produced into millions of devices, there is going to be defective units that have bad seals or not fully water resistant rated as they should be from the factory. It doesn't mean exactly that it's a widespread problem just because it happened to you.

 

[Mrhardy]

Got to the Apple store today and made a exchange. I am going to test it in the pool again soon to see if this new one works. Hopefully it does.

The same thing happened to me, within a week of purchase. Apple refusing to replace despite there not being a scratch on the 1 week old watch. They say I must have done something to it, that it could not have left the factory with a faulty seal.
[doublepost=1532539608][/doublepost]

I got an Apple Watch Series 3 on Wednesday (12/13/17) and swam with it for the first time today on Sunday (4 days later). it lasted six laps and the screen went blank. I returned it to the Apple Store. Water was still oozing out of it when I pressed on the glass face. I’m currently awaiting another one. I wonder how common this problem is. Hopefully, the new one works, because I swim about 100 miles a year. Has this happened to anyone else?

Just happened to me. Apple refuses to replace my brand new watch.

 

[ftaok]

The same thing happened to me, within a week of purchase. Apple refusing to replace despite there not being a scratch on the 1 week old watch. They say I must have done something to it, that it could not have left the factory with a faulty seal.
[doublepost=1532539608][/doublepost]
Just happened to me. Apple refuses to replace my brand new watch.

I would try to escalate it up the support chain until you get a replacement.

Alternatively, you could see if your credit card offers purchase protection, if you used a cc for this purchase.

 

[jgelin]

The same thing happened to me, within a week of purchase. Apple refusing to replace despite there not being a scratch on the 1 week old watch. They say I must have done something to it, that it could not have left the factory with a faulty seal.
[doublepost=1532539608][/doublepost]
Just happened to me. Apple refuses to replace my brand new watch.

email Tim Cook, and no I am not joking. I did the same thing with the 7+ when it first came out and they refused to replace it when there was a defect. When I did I was called from a Cupertino number, and then they said that they have a new one reserved in store for me at my convenience. The Apple Geniuses joked that this wasn't the usual process and asked if Cook was my uncle...

 

[s15119]

As others have noted sounds like a defect. I swim in the ocean almost daily and have never had a problem.

 

[Mrhardy]

I would try to escalate it up the support chain until you get a replacement.

Alternatively, you could see if your credit card offers purchase protection, if you used a cc for this purchase.

Good advice! I tried to show the apple store manager these posts, but she wasn't interested as soon as she saw it wasn't an apple site. She said that there was no proof that any of the people posting here were telling the truth (yeah, she was a honey), but after she left her minion looked through them and suggested I bypass the store and go straight to apple support. I think these posts persuaded him that maybe I wasn't lying. I left and called apple support, who assigned a senior person to help me, and I now have a replacement watch -- but I won't know whether they have really replaced it until they release the hold on my credit card when the faulty watch gets back to them. Anyway, the apple support phone person was much nicer and more empathetic. The cc idea was plan B, also good advice.

There are a few things still bothering me though. After accusing me of scuba diving or water skiing (actually, it failed after some gentle breaststroke laps of a backyard pool), she said I must have forgotten to switch on the waterlock. But the waterlock doesn't stop water getting into the casing, and you could see the lights at the back of the watch had condensation in them. Does she not know that? Or did she think I wouldn't know that? And, how did she think that I could have done something so excessive to a 3 day old watch to break the water seal, and yet not leave a mark on it? She also claimed that apple would refuse to even try to examine the watch to see if I was telling the truth as she knew it was impossible -- is she right? Because, as everyone on this thread knows, some watches fail on their first outing.

Btw, I do not dare swim with the new one. I can't go through that humiliation again.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, it certainly helped.
[doublepost=1532725691][/doublepost]

email Tim Cook, and no I am not joking. I did the same thing with the 7+ when it first came out and they refused to replace it when there was a defect. When I did I was called from a Cupertino number, and then they said that they have a new one reserved in store for me at my convenience. The Apple Geniuses joked that this wasn't the usual process and asked if Cook was my uncle...

Ha! I was willing to try this if necessary.

 

[ftaok]

There are a few things still bothering me though. After accusing me of scuba diving or water skiing (actually, it failed after some gentle breaststroke laps of a backyard pool), she said I must have forgotten to switch on the waterlock. But the waterlock doesn't stop water getting into the casing, and you could see the lights at the back of the watch had condensation in them. Does she not know that? Or did she think I wouldn't know that? And, how did she think that I could have done something so excessive to a 3 day old watch to break the water seal, and yet not leave a mark on it? She also claimed that apple would refuse to even try to examine the watch to see if I was telling the truth as she knew it was impossible -- is she right? Because, as everyone on this thread knows, some watches fail on their first outing.

Btw, I do not dare swim with the new one. I can't go through that humiliation again.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, it certainly helped.
[doublepost=1532725691][/doublepost]
Ha! I was willing to try this if necessary.

You're correct about the Lock. It doesn't do anything mechanical to prevent water from getting in the speaker. All it does is lock the screen so that the water doesn't give you false screen presses. Then when you unlock it, it beeps the speaker to vibrate any water that got in. The Apple employee didn't know what she was talking about.

As for swimming with an AW, there really is no problem doing so with a S2 or S3. Just make sure you rinse it off with cold tap water after you're done, otherwise the chlorine (or salt) could dry and leave a fine powdery film that could scratch your screen. Plus, the chlorine doesn't smell so good.

The bad watch obviously have a bad seal right from the factory. There's really no way to make the seal fail in a few days without any physical damage being evident. As long as you didn't dip it in a solvent that dissolves rubber, which I'm sure you didn't. And even if you did, you wouldn't admit it anyways

 

[parseckadet]

My understanding has been that the official stance from Apple is that their warranty does not cover water damage of any kind, despite the 50m rating.

 

[KarimLeVallois]

My understanding has been that the official stance from Apple is that their warranty does not cover water damage of any kind, despite the 50m rating.

Well, that wouldn't hold up in court, it's blatant false advertising.

 

[ftaok]

My understanding has been that the official stance from Apple is that their warranty does not cover water damage of any kind, despite the 50m rating.

I'm not a lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night ...

Anyways, my understanding is that Apple won't honor warranties for water damage, provided the water got in due to damage caused by the user.

For instance, the user cracks the screen, but still uses it in the shower. Water gets in and kills it. Apple won't honor the warranty.

Another scenario. User routinely exposes the AW to fluids that breakdown the seals (like solvents). Subsequently, water gets in and kills it. Apple won't honor the warranty.

How about this one. User subjects his AW to high pressure water jets, water gets in and kills it. Apple won't honor the warranty.

Lastly, user swims with his 3-day old AW. Water gets in because the seal was defective (and/or not installed correctly). Apple "should" honor the warranty.

Based on what the OP has described, it sounds like the seal was defective or installed incorrectly at the factory.

 

[KarimLeVallois]

I'm not a lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night ...

Anyways, my understanding is that Apple won't honor warranties for water damage, provided the water got in due to damage caused by the user.

For instance, the user cracks the screen, but still uses it in the shower. Water gets in and kills it. Apple won't honor the warranty.

Another scenario. User routinely exposes the AW to fluids that breakdown the seals (like solvents). Subsequently, water gets in and kills it. Apple won't honor the warranty.

How about this one. User subjects his AW to high pressure water jets, water gets in and kills it. Apple won't honor the warranty.

Lastly, user swims with his 3-day old AW. Water gets in because the seal was defective (and/or not installed correctly). Apple "should" honor the warranty.

Based on what the OP has described, it sounds like the seal was defective or installed incorrectly at the factory.

This sounds about right to be honest. If you've followed the recommendations Apple has on its site, you should be fine and they should cover it.

 

[PDX_Mom]

This just happened to me--with an Apple Watch 3 I just purchased exactly a month ago. Watch got super hot and prickly/electric on my wrist about 20 minutes after I got in the pool with my toddler. I wasn't even really swimming. Mainly standing in waist-deep water holding her with her floatie. When I looked at it, the watch had completely died. It was clearly defective. Thought Apple would replace it no problem. They chatted back and forth to me for an hour online, wanted me to pay for the repair and also asked if I planned to sue them. It was crazy. I had no idea Apple was so rotten when it comes to defects. Super disappointing for this girl who has built an entire Mac universe at work and at home, with Apple TVs, Home Pods, phones, ipads, laptops, desktops--multiple Mac everything for my 3 kids and me. Been a Mac fan for over a decade, and this one experience has been so rotten, they are seriously losing me. I feel crazy disappointed by this company. I mean: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209393 ???

 

[44267547]

This just happened to me--with an Apple Watch 3 I just purchased exactly a month ago. Watch got super hot and prickly/electric on my wrist about 20 minutes after I got in the pool with my toddler. I wasn't even really swimming. Mainly standing in waist-deep water holding her with her floatie. When I looked at it, the watch had completely died. It was clearly defective. Thought Apple would replace it no problem. They chatted back and forth to me for an hour online, wanted me to pay for the repair and also asked if I planned to sue them. It was crazy. I had no idea Apple was so rotten when it comes to defects. Super disappointing for this girl who has built an entire Mac universe at work and at home, with Apple TVs, Home Pods, phones, ipads, laptops, desktops--multiple Mac everything for my 3 kids and me. Been a Mac fan for over a decade, and this one experience has been so rotten, they are seriously losing me. I feel crazy disappointed by this company. I mean: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209393 ???

Two things:

1.) I don’t believe the Bolded I highlighted in your post, Apple would never bring up in conversation asking if ‘You plan on to sue them’. Apple employees by P&P are never allowed to talk about litigation or any type of civil suits, as a matter fact, as soon as a customer threatens any type of litigation, Apple is immediately to cease the conversation and refer you to their legal department or a supervisor. That’s a fact.

Otherwise prove me wrong, post your ‘chat’ that they asked you that.

2.) It happens where your watch might be defective. But it sounds like you got into a fairly heated argument and likely was probably threatening these employees what ‘you will do’, which is why you probably brought up the conversation about suing. What you should do, is request a senior advisor or somebody in customer support relations that can further look into your situation.

But you posting your Apple line up over the years has nothing to do with that a tech product can become defective, Just handle it accordingly and try to reach a possible resolution through the appropriate channels.