Apple Watch Series 7 manufacturing defect?

[unclemax]

My Apple Watch Series 7 is four days old, and I just noticed this weird fine line inside the screen - like a crack? I didn't hit or drop (I mean, I am sure I must have hit it gently against something, as you do with watches, as well as it was also rubbing against my clothes as I went about my day, etc, etc, but I didn't impact it hard against anything, also didn't scratch it against anything), and I also find it hard to believe I wouldn't have noticed it initially because of setting up and playing with it constantly over the weekend (this is my first Apple Watch). So my impression is that it just appeared by itself in the last two days.

The line is really weird, I tried to capture it the best I could on camera - it starts roughly at the center and then projects down roughly in the 6 o'clock direction and terminates halfway towards the edge. You can only see it at certain angles, and as I tilt the screen it actually looks like two lines running close to each other. At some tilt angles I cannot see it at all. It is not an obvious crack or a scratch because there is nothing on the surface, I cannot wipe it off, and running my finger and nail over it the surface feels intact. The are no issues with the image and responsiveness of the screen.

What is it? Could this really have happened from wear and tear in four days (I own six or seven watches, only my plastic Casios have scratches, all glass crystal watches are fine, even the one with mineral rather than sapphire glasses)? Or is this a crack which developed as a result of manufacturing defect? Has anyone had any experience with that on Series 7 or previous models?

 

[fwmireault]

This looks like a manufacturing issue with your watch, I don’t have that on mine. I would ask Apple for a replacement

 

[MrGimper]

My Apple Watch Series 7 is four days old, and I just noticed this weird fine line inside the screen - like a crack? I didn't hit or drop (I mean, I am sure I must have hit it gently against something, as you do with the watches, as well as it was also rubbing against my clothes as I went about my day, etc, etc, but I didn't impact it hard against anything, also didn't scratch it against anything), and I also find it hard to believe I wouldn't have noticed it initially because of setting up and playing with it constantly over the weekend (this is my first Apple Watch). So my impression is that it just appeared by itself in the last two days.

The line is really weird, I tried to capture it the best I could on camera - it starts roughly at the center and then goes down roughly in the 6 o'clock direction and terminates halfway towards the edge. You can only see it at certain angles, and as I tilt the screen it actually looks like two lines running close to each other. At some tilt angles I cannot see it at all. It is not an obvious crack or a scratch because there is nothing on the surface, I cannot wipe it, and running my finger and nail over it, the surface feels intact. The are no issues with the image and responsiveness of the screen.

What is it? Could this really have happened from wear and tear in four days (I own six or seven pairs of watches, only my plastic Casios have scratches, all glass crystal watches are fine, even the one with mineral rather than sapphire glass)? Or is this a crack which developed as a result of manufacturing defect? Has anyone had any experience with that on Series 7 or previous models?

That's going back......

 

[newellj]

Totally agree. That looks like it'd be extremely visible (and annoying) in everyday use, not at all one of those problems you need bright light and a magnifying glass to see. Back it goes...

 

[Chevysales]

My Apple Watch Series 7 is four days old, and I just noticed this weird fine line inside the screen - like a crack? I didn't hit or drop (I mean, I am sure I must have hit it gently against something, as you do with the watches, as well as it was also rubbing against my clothes as I went about my day, etc, etc, but I didn't impact it hard against anything, also didn't scratch it against anything), and I also find it hard to believe I wouldn't have noticed it initially because of setting up and playing with it constantly over the weekend (this is my first Apple Watch). So my impression is that it just appeared by itself in the last two days.

The line is really weird, I tried to capture it the best I could on camera - it starts roughly at the center and then goes down roughly in the 6 o'clock direction and terminates halfway towards the edge. You can only see it at certain angles, and as I tilt the screen it actually looks like two lines running close to each other. At some tilt angles I cannot see it at all. It is not an obvious crack or a scratch because there is nothing on the surface, I cannot wipe it, and running my finger and nail over it, the surface feels intact. The are no issues with the image and responsiveness of the screen.

What is it? Could this really have happened from wear and tear in four days (I own six or seven watches, only my plastic Casios have scratches, all glass crystal watches are fine, even the one with mineral rather than sapphire glass)? Or is this a crack which developed as a result of manufacturing defect? Has anyone had any experience with that on Series 7 or previous models?

can you feel it with your fingernail?
or are you saying its on the inside of the glass?

 

[unclemax]

can you feel it with your fingernail?
or are you saying its on the inside of the glass?

It is inside. I can feel nothing when sliding my finger or fingernail over it.

This looks like a manufacturing issue with your watch, I don’t have that on mine. I would ask Apple for a replacement

That's going back......

Totally agree. That looks like it'd be extremely visible (and annoying) in everyday use, not at all one of those problems you need bright light and a magnifying glass to see. Back it goes...

Thanks for your input. I looked at it under bright light of my LED desk lamp, it does look very dodgy. I reset the watch and initiated the return (bought it on-line from Apple Store). Hope they're not going to give me hassle because, uhm, "the screen is cracked!" so I will also phone the support line to make sure.

 

[Itinj24]

It is inside. I can feel nothing when sliding my finger or fingernail over it.




Thanks for your input. I looked at it under bright light of my LED desk lamp, it does look very dodgy. I reset the watch and initiated the return (bought it on-line from Apple Store). Hope they're not going to give me hassle because, uhm, "the screen is cracked!" so I will also phone the support line to make sure.

Within the 14 day return period, I believe it’s no questions asked. You should be fine. I wouldn’t keep that either and manufacturer’s defects do happen, even with Apple almighty. My wife’s iPhone 11 Pro came out of the box with a huge gash in the back glass and my 12 Pro came with blemishes in the stainless steel band that wouldn’t rub off.

 

[haruhiko]

Return it when you can. It’s very obvious.

 

[unclemax]

Within the 14 day return period, I believe it’s no questions asked. You should be fine. I wouldn’t keep that either and manufacturer’s defects do happen, even with Apple almighty. My wife’s iPhone 11 Pro came out of the box with a huge gash in the back glass and my 12 Pro came with blemishes in the stainless steel band that wouldn’t rub off.

Return it when you can. It’s very obvious.

Yeah, eventually I thought so too - it's on the way back to Apple now. It's just that when I first noticed it, I was enjoying my watch so much and didn't want to part with it, as well as the current waiting times for AW7 are a bit long (one month? more than?)

About manufacturing defects happening - it looks like launch day problems, to be honest. Out of four products I got at the very launch, three had some issues (iPhone 4S was all good, iPad 3rd gen had issues with speakers, iPhone 6S eventually came to suffer from battery-gate (sudden shutdowns), and now the cracked Watch screen). I guess they rush it, or some large-scale manufacturing problems eventually can only be smoothened out by trial and error. Given the wait times, I am even considering waiting a month or two before reordering.

 

[TQT]

Just let you know, that you are not alone. my watch has fine lines in the bottom right corner out of nowhere. It‘s my fourth SS. I owned series 0,4,6 and now 7. This is the first time that I have problems with the sapphire crystal. Even my worn out watches have no single scratch after years of use. i returned my series 7 today. Not going to argue with apple whose fault it is. When it‘s obviously a quality issue.

 

[unclemax]

Just let you know, that you are not alone. my watch has fine lines in the bottom right corner out of nowhere. It‘s my fourth SS. I owned series 0,4,6 and now 7. This is the first time that I have problems with the sapphire crystal. Even my worn out watches have no single scratch after years of use. i returned my series 7 today. Not going to argue with apple whose fault it is. When it‘s obviously a quality issue.

Hey, thanks for posting about your experience! By the way, my watch is still not with Apple, the return shipping is taking four days now - so I am still yet to see if the return goes smoothly or if they try to blame me for damaging it.

 

[sonstar]

How will they blame you if the scratch is on the inside lol.

 

[Farrellcollie]

How will they blame you if the scratch is on the inside lol.

Never underestimate the power of apple to blame the consumer

 

[unclemax]

Great news! Reordered my watch after sending back the damaged one. Initial delivery estimate was Nov 20-27, which soon shifted to Nov 13-20. Then boom! Out of nowhere I got a notification about shipment on Wednesday and got my watch delivered yesterday! Well done, Apple Store China, I am more than happy! Someone must've read me complaining on various feedback forms ? - otherwise I cannot understand how they could draw a connection between my return for refund and a new order, and expedite it.