Apple Watch speaker after being in water

[JerTheGeek]

I have an Apple Watch Sport 42mm. I took it in the pool yesterday and after getting out the speaker was much quieter and sounded sort of muffled. I blew into it several times and water came out. After a while I got some notifications and the speaker was working fine again. Today I went to the beach and took the Watch off before I got in the water; I put it back on and then rinsed off in the shower; I also swam in the pool a bit after getting home with the Watch on, like yesterday. Speaker seems to be doing the same thing as yesterday. Any idea why this could be?

 

[TETENAL]

"Apple Watch is splash and water resistant but not waterproof. You can, for example, wear and use Apple Watch during exercise, in the rain, and while washing your hands, but submerging Apple Watch is not recommended."

http://www.apple.com/watch/design/

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

"Apple Watch is splash and water resistant but not waterproof. You can, for example, wear and use Apple Watch during exercise, in the rain, and while washing your hands, but submerging Apple Watch is not recommended."

http://www.apple.com/watch/design/

That's meaningless. It's rated IPX7 water resistant (waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes), and Apple is obligated to replace manufacturing defects leading to water ingress under warranty.

OP, I bet it's an early sign of water ingress. I'd get it swapped out. Others do not have this problem.

 

[Julien]

...OP, I bet it's an early sign of water ingress. I'd get it swapped out. Others do not have this problem.

Ingress??? It sounds like the OP had a drop water adhering or cohesion in the armature opening muffling the sound. Once the water is removed (evaporation) all is normal.

 

[JerTheGeek]

Ingress??? It sounds like the OP had a drop water adhering or cohesion in the armature opening muffling the sound. Once the water is removed (evaporation) all is normal.

Ah ok that makes me feel better. So it just takes a bit for the water to evaporate?

 

[iBlazed]

Ah ok that makes me feel better. So it just takes a bit for the water to evaporate?

Yep. This happens to me like daily.

If you're not used to getting your watch wet I can see how this could freak you out at first. Keep on using your Watch around water, it can handle it. If there's ever an issue, apple will need to replace it. I also suggest getting AppleCare on it.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I also suggest getting AppleCare on it.

No point for water damage. They're obligated to replace it under the standard warranty.

 

[iBlazed]

No point for water damage. They're obligated to replace it under the standard warranty.

Yeah I know, I just like it for the accidental damage coverage and the extension of the 1 year manufacturer defect warranty. For $49 I figured what the hell.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Ingress??? It sounds like the OP had a drop water adhering or cohesion in the armature opening muffling the sound. Once the water is removed (evaporation) all is normal.

Well, that could very well be the culprit. One member reported after drying that a considerable amount of water spilled out of the microphone hole, which is definitely a case of water ingress.

So you're saying it's normal to temporarily lose microphone and speaker function every time you take a shower? Sounds annoying.

Yeah I know, I just like it for the accidental damage coverage and the extension of the 1 year warranty manufacturer defect warranty. For $49 I figured what the hell.

Fair enough.

 

[iBlazed]

So you're saying it's normal to temporarily lose microphone and speaker function every time you take a shower? Sounds annoying.

Yup. Doesn't usually last long though and I usually don't notice because I have the notification sound permanently turned off on my watch.

 

[JerTheGeek]

Yup. Doesn't usually last long though and I usually don't notice because I have the notification sound permanently turned off on my watch.

about how long can i expect it to last?

 

[iBlazed]

about how long can i expect it to last?

Hard to say. Usually you can just shake it out if you don't want to let it air dry. But I would say it takes less time to air dry itself if you actually wear it instead of letting it sit.

 

[JerTheGeek]

Hard to say. Usually you can just shake it out if you don't want to let it air dry. But I would say it takes less time to air dry itself in you actually wear it instead of letting it sit.

seems like the speaker is getting louder now. I am starting to hear notifications.

 

[charlituna]

That's meaningless. It's rated IPX7 water resistant (waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes), and Apple is obligated to replace manufacturing defects leading to water ingress under warranty.

unless they have proof that you went under 1 meter or for longer than 30 minutes. If they have that proof then they have justification to say you violated the terms of the warranty.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

unless they have proof that you went under 1 meter or for longer than 30 minutes. If they have that proof then they have justification to say you violated the terms of the warranty.

How will they prove that?

 

[iBlazed]

unless they have proof that you went under 1 meter or for longer than 30 minutes. If they have that proof then they have justification to say you violated the terms of the warranty.

Yeah I'm sure they'll hire a private investigator to sort out the matter.

 

[Thepixelsedge]

I have an Apple Watch Sport 42mm. I took it in the pool yesterday and after getting out the speaker was much quieter and sounded sort of muffled. I blew into it several times and water came out. After a while I got some notifications and the speaker was working fine again. Today I went to the beach and took the Watch off before I got in the water; I put it back on and then rinsed off in the shower; I also swam in the pool a bit after getting home with the Watch on, like yesterday. Speaker seems to be doing the same thing as yesterday. Any idea why this could be?

I had this exact same thing happen to me and posted about it in another thread here. It's happened to me while washing the watch... Mine went completely muffled.. I just shake it out onto the counter. You'd be surprised how much water comes out of that tiny hole.

After it dries it seems to be normal tho.

 

[JerTheGeek]

I had this exact same thing happen to me and posted about it in another thread here. It's happened to me while washing the watch... Mine went completely muffled.. I just shake it out onto the counter. You'd be surprised how much water comes out of that tiny hole.

After it dries it seems to be normal tho.

Yeah a significant amount of water! It's pretty crazy! Mine seems to be back to normal now.

 

[iBlazed]

Yeah a significant amount of water! It's pretty crazy! Mine seems to be back to normal now.

For the most part the Apple Watch is a pretty rugged little device. That's why I don't baby it.

 

[Recognition]

about how long can i expect it to last?

I have this issue too, i leave it to dry out on the charger over night and by the morning it's fine.

 

[Newtons Apple]

My 42SS does this after washing it most the time. It is not a defect as the speaker always come back just the same. Simply water in the speaker hole and one dried out returns to normal. I can hold my watch carefully and "sling" the watch and get the water to come out of the speaker hole.

Just because water gets to the speaker does not mean we had water get into the watch circuitry. I suspect this is the way the watch is designed.

 

[JerTheGeek]

For the most part the Apple Watch is a pretty rugged little device. That's why I don't baby it.

Yeah based on all the tests I've seen people do on it, it seems to be able to handle a significant amount of water. That's why I figured, "why not bring it in the pool!"
On the other hand, has anyone here tried it at the beach? I went yesterday and I wasn't sure about the salt water, so I left it in a bag on shore.

 

[0000757]

That's meaningless. It's rated IPX7 water resistant (waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes), and Apple is obligated to replace manufacturing defects leading to water ingress under warranty.

OP, I bet it's an early sign of water ingress. I'd get it swapped out. Others do not have this problem.

This is literally how all devices act when water gets in the speaker??

Waterproof phones did this. Other waterproof watches with speakers do this. It's completely normal.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

This is literally how all devices act when water gets in the speaker??

Waterproof phones did this. Other waterproof watches with speakers do this. It's completely normal.

Fair enough.

Is it normal for a considerable amount of water to spill out of the speaker/microphone holes once it's air dried and you shake it? I've submerged my Watch several times and never had this happen.

 

[Julien]

cohesing

My 42SS does this after washing it most the time. It is not a defect as the speaker always come back just the same. Simply water in the speaker hole and one dried out returns to normal. I can hold my watch carefully and "sling" the watch and get the water to come out of the speaker hole.

Just because water gets to the speaker does not mean we had water get into the watch circuitry. I suspect this is the way the watch is designed.

Actually this is the way water molecules are 'designed'. There is no way to have a tiny opening exposed to water without having water's adhesion and cohesion effect.

http://water.usgs.gov/edu/adhesion.html

Also the speaker and mic are not dynamic drivers (like the paper or plastic drivers we are use to seeing) but are a balanced armature driver. Armatures are far less prone to water damage and are easy to make water resistant/proof.