Apple Watch Stands Up to 1,200m Swim Workout and 10m High Dive Test

[MacRumors]

The Apple Watch has been put through a variety of waterproofing tests since its public launch in April, but over the weekend endurance sports and tech blogger Ray Maker posted a few Apple Watch-related waterproof videos, including the first lap swimming test with Apple's new wearable.

As Maker notes in his blog post, many people have uploaded videos detailing simple waterproof tests in smaller backyard pools, but there has until now been little information on the Watch's ability to withstand higher-intensity swimming activities. As he notes, "It's the wrist hitting the water that's so difficult for watch waterproofing due to the impact forces," so that's what he decides to focus on in the test. After about 25 minutes in the water and a 1200 meter swim, Maker found results similar to most other waterproofing tests over the past few weeks - the Apple Watch remains seemingly unharmed by even the most daunting submerged water tests.

I'm impressed, it's still chugging along after that - with not a single sign of any issues at all. Clearly this is all more than adequate for any sort of casual sweat or showering. Though I'll definitely be keeping an eye out over the next few weeks just in case.

Of course, the slightly awkward thing is that despite this battery of tests, the unit still isn't warrantied for any of this, including even a simple shower with soap. Now whether or not an Apple Store employee would question a watch that arrives back dead probably remains to be seen. On the flip side, it's also clear that it's probably quite a bit harder to kill the thing than Apple would have you believe.

As with any new product category, the Apple Watch has faced a deluge of various testing in videos and on blogs around the web ever since it launched to customers on April 24. Ray Maker's experiments provide the first real glimpse at the usability of the Watch in a high-intensity swimming environment, and definitely provides more ease-of-mind to those worrying about getting their watch even slightly wet. Still, Maker reiterates that given that the Watch "doesn't take advantage of its internal accelerometers for any swimming metrics," he advises to leave it behind when swimming in a pool.

Article Link: Apple Watch Stands Up to 1,200m Swim Workout and 10m High Dive Test

 

[Alex Moran]

Many people in these forums were complaining about waterproofing on the Apple watch

I'm sure this must be excellent news for you guys

Hopefully this is enough to meet those users demands

 

[ValSalva]

Under-promise and over-deliver.

 

[pjfanelli]

At least spell the guys name right consistently. It's Maker not Waker.

 

[0815]

That is great and much better than expected.

However, I still would not take this a proof that I can go swimming and in the shower with it every day - it probably wouldn't hold up over time and within a year it might rust.

But it is great to know that owners don't have to worry about occasional getting in contact with water (Within realistic expectations the watches should be just fine)

 

[keysofanxiety]

Under-promise and over-deliver.

This, it's a very good tactic. If Apple claimed it was even 99% waterproof, you'd have loads of videos of people pressure-blasting the damn thing until it died. "Watergate", they'd smirk.

Whereas saying it's OK for light running water but nothing beyond that - and yet it works to these sort of depths - ensures that there's never going to be an out-of-warranty claim/liquid damage if people use it lightly.

 

[Cyberpower678]

This is definitely under promised. The apple watch is a very durable product. Apple doesn't half-ass quality.

 

[Kebabselector]

Still not overly sure I'd go for a swim with mine though

 

[GenesisST]

I'm more than covered from forgetting to remove it when giving my kids a bath or when using the sink. That was my main concern.

Now, if it can just ship...

 

[Alenore]

And just because it survived the test doesn't mean it isn't damaged in any way.
You might as well just realize aftet your 10th swim that it just doesn't work anymore.

 

[JetLaw]

This is the first "Apple Watch Test Video" that I've seen which is at all useful. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I'd much rather see how a product fares under realistic usage than watch a video about whether or not it would have survived the Hinderburg disaster.

 

[CrAkD]

This is definitely under promised. The apple watch is a very durable product. Apple doesn't half-ass quality.

As long as you don't graze it against anything hard

 

[Aetles]

For those of you who are not familiar with DC Rainmaker, this is The site for reviews of gadgets like GPS running watches for triathlon and other sport activities. Think AnandTech/John Siracusa style. If you ever search for reviews of things like Garmins latest GPS watche then you've probably ended up there.

 

[freediverx]

That is great and much better than expected.

However, I still would not take this a proof that I can go swimming and in the shower with it every day - it probably wouldn't hold up over time and within a year it might rust.

I'm also skeptical/cautious about its long term durability after repeated submersions. Rust, however, has nothing to do with it. It's a stainless steel watch, and one designed and manufactured by Apple. Unless you neglect to rinse it off after salt water exposure there's no way this thing is going to rust.

 

[The Doctor11]

Now if Apple could advertise it to do this I could go swim with mine Damn it Apple just say if there is any water damage you got my back on warranty.

 

[freediverx]

And just because it survived the test doesn't mean it isn't damaged in any way.
You might as well just realize aftet your 10th swim that it just doesn't work anymore.

This is a great point. Every submersion might imperceptibly weaken the watch's water resistance. Even a tiny amount of water leakage could ruin the watch weeks or months after the fact.

If you want to see how real water resistance testing is done, check out this article on Rolex:

Rolex Dive Watches Are Individually Tested In Pressurized Tanks With Water
http://www.ablogtowatch.com/10-things-know-rolex-makes-watches/2/

"After the watches exit the tank, they are heated up and a drop of cold water is placed on the crystal to see if condensation forms. An optical sensor then scans them for trace amounts of water."

 

[Cyberpower678]

As long as you don't graze it against anything hard

Did that already too. No nicks and scratches, and still showering with it.

 

[CrAkD]

Did that already too. No nicks and scratches, and still showering with it.

Lucky. I did the same and cracked the corner of the glass.

 

[Rogifan]

Now if Apple could advertise it to do this I could go swim with mine Damn it Apple just say if there is any water damage you got my back on warranty.

The watch wasn't designed to be waterproof so why should Apple cover water damage in the warranty?

 

[Cyberpower678]

Lucky. I did the same and cracked the corner of the glass.

Are you using sapphire or ion-x?

 

[CrAkD]

Are you using sapphire or ion-x?

Ion x

 

[Cyberpower678]

Ion x

Image

I have sapphire. That's probably why. Tough break, sorry about your glass.

 

[CrAkD]

I have sapphire. That's probably why. Tough break, sorry about your glass.

Yeah it sucks. I was going to get sapphire 2nd gen if I really liked it. I figured I never scratched or broke an iPhone screen so I thought I'd be fine.

 

[Cyberpower678]

Yeah it sucks. I was going to get sapphire 2nd gen if I really liked it. I figured I never scratched or broke an iPhone screen so I thought I'd be fine.

Sadly, that's a common thought process error, it seems. I've never broken my iPhone screen either, but I knew that my watch will end up slamming into stuff, hence I went with sapphire. Apparently there are screen replacements you can order from AliExpress, but don't ask me where or how.

 

[6836838]

Wow, a waterproof watch. Meh.