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Apple Watch Ultra Screen lamination defect Check Yours!

harleymhs

harleymhs

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 19, 2009
790
176
Hey Guys, Strange thing happened to me yesterday! I ordered my Ultra on order day. Received it over 2 weeks ago! Loving it! Yesterday I was driving and the sun hit the scrren just right and I noticed that the the screen looked like I had a screen protector on it ( very rippley and a few spots) Screen wasn't effected but I saw bad imperfections. This was the 1st time I saw it since new. I shrugged it off and figured that was the nature of the beast. Coming out of S4 that had a screen protector from day one I was used to those ripples ! I kept looking at it and now that I was aware of this issue, my wife said lets go to apple. Ironically it was the last day to return for refund. So off to Apple we went. The person who helped us actually was wearing his Ultra and we both went outside . He right away saw what I saw and looked at his. His was perfect. He called another Apple guy outside with his watch clear and clean. Then he took a store Ultra outside that one was clear also. He was a tech as well as sales and he informed me that the screen and crystal were fine, it was the lamination that glues the OLED screen to the Glass that wasn't installed properly. I was able to pick up another Ultra yesterday at another local Apple Store .. And returned the bad one.. I suggest that anyone that has an Ultra to turn off the watch go outside in the sunlight and check yours for ripples and small blemishes under the glass! You an see it with the watch on but much easier to see when turned off! I guess I was an unlucky one with quality control. But who knows. CHECK YOUR SCREENS! He saw it inside with a NON LED flashlight.
 
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I must admit I've seen something like that on mine, It's only visible in the brightest sun and when at a certain angle. Underneath the crystal theres a rainbow affect and like you said ripples. I just assumed it was normal as under every other situation the screen looks perfect. Just tried looking with a bright torch and can't see it.
 
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Jackbequickly said:
Does not sound like a big issue if you can only see in bright sunlight with the screen carefully held at a certain angle.
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I hadn't considered it an issue until reading this really, especially seeing as the apple store replaced that one. It does just look like a layer of glue thats used to bond the sapphire screen to the display underneath. Maybe I'll call in the apple store when I'm next passing and see what they say.
 
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metman888 said:
I hadn't considered it an issue until reading this really, especially seeing as the apple store replaced that one. It does just look like a layer of glue thats used to bond the sapphire screen to the display underneath. Maybe I'll call in the apple store when I'm next passing and see what they say.
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I can imagine what they will say. Have you talked to one of their geeks lately? They are not what they used to be.
 
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Jackbequickly said:
I can imagine what they will say. Have you talked to one of their geeks lately? They are not what they used to be.
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Haha yeah I have which is why I'm certainly not going to make a special journey to see them. That said if they can see the ripples on mine but show another watch without them then I think I'd probably want to change mine out. It's not a problem for me at the moment but theres a chance maybe in the future it could get worse.

Suppose thats what applecare+ is there for though.
 
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I also have noticed this way before reading this thread. Only present during sunlight and at a certain angle. I don't know if its a defect or not. I'm not going to run to apple right now. I'll wait. Regardless if its a defect Apple will replace at any given time. Not going to worry about it right now. I also have applecare+
 
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sjperformance said:
I also have noticed this way before reading this thread. Only present during sunlight and at a certain angle. I don't know if its a defect or not. I'm not going to run to apple right now. I'll wait. Regardless if its a defect Apple will replace at any given time. Not going to worry about it right now. I also have applecare+
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I suspect it's perfectly normal, maybe some watches are worse than others. Ive been trying to see it on mine for the past hour and haven't been able too. Unfortunately I live in Manchester UK so we don't get much direct sun.
 
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metman888 said:
I suspect it's perfectly normal, maybe some watches are worse than others. Ive been trying to see it on mine for the past hour and haven't been able too. Unfortunately I live in Manchester UK so we don't get much direct sun.
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Miami here. Sunny everyday. Sometimes I see it others I don't. I'm not going to worry about it. Even when I've bought my Rolex watches I've notice some imperfections. Thought I don't think this issue on the AUW is a defect.
 
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Itinj24 said:
Pics or it didn’t happen.
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I tried to take a few pics hard to capture .. I noticed after a week while driving left hand on steering wheel watch facing straight up and saw it right away! Def the lamination from the Oled to the crystal. Ripples and a couple of blotches. Looks like I had a screen protector on it.. I just wanted to alert anyone who has a Ultra.. I'm sure its not wide spread I guess just my luck. I was able to pick up a new one at another local apple store that day. Havn't seen another one hit any apple store since. So I wasn't lucky then got lucky again!
 
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metman888 said:
I must admit I've seen something like that on mine, It's only visible in the brightest sun and when at a certain angle. Underneath the crystal theres a rainbow affect and like you said ripples. I just assumed it was normal as under every other situation the screen looks perfect. Just tried looking with a bright torch and can't see it.
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The Guys at the Apple Store did see it with a bright non led flashlight.. I only saw it in bright sunlight at a certain angle. I also thought it was normal it didnt effect the screen but once I saw it , I knew it would continue to bother me.. Rainy here in NY so I cant go out and check it. Ill report back here once I go outside and look for it..
 
harleymhs said:
I tried to take a few pics hard to capture .. I noticed after a week while driving left hand on steering wheel watch facing straight up and saw it right away! Def the lamination from the Oled to the crystal. Ripples and a couple of blotches. Looks like I had a screen protector on it.. I just wanted to alert anyone who has a Ultra.. I'm sure its not wide spread I guess just my luck. I was able to pick up a new one at another local apple store that day. Havn't seen another one hit any apple store since. So I wasn't lucky then got lucky again!
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I was just busting chops but also curious to see what it looked like so I know what to look out for. Glad it worked out for ya 👍
 
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Jackbequickly said:
Does not sound like a big issue if you can only see in bright sunlight with the screen carefully held at a certain angle.
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I can see that on any OLED screen, even my Sony television, if the sun hits the screen at just the right angle. With a watch you have to intentionally turn your wrist in direct sun to just the right angle to see that effect. That’s neither a bug nor a flaw and only something someone who has too much time on his hand would think about. Maybe I should pull my tv over to a window, angle it just right, take a picture of the “bug” and then demand Sony replace the tv. I could do this once a year with every tv so I could always get a new set. I have better things to do.
 
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papbot said:
I can see that on any OLED screen, even my Sony television, if the sun hits the screen at just the right angle. With a watch you have to intentionally turn your wrist in direct sun to just the right angle to see that effect. That’s neither a bug nor a flaw and only something someone who has too much time on his hand would think about. Maybe I should pull my tv over to a window, angle it just right, take a picture of the “bug” and then demand Sony replace the tv. I could do this once a year with every tv so I could always get a new set. I have better things to do.
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Thanks but I am not the one having the problem.
 
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drew0020 said:
It’s normal. This also happens on the SS Apple Watches from S4-S8 on all the ones I’ve seen.

This is only certain angles on certain types of lighting. A total non-issue. Good luck!
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This. It’s not unusual at all. Every watch I’ve had exhibits this including both the Ceramic S5 and Hermès S6 and now, the Ultra. Some show worse than others but it only shows in very specific, harsh, light from certain angles. Never notice in daily use though.
 
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harleymhs said:
The Guys at the Apple Store did see it with a bright non led flashlight.. I only saw it in bright sunlight at a certain angle. I also thought it was normal it didnt effect the screen but once I saw it , I knew it would continue to bother me.. Rainy here in NY so I cant go out and check it. Ill report back here once I go outside and look for it..
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I'll have to check when I'm outside. Currently in the office and with the screen off and under fluorescent light, I don't see any ripples. I hope I don't have that defect! Thanks for letting us know.
 
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