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AppleCare+ for Water Damages worth it?

bushido

bushido

Suspended
Original poster
Mar 26, 2008
8,070
2,755
Germany
hi

i am not worried about breaking my Apple Watch by dropping it or anything but i would like to use the watch in water conditions (no diving or surfing) without having to worry about it eventually breaking after all. i know i know there are many videos of people using it at the pool and what not and i would like to do that as well but i want to be on the save side.

do you think getting AppleCare+ is worth it for this use case or would they replace it within the first year for damages caused by water anyway?
 
There are a lot of folks saying they have to replace it do to the water resistance rating. Others are saying Apple employees have told them there are sensors to test for water damage in warranty claims. Truth is, we don't know what Apple will do until people start breaking these things in the water.

If 50-70 bucks is worth the piece of mind of not having to worry about the watch at all then go for it.
 
Unless you plan to use it outside the scope of the IPX7 water resistant rating (waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes), it's unnecessary because the standard warranty will cover it.
 
Heh, yet another thread that JayLenochiniMac and I get to argue about this.

Ok. I'm saying Apple isn't going to cover water ingress under warranty. Those I talked to at Apple agreed with me and stated that there are in fact indicators inside the watch that will demonstrate that water has gotten inside the watch (just like the iPhone).

People think the IPX7 rating means they get to go swimming / showering with it.

Seriously...RTFM! :) Apple watch user guide: https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1708/en_US/apple_watch_user_guide.pdf

Page 84, read what follows "Exposure to Liquid".

People need to stop using that overheard Tim Cook conversation on his showering with it as a "get out of jail free" card for showering/swimming with it.

But, that's just my take on it.

Jay? :)
 
bushido said:
i dropped many iPhones :p (none replaced cuz they still worked and no cracked screens) never a watch, i probably wouldnt drop a iPhone either if it was tied to my arm
Click to expand...

No, but if you're drunk you may elect to go deep diving with it so yes definitely get AC+. We don't need any more drunk threads from you :D
 
fischersd said:
Heh, yet another thread that JayLenochiniMac and I get to argue about this.

Ok. I'm saying Apple isn't going to cover water ingress under warranty. Those I talked to at Apple agreed with me and stated that there are in fact indicators inside the watch that will demonstrate that water has gotten inside the watch (just like the iPhone).

People think the IPX7 rating means they get to go swimming / showering with it.

Seriously...RTFM! :) Apple watch user guide: https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1708/en_US/apple_watch_user_guide.pdf

Page 84, read what follows "Exposure to Liquid".

People need to stop using that overheard Tim Cook conversation on his showering with it as a "get out of jail free" card for showering/swimming with it.

But, that's just my take on it.

Jay? :)
Click to expand...

"should" be avoided though? but yeah this is what has me worried. it may work for a while but eventually it may no longer be water resistant for reasons mentioned in their guide. i got 60 days to decide if i want applecare+ same as the iPhone right?
 
fischersd said:
Heh, yet another thread that JayLenochiniMac and I get to argue about this.

Ok. I'm saying Apple isn't going to cover water ingress under warranty. Those I talked to at Apple agreed with me and stated that there are in fact indicators inside the watch that will demonstrate that water has gotten inside the watch (just like the iPhone).

People think the IPX7 rating means they get to go swimming / showering with it.

Seriously...RTFM! :) Apple watch user guide: https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1708/en_US/apple_watch_user_guide.pdf

Page 84, read what follows "Exposure to Liquid".

People need to stop using that overheard Tim Cook conversation on his showering with it as a "get out of jail free" card for showering/swimming with it.

But, that's just my take on it.

Jay? :)
Click to expand...

You might want to educate yourself on the following:

-must , shall , or required means the statement is an absolute requirement.
-must not , shall not or prohibited means the statement is an absolute prohibition.
-should or recommended means the full implications must be understood before choosing a different course.
-should not or not recommended means the full implications must be understood before choosing this course.
-may or optional means the statement is truly optional, and its presence or absence cannot be assumed
 
fischersd said:
Ok. I'm saying Apple isn't going to cover water ingress under warranty. Those I talked to at Apple agreed with me and stated that there are in fact indicators inside the watch that will demonstrate that water has gotten inside the watch (just like the iPhone).
Click to expand...

The Apple Watch User Guide states:

Apple Watch is water resistant but not waterproof. You may, for example, wear and use Apple Watch during exercise (exposure to sweat is OK), in the rain, and while washing your hands.

While it doesn't mean that the Apple Watch can be held underwater for long periods of time or can be exposed to pressurized water, it does mean that the Apple Watch can get wet. Plus, Apple has a support article for a sticking digital crown that states:

Hold the Digital Crown under lightly running, warm, fresh water from a faucet for 10 to 15 seconds.

So, Apple acknowledges that the watch can get wet, and even recommends holding the watch under running water to clean a stuck digital crown. The only way that holding the watch under running water would have any impact on a stuck digital crown is if the water runs into the gap between the digital crown and the watch case, thereby flushing out anything that might be impeding the movement of the digital crown.

Therefore, there is no reasonable way for Apple to hold someone accountable for water damage because of a failed seal (for example) when Apple acknowledges the watch can be exposed to water during the normal course of wear and when Apple themselves recommends holding it under running water to clean it.
 
Ah, yes, but as all of the fantastic testing and youtube videos have pointed out is that the watch is designed for a far greater water tolerance than the IPX7 rating that Apple warranties it to.

So, if you get water in it, by default, you've exceeded the water rating.

And, yes, Jay, barring defective components. (I'm guessing if a customer kicks up a stink and it's a sports model, they'll just cave and give it to them).
 
So your position is that if I follow Apple's recommendations and hold the watch under running water (per their own instructions, remember) and water gets inside the watch as a result, Apple will discover that water has gotten inside the watch and deny my warranty claim because of a failure due to following their instructions?

No way.
 
ifarlow said:
So your position is that if I follow Apple's recommendations and hold the watch under running water (per their own instructions, remember) and water gets inside the watch as a result, Apple will discover that water has gotten inside the watch and deny my warranty claim because of a failure due to following their instructions?

No way.
Click to expand...

I'm saying if you follow their instructions, water won't get inside the watch.

Spashes, rain, sweat, washing your hands, none of these will do a anything to the watch. Showering and swimming with it? Different kettle of fish.
 
bushido said:
hi

i am not worried about breaking my Apple Watch by dropping it or anything but i would like to use the watch in water conditions (no diving or surfing) without having to worry about it eventually breaking after all. i know i know there are many videos of people using it at the pool and what not and i would like to do that as well but i want to be on the save side.

do you think getting AppleCare+ is worth it for this use case or would they replace it within the first year for damages caused by water anyway?
Click to expand...

why should you get a replacement watch with or without applecare +, if you purposely void and abuse yor watch.
if the manufacurer (apple) says no swimming, and you do, then the warranty is and should bhe null and void, and the onus is on you to fix or replace your watch.
why should my future cost for a device or insurance( applecare+) go up because of your stupidity and willful disregard.
 
ifarlow said:
So your position is that if I follow Apple's recommendations and hold the watch under running water (per their own instructions, remember) and water gets inside the watch as a result, Apple will discover that water has gotten inside the watch and deny my warranty claim because of a failure due to following their instructions?

No way.
Click to expand...

Exactly. The Watch isn't immune to manufacturing defects that may result in water ingress, and there will most certainly be such defective units which will be replaced under the standard warranty.
 
fischersd said:
I'm saying if you follow their instructions, water won't get inside the watch.
Click to expand...

There will never be a case of seals failing thereby allowing water into the watch? Never? You really think that the Apple Watch is that well built?

Absurd. Apple is good. They're not that good.

JayLenochiniMac said:
Exactly. The Watch isn't immune to manufacturing defects that may result in water ingress, and there will most certainly be such defective units which will be replaced under the standard warranty.
Click to expand...

Yep.
 
rhsmd1 said:
why should you get a replacement watch with or without applecare +, if you purposely void and abuse yor watch.
if the manufacurer (apple) says no swimming, and you do, then the warranty is and should bhe null and void, and the onus is on you to fix or replace your watch.
why should my future cost for a device or insurance( applecare+) go up because of your stupidity and willful disregard.
Click to expand...

i was always under the impression that Apple Care+ whole point is to cover stupidity unlike the regular AppleCare. i mean you do pay for it ...
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Exactly. The Watch isn't immune to manufacturing defects that may result in water ingress, and there will most certainly be such defective units which will be replaced under the standard warranty.
Click to expand...

The defects are going to be SO RARE that they won't consider this a likelihood. What is the likelihood that someone has a weak dab of glue on the rubber baffle covering the microphone port AND they go swimming with it?

Heh. We can argue this both ways until we're blue in the face. Until people try to get water damage covered under manufacturer's warranty, we won't know what they're going to do.

AC+ give you two accidental damage claims. That includes damage due to water. (drop your iPhone in the tub, you're good - for example).

----------
ifarlow said:
There will never be a case of seals failing thereby allowing water into the watch? Never? You really think that the Apple Watch is that well built?

Absurd. Apple is good. They're not that good.

.
Click to expand...

No, not never. This little blurb from the user guide covers that: "Water resistance is not a permanent condition and Apple Watch cannot be rechecked or resealed for water resistance."

The more you get it wet, the more likely you are to wear out the components protecting it from water.

I think the watch is designed considerably tougher than IPX7, to the tune that there can be defects in components and it can still withstand IPX7.
 
fischersd said:
No, not ever. This little blurb from the user guide covers that: "Water resistance is not a permanent condition and Apple Watch cannot be rechecked or resealed for water resistance."

The more you get it wet, the more likely you are to wear out the components protecting it from water.
Click to expand...

Exactly, which is why Apple will have to honor this failure under warranty (assuming it happened during the warranty period, of course) even though water has entered the watch as a result.
 
ifarlow said:
So your position is that if I follow Apple's recommendations and hold the watch under running water (per their own instructions, remember) and water gets inside the watch as a result, Apple will discover that water has gotten inside the watch and deny my warranty claim because of a failure due to following their instructions?

No way.
Click to expand...

The other bit is - when you take your watch in and you say "I was doing this, and it stopped working", they would suspect there was a defect with the seal on the digital crown and examine it.

----------
iConnected said:
But not your Apple Watch, unless you have an unfeasibly deep tub.
Click to expand...

Ah, but IPX7 is only 1 meter for 30 minutes. If you state you dropped it in your pool and it has water ingress (regardless of the fact that we've seen people take the watch to 40 metres without damage), you could claim that's how it happened. As an AC+ accident claim that is.

I don't think they entirely care. It's an insurance policy. You get two accidental replacements/repairs during the coverage period if you manage to damage the watch.
 
fischersd said:
Heh, yet another thread that JayLenochiniMac and I get to argue about this.

Ok. I'm saying Apple isn't going to cover water ingress under warranty. Those I talked to at Apple agreed with me and stated that there are in fact indicators inside the watch that will demonstrate that water has gotten inside the watch (just like the iPhone).

People think the IPX7 rating means they get to go swimming / showering with it.

Seriously...RTFM! :) Apple watch user guide: https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1708/en_US/apple_watch_user_guide.pdf

Page 84, read what follows "Exposure to Liquid".

People need to stop using that overheard Tim Cook conversation on his showering with it as a "get out of jail free" card for showering/swimming with it.

But, that's just my take on it.

Jay? :)
Click to expand...

How is showering worse than being completely submerged for 30 mins?
 
AR15MBP said:
How is showering worse than being completely submerged for 30 mins?
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that Apple doesn't recommend submerging it at all either, but given that it's advertised and sold with an IPX7 rating they're obligated to replace it under warranty if it suffers a water ingress inside the scope of this rating due to a manufacturing defect. Otherwise, they can look forward to a big, fat lawsuit.
 
DavidLynch said:
There are a lot of folks saying they have to replace it do to the water resistance rating. Others are saying Apple employees have told them there are sensors to test for water damage in warranty claims. Truth is, we don't know what Apple will do until people start breaking these things in the water.

If 50-70 bucks is worth the piece of mind of not having to worry about the watch at all then go for it.
Click to expand...

^ This.. Just yesterday I decided to add AppleCare for both my wife and I, we payed over $700 for the watches and I couldn't see not having it.
 
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