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Consumer Reports Tests Apple Watch for Readability, Water Resistance, Fitness Tracking and More

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Apr 12, 2001
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Consumer Reports has crowned the Apple Watch as its top-rated smartwatch in its test of 11 smartwatch models from eight manufacturers, including the Asus ZenWatch, LG G Watch R, Moto 360, Pebble Steel, Samsung Gear S and Sony SmartWatch 3. The not-for-profit organization tested the Apple Watch and competing devices for step count accuracy, screen readability, ease of use, scratch resistance, water resistance, heart rate tracking and more.

In particular, the stainless steel Apple Watch scored the highest among the smartwatches tested because of its high readability in bright and low light, ease of use, ease of pairing with an iPhone, durable scratch resistance, IPX7 water resistance rating and accurate heart rate and step count tracking. Meanwhile, the Sony SmartWatch 3 finished at the bottom of the rankings, primarily because it failed the 24-hour water immersion test.

Article Link: Consumer Reports Tests Apple Watch for Readability, Water Resistance, Fitness Tracking and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/05/06/consumer-reports-apple-watch-test/
IPX7 is for immersion upto 1m.

Where does Apple claim this? I thought they only supported brief spray from shower/hand washing?

X7 should be enough for say a tri swimmer doing laps.
 
I'll let you know if any of this is true...once mine finally arrives!

Hello June :-/
 
Menel said:
IPX7 is for immersion upto 1m.

Where does Apple claim this?
Click to expand...

There is fine print on the Apple Watch website:

"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. Apple Watch has a water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529. The leather bands are not water resistant."
Click to expand...
 
Definitely true

I took a swim with my watch. Still working beautifully. So far I have yet to have any reported issue. My crown works perfectly, no tattoogate, mainly because I don't have one, no water leak problems, or haptic feedback issues. I've pulled as much as 24 hours out of my battery.

SS 42mm BSB

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

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Chatter said:
I dont have mine yet...but these articles just keep teasing me! Dammit, I have no patience at all.
Click to expand...

See post above. :p
 
Cyberpower678 said:
I took a swim with my watch. Still working beautifully. So far I have yet to have any reported issue. My crown works perfectly, no tattoogate, mainly because I don't have one, no water leak problems, or haptic feedback issues. I've pulled as much as 24 hours out of my battery.

SS 42mm BSB

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

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See post above. :p
Click to expand...

BIG hate coming your way sir. BIG Hate.
:p
 
The whole "tattoogate" confuses me. This just seems like common sense. I would assume that an optical sensor is affected by ink in the skin that absorbs light.
 
For the past 3 days, I've been working out at the gym and taking it in the shower with me in the morning. So far, it's been great.

Even though I leave my phone in the locker, it's still close enough to the showers to allow me to text. It was pretty cool to easily send a "Thanks!" to a text notification this morning in the shower.
 
mmendoza27 said:
For the past 3 days, I've been working out at the gym and taking it in the shower with me in the morning. So far, it's been great.

Even though I leave my phone in the locker, it's still close enough to the showers to allow me to text. It was pretty cool to easily send a "Thanks!" to a text notification this morning in the shower.
Click to expand...

Not to mention the dictation feature is practically flawless. Had very little issue with it so far.
 
I've been very happy with the battery life (38mm) and utilize almost every feature of the watch but THE standout feature to me is the Taptic Engine.
Neither my phone or my watch has made one audible sound since my watch arrived.
 
Finally, an article about an organization doing some real world tests.

I might forget and swim with it (if I buy one), or I might inadvertently hit a doorknob or other surface. But I am not going to take a cheese grater, knife, peanut butter, soy sauce, or boiling water to it.
 
Menel said:
IPX7 is for immersion upto 1m.

Where does Apple claim this? I thought they only supported brief spray from shower/hand washing?

X7 should be enough for say a tri swimmer doing laps.
Click to expand...

No, that's not right. "7" is for brief, occasional immersion. You should do fine if you forget to take off your Watch to swim once in a while but it could fail if you keep doing it.
 
mmendoza27 said:
For the past 3 days, I've been working out at the gym and taking it in the shower with me in the morning. So far, it's been great.

Even though I leave my phone in the locker, it's still close enough to the showers to allow me to text. It was pretty cool to easily send a "Thanks!" to a text notification this morning in the shower.
Click to expand...

Please don't elaborate on why you are thanking someone while taking a shower #
 
michaelant said:
Awesome. Now I'll get one for sure, with Consumer Reports seal of approval! :rolleyes:
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Well, CU hasn't been too complimentary of Apple lately. Very few of Apple's products have ended up highly rated by them. CU seems to lean more toward products with competitive pricing. So the fact that they've chosen the Apple Watch as best-in-class is, IMO, a big deal.
 
mmendoza27 said:
For the past 3 days, I've been working out at the gym and taking it in the shower with me in the morning. So far, it's been great.

Even though I leave my phone in the locker, it's still close enough to the showers to allow me to text. It was pretty cool to easily send a "Thanks!" to a text notification this morning in the shower.
Click to expand...

I'm not showering with my Apple Watch... but it's GREAT for the gym.

I used to have an hour and 15 minute period of my day where I was not reachable.... I work out 4:15-5:30.

Sometimes something at the office came up (servers down! help), or my wife tried to reach me about something important (daughter stuck at school, can't get her)... it's nice to be able to respond now... instead of responding at 5:30.

It's nice to just 'know' something is going on too even if I don't have to respond. Well worth it.

(Of course, my alerts would occur once every 5 days or so... If I'm constantly bugged for unimportant things, there is no reason to stay connected)
 
Chatter said:
I dont have mine yet...but these articles just keep teasing me! Dammit, I have no patience at all.
Click to expand...

Totally Agree!!!!!!

My watch is still "processing" for an expected delivery of May 14-28. All these articles are just salt in the wound :p
 
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