Does having a rear screen protector affect calorie and heart rate readings?

[Nisaja]

Hi guys. I have a DIY screen protector for the back of my Apple watch, because I've read that charging it scratches the rear glass. I've just pasted a small piece of transparent sticker there.

Can this affect the accuracy of the heart rate readings? One time while I was at the gym, the heart rate showed 194! Even driving my car for a few minutes gets me about 40 calories. Just wondering if it gets affected.

 

[NT1440]

Hard to say. Does your DIY solution refract light?

Personally, I just upgraded to an S3 after my S0 stopped charging (owned it from day one, couldn’t be happier with the lifespan I got out of the underpowered device). The back definitely has a swirl pattern going on but it worked perfectly (never gave peculiar readings). Personally I don’t see a need for a protector at all.

 

[Nisaja]

Hard to say. Does your DIY solution refract light?

Personally, I just upgraded to an S3 after my S0 stopped charging (owned it from day one, couldn’t be happier with the lifespan I got out of the underpowered device). The back definitely has a swirl pattern going on but it worked perfectly (never gave peculiar readings). Personally I don’t see a need for a protector at all.

I guess it does. It's some left over clear bra that I got for my car lol. I have a Milanese loop and I don't want the glass to get scratched when I keep it on a table.

 

[NT1440]

I guess it does. It's some left over clear bra that I got for my car lol. I have a Milanese loop and I don't want the glass to get scratched when I keep it on a table.

A simple table won’t scratch it, but even minor scratches aren’t going to cause any harm. The best description I can give is that it’s not a focusing lens, a single scratch isn’t going to break it.

Enjoy your device, it’ll be fine as long as you don’t grind it into a sand pit.

 

[Nisaja]

A simple table won’t scratch it, but even minor scratches aren’t going to cause any harm. The best description I can give is that it’s not a focusing lens, a single scratch isn’t going to break it.

Enjoy your device, it’ll be fine as long as you don’t grind it into a sand pit.

Not the table mate. When you keep it on a table, the rear glass rests on the Milanese loop. That can scratch it.

 

[NT1440]

Not the table mate. When you keep it on a table, the rear glass rests on the Milanese loop. That can scratch it.

Oh I see. In that case, I’d buy something actually designed to protect it. You have no idea what light characteristics that plastic you used has regardless of it seeming transparent to the human eye. It could have reflective particles or a polarization effect going on which I’d imagine would result in some rather wonky behavior.

 

[Nisaja]

Oh I see. In that case, I’d buy something actually designed to protect it. You have no idea what light characteristics that plastic you used has regardless of it seeming transparent to the human eye. It could have reflective particles or a polarization effect going on which I’d imagine would result in some rather wonky behavior.

Good point. I'll take it off and see how it goes. Thanks for the replies! Appreciate it.

 

[44267547]

Not the table mate. When you keep it on a table, the rear glass rests on the Milanese loop. That can scratch it.

Just to clarify, the regular Milanese loop is not as prone to scratch the Apple Watch, the DLC from the ‘black stainless milanese loop’ is highly more likely to scratch the Sapphire and backing.

 

[Nisaja]

Just to clarify, the regular Milanese loop is not as prone to scratch the Apple Watch, the DLC from the ‘black stainless milanese loop’ is highly more likely to scratch the Sapphire and backing.

Thanks! Sadly, I have the black milanese loop

 

[oeagleo]

Not the table mate. When you keep it on a table, the rear glass rests on the Milanese loop. That can scratch it.

But, if it's off your wrist, and you're charging it, doesn't the charging puck rest between your Milanese Loop, and the Back Glass? If it's the surrounding area you're worried about get a piece of the eyeglass cleaning cloth, or even simple eyeglass wipes to put between the puck and the bracelet. In fact, you could even clean the back of the watch before charging, and when you're done, connect the puck, and put the used cleaning cloth between the puck and band.

 

[Nisaja]

But, if it's off your wrist, and you're charging it, doesn't the charging puck rest between your Milanese Loop, and the Back Glass? If it's the surrounding area you're worried about get a piece of the eyeglass cleaning cloth, or even simple eyeglass wipes to put between the puck and the bracelet. In fact, you could even clean the back of the watch before charging, and when you're done, connect the puck, and put the used cleaning cloth between the puck and band.

Good point. I can do that! I rarely use my Apple watch so I rarely charge it. It's mostly just lying on top of the milanese loop. Do you think the screen protector is messing up the heart rate readings?

 

[gwhizkids]

I have never heard any recommendations to protect the back. I’d say, given the odd readings you’re getting, the material you’re using is causing issues. One easy way to find out is to remove it and see what happens. Otherwise, enjoy using it and don’t worry about blemishes to areas that aren’t meant to be seen.

 

[44267547]

From my experience, the composite backing on the sport model Apple Watch is is fairly durable. The way I see it, either the Apple Watch is on your wrist or is on the charging puck. If you’re concerned about the Apple Watch back scratching, simply lay it on its side versus laying it on its backside.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Do you think the screen protector is messing up the heart rate readings?

Put your protector thing on the charging puck if you're worried, but seriously, it's nothing to be concerned about. Just don't be actively careless with your watch and you'll be fine. I haven't babied mine, I've had it for over three years now and my plastic back is just fine. There's some faint fuzzing in the center where the puck has grabbed on most tightly (as that's where the magnet is), but the area where the lenses are is just fine.

And if you have the sapphire and ceramic back you'd have to work at scratching anything I'd think.

 

[DadBod630]

Hi guys. I have a DIY screen protector for the back of my Apple watch, because I've read that charging it scratches the rear glass. I've just pasted a small piece of transparent sticker there.

Can this affect the accuracy of the heart rate readings? One time while I was at the gym, the heart rate showed 194! Even driving my car for a few minutes gets me about 40 calories. Just wondering if it gets affected.

This is the dumbest thing I've ever read. You have a "screen" protector for the part that you never see because it's always against your wrist?

 

[oeagleo]

This is the dumbest thing I've ever read. You have a "screen" protector for the part that you never see because it's always against your wrist?

It may be the dumbest thing that YOU'VE ever heard, but it's enough of a concern to the OP that they saw fit to ask what they perceived as a knowledgeable source in this forum. I can see where given the situation, ie. milanese loop bracelet and the "composite" back of the watch, that scratches could occur. Just my 2c worth, but then, I've grown to not judge the validity of others' questions, just answer if I can.. Unless they ask the same thing over and over..

 

[44267547]

This is the dumbest thing I've ever read. You have a "screen" protector for the part that you never see because it's always against your wrist?

Actually, the OP’s idea is opposite of dumb, its creative in the least. Which you obviously didn’t read the previous posts in this thread, because if you had, then you would realize that the OP also has a Milanese loop that _does_ have the potential to scratch the back of the composite backing on the Apple Watch when he takes it off. If somebody wants to add some type a protector to the back of the heart rate sensor area, it’s their choice to do so.

 

[KarimLeVallois]

Actually, the OP’s idea is opposite of dumb, its creative in the least. Which you obviously didn’t read the previous posts in this thread, because if you had, then you would realize that the OP also has a Milanese loop that _does_ have the potential to scratch the back of the composite backing on the Apple Watch when he takes it off. If somebody wants to add some type a protector to the back of the heart rate sensor area, it’s their choice to do so.

I agree! The Milanese Loop, especially the Space Black one can cause some serious issues to the back of the watch if you're not careful.

 

[Nisaja]

I have never heard any recommendations to protect the back. I’d say, given the odd readings you’re getting, the material you’re using is causing issues. One easy way to find out is to remove it and see what happens. Otherwise, enjoy using it and don’t worry about blemishes to areas that aren’t meant to be seen.

I took it off and went out for long lunch today. Left home around 11 AM, drove for about an hour, had lunch, and drove back for about 1.5 hours. I got home around 6:30 PM. I had burned 150 calroies. I wasn't very active. Just walked to and from the restaurant. Seems accurate, right?

Put your protector thing on the charging puck if you're worried, but seriously, it's nothing to be concerned about. Just don't be actively careless with your watch and you'll be fine. I haven't babied mine, I've had it for over three years now and my plastic back is just fine. There's some faint fuzzing in the center where the puck has grabbed on most tightly (as that's where the magnet is), but the area where the lenses are is just fine.

And if you have the sapphire and ceramic back you'd have to work at scratching anything I'd think.

Putting the protector on the charging puck is a great idea! I’m going to do that. There's a guy on YouTube called DetroitBorg. You might have heard of him. In one of his apple watch videos, he talks about how the back of the watch gets scratched. His one looked awful. That's what made me do this.

This is the dumbest thing I've ever read. You have a "screen" protector for the part that you never see because it's always against your wrist?

I don't want it to look like this. I spent extra to buy a space black because the paint on my previous apple watch sport kept peeling off, and that was after babying it, so I want this to stay perfect.

 

[Nisaja]

From my experience, the composite backing on the sport model Apple Watch is is fairly durable. The way I see it, either the Apple Watch is on your wrist or is on the charging puck. If you’re concerned about the Apple Watch back scratching, simply lay it on its side versus laying it on its backside.

Mine is not the apple watch sport. It's the space black. I took the protector off. Keeping a tissue between the watch and the strap for now. Don't want to lay it on its side because that can scratch the side. I'm OCD about keeping my stuff looking new.

Actually, I bought the Space black on your recommendation I had asked on an old apple watch thread about how resistant the space black is to scratches, because the paint on the Apple Watch Sport I had before started to peel off. Really annoyed me because I took great care of it. I wanted to get the stainless steel because if I do scratch it, I can polish it out, but I loved how the space black looks. Thanks to you, I'm wearing this beauty today. It's been a year now and it doesn't have a single scratch on it. Highly impressed. It's amazing how simple forum posts go a long way!

 

[KarimLeVallois]

I took it off and went out for long lunch today. Left home around 11 AM, drove for about an hour, had lunch, and drove back for about 1.5 hours. I got home around 6:30 PM. I had burned 150 calroies. I wasn't very active. Just walked to and from the restaurant. Seems accurate, right?



Putting the protector on the charging puck is a great idea! I’m going to do that. There's a guy on YouTube called DetroitBorg. You might have heard of him. In one of his apple watch videos, he talks about how the back of the watch gets scratched. His one looked awful. That's what made me do this.



I don't want it to look like this. I spent extra to buy a space black because the paint on my previous apple watch sport kept peeling off, and that was after babying it, so I want this to stay perfect.

I just left the little covering on my puck that came with it when I unpacked it. lol

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Mine is not the apple watch sport. It's the space black. I took the protector off. Keeping a tissue between the watch and the strap for now. Don't want to lay it on its side because that can scratch the side. I'm OCD about keeping my stuff looking new.

Actually, I bought the Space black on your recommendation I had asked on an old apple watch thread about how resistant the space black is to scratches, because the paint on the Apple Watch Sport I had before started to peel off. Really annoyed me because I took great care of it. I wanted to get the stainless steel because if I do scratch it, I can polish it out, but I loved how the space black looks. Thanks to you, I'm wearing this beauty today. It's been a year now and it doesn't have a single scratch on it. Highly impressed. It's amazing how simple forum posts go a long way!

What kind of tabletop do you have that it would have the potential to scratch metal or glass? If it's wood, plastic laminate, or even common tempered glass, it'll be softer than stainless steel. And since you described yourself as "OCD," I'd expect that tabletop doesn't have much in the way of dust or grit on it.

Then again, why not rest it on its side on something soft - a piece of leather, velvet or microfiber cloth, or a pad of rubberized material like a silicone "rubber" potholder? That's often what they do in jewelry shops when showing watches. There are also watch cradles (often used for jewelry/watch shop displays and traditional watch jewelry boxes) that will keep the band separated from the watch case.

I wouldn't worry about scratches from the charger puck - it's covered with plastic for that very reason. While an additional layer of thin plastic probably won't have a major negative impact on charging performance, there is at least the possibility that it could.

 

[Nisaja]

What kind of tabletop do you have that it would have the potential to scratch metal or glass? If it's wood, plastic laminate, or even common tempered glass, it'll be softer than stainless steel. And since you described yourself as "OCD," I'd expect that tabletop doesn't have much in the way of dust or grit on it.

Then again, why not rest it on its side on something soft - a piece of leather, velvet or microfiber cloth, or a pad of rubberized material like a silicone "rubber" potholder? That's often what they do in jewelry shops when showing watches. There are also watch cradles (often used for jewelry/watch shop displays and traditional watch jewelry boxes) that will keep the band separated from the watch case.

I wouldn't worry about scratches from the charger puck - it's covered with plastic for that very reason. While an additional layer of thin plastic probably won't have a major negative impact on charging performance, there is at least the possibility that it could.

I never keep it on a table, unless there's a cloth on it. The rear screen doesn't rest on the table itself. It rests on the milanese loop.

I am resting it on its side right now. Might get a watch cradle for it. That's a nice idea. Thanks.