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Is the Apple Watch really water proof?
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It’s 50m water resistant. The FTC actually does not allow any watch to be labeled waterproof, that’s Prohibited in countries like the United States. But you can absolutely wear your Apple Watch for swimming, oceans, showering, it’s just not recommend for high velocity water sports or anything beyond the ‘metered water resistant rating’.
Bear in mind that Apple will not cover water damage under warranty.
I bought the extra warranty and was told it will cover water damage. Granted I would still have to pay the $75 I believe it was if I was to use the warranty but it beats dishing out another few hundred for a new one!
Out of context of policy and procedure, this is actually incorrect what you said. Apple will cover water damage with the watch, because they can’t prove that it wasn’t defective with a seal or issues with the adhesive surrounding the display from the factory before the damage occurred.
I won’t do the work for you, but there are dozens of threads where members on this very forum who have had their watch replaced with water damage for that very reason alone.
As for the OP being ‘afraid’ to test a watch out in water, then they probably shouldn’t own an Apple Watch in the first place. Just sayin’.
Really?! I thought water damage is categorically not covered because the claimant can’t prove it being a manufacturing fault either?!
They never claim the watch to be waterproof. Which means they’re always off the hook. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205000
i was curious about Apple Care+ coverage. I have it on my Series5 Titanium. I swim with it and have had no problem. I researched and eventually found the complete warranty. I’ve attached a portion of it pertaining to what’s not covered. Apple has left themselves an out for water damage. (Highlighted in Yellow) I believe if you need Care and you get the right person on the phone on the right day at the right time and you are patient, you’ll get done what you need done.
WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY?
This Warranty does not apply to any non-Apple branded hardware products or any software, even if packaged or sold with Apple hardware. Manufacturers, suppliers, or publishers, other than Apple, may provide their own warranties to you – please contact them for further information. Software distributed by Apple with or without the Apple brand (including, but not limited to system software) is not covered by this Warranty. Please refer to the licensing agreement accompanying the software for details of your rights with respect to its use. Apple does not warrant that the operation of the Apple Product will be uninterrupted or error-free. Apple is not responsible for damage arising from failure to follow instructions relating to the Apple Product’s use.
This Warranty does not apply: (a) to consumable parts, such as batteries or protective coatings that are designed to diminish over time, unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (b) to cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (c) to damage caused by use with a third party component or product that does not meet the Apple Product’s specifications (Apple Product specifications are available at www.apple.com under the technical specifications for each product and also available in stores); (d) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, fire, earthquake or other external cause; (e) to damage caused by operating the Apple Product outside Apple’s published guidelines; (f) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”); (g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple; (h) to defects caused by normal wear and tear or otherwise due to the normal aging of the Apple Product, (i) if any serial number has been removed or defaced from the Apple Product, or (j) if Apple receives information from relevant public authorities that the product has been stolen or if you are unable to deactivate passcode-enabled or other security measures designed to prevent unauthorized access to the Apple Product, and you cannot prove in any way that you are the authorized user of the product (eg. by presenting proof of purchase).
WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY?
This Warranty does not apply to any non-Apple branded hardware products or any software, even if packaged or sold with Apple hardware. Manufacturers, suppliers, or publishers, other than Apple, may provide their own warranties to you – please contact them for further information. Software distributed by Apple with or without the Apple brand (including, but not limited to system software) is not covered by this Warranty. Please refer to the licensing agreement accompanying the software for details of your rights with respect to its use. Apple does not warrant that the operation of the Apple Product will be uninterrupted or error-free. Apple is not responsible for damage arising from failure to follow instructions relating to the Apple Product’s use.
This Warranty does not apply: (a) to consumable parts, such as batteries or protective coatings that are designed to diminish over time, unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (b) to cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (c) to damage caused by use with a third party component or product that does not meet the Apple Product’s specifications (Apple Product specifications are available at www.apple.com under the technical specifications for each product and also available in stores); (d) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, fire, earthquake or other external cause; (e) to damage caused by operating the Apple Product outside Apple’s published guidelines; (f) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”); (g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple; (h) to defects caused by normal wear and tear or otherwise due to the normal aging of the Apple Product, (i) if any serial number has been removed or defaced from the Apple Product, or (j) if Apple receives information from relevant public authorities that the product has been stolen or if you are unable to deactivate passcode-enabled or other security measures designed to prevent unauthorized access to the Apple Product, and you cannot prove in any way that you are the authorized user of the product (eg. by presenting proof of purchase).
isn’t this the standard warranty not AppleCare? .... your quote above excludes accidental damage but AppleCare includes it.
Really?! I thought water damage is categorically not covered because the claimant can’t prove it being a manufacturing fault either?!
They never claim the watch to be waterproof. Which means they’re always off the hook. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205000
The watch is not waterproof, you’re right there. But Apple has to acknowledge that the watch could have a possible defect, where water intrudes the internals. There’s no way of them specifically proving that the watch was intentionally mishandled that caused the water damage, when the watch is actually specifically suited for water activities. It’s a really difficult situation, but loads of members on here have had their watch replaced under warranty for that exact reason.
This is right out of the Apple Care+ warranty document. You're right but I didn't want to put the whole document on here just point out the out in the document which I'm sure is pretty standard legal stuff. As I said, if you have an issue, work with them. They want good customer relations but aren't going to give away services.
For your reference below, At least two examples of members having a watch replaced when it failed on them with swimming directly in this thread:
Again, Apple can’t prove that the watch wasn’t defective to begin with, as it’s intended for water activities, therefore one could easily argue that it’s a defective seal or the adhesive failed, etc.
Swimming Killed My Series 4 Watch
So, I just got a brand new Apple Watch Series 4 for Christmas and decided to try my first swim workout at the gym this morning. I started a swim indoors workout on the watch which is supposed to prevent false watch faces inputs from the water. I then swam laps for about 30 minutes. When I got...
forums.macrumors.com
I think the water lock feature just locks the screen from water drops making accidental taps on the screen, then uses the speaker to eject water From the speaker holes so there’s no sound distortion. I don’t think it provides an extra water seal.
Well, here is your official answer from Apple (@akash.nu provided it in post #7):
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205000
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I'll say this much. I used my Series 0 in the pool and shower many times and had no issues, even though Apple specifically said it wasn't water resistant at all. Now that the newer ones are resistant to 50m I haven't even thought twice about these activities with my Series 4.
People will play armchair lawyer with the warranty on these boards until the cows come home. They never take into consideration that if Apple refused to cover water damage that they would be slapped with a false advertising lawsuit in a heartbeat. If you look at the support article posted above and you stick to what it says, Apple will cover it. Even the warnings about soaps and all of that seem to be overdone, and seem like they would take quite some time to actually become an issue.
People will play armchair lawyer with the warranty on these boards until the cows come home. They never take into consideration that if Apple refused to cover water damage that they would be slapped with a false advertising lawsuit in a heartbeat. If you look at the support article posted above and you stick to what it says, Apple will cover it. Even the warnings about soaps and all of that seem to be overdone, and seem like they would take quite some time to actually become an issue.
Same experience here. I started with the very first watch release, aluminum to try it out. The newness for me started wearing off the first month and I would shower with it on, swimming in the pool. Now my pool isn’t very deep and chlorinated, not salt, and I’ll just say it is hot in Texas so sweat is a thing, and I used to run a lot. So this one saw much more water than my current model.
It still works and is in one of the kitchen drawers and I occasionally charge it just to check it out, but other than some scratches and just being old. It works.
Will I put money on it ‘never’ getting water damage? No. But this is just my personal experience with using and wearing it.
if that first watch didn’t make it, I’m not sure I would have bought another one.