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Just got a New Apple Watch is it waterproof?

Wicked1

Wicked1

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 13, 2009
3,283
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New Jersey
I have no idea but I heard they are water resistant, trying to figure out just how water resistant they really are.

I have the Space Gray Stainless 42mm version with black sports band
 
There are probably half-a-dozen threads on this forum that discuss various levels of water resistance.

Officially, the watch is IPX7, which means it is splash resistant. Tim Cook supposedly said he showers with his. Members of the forum swim in pools and oceans, and a few people surf with them. Outside reviewers have pressure tested them to several atmospheres.
 
exxxviii said:
There are probably half-a-dozen threads on this forum that discuss various levels of water resistance.

Officially, the watch is IPX7, which means it is splash resistant. Tim Cook supposedly said he showers with his. Members of the forum swim in pools and oceans, and a few people surf with them. Outside reviewers have pressure tested them to several atmospheres.
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Thanks I was concerned because I wash my hands and water always splashes up and if I accidentally jumped in a pool, I was hoping it was waterproof enough for that at least, not going diving with it, I have a Citizen Diving watch for that...lol

I searched the forum and could not find a specific thread so started this one
 
Wicked1 said:
I have no idea but I heard they are water resistant, trying to figure out just how water resistant they really are.

I have the Space Gray Stainless 42mm version with black sports band
Click to expand...

Apparently, they are quite water resistant. There have been a bunch of videos which show how much it can take. Wouldn't recommend you go swimming with the thing though, but it should be good in heavy rain.

By the way, if you got the dark stainless steel model, it's called Space Black. If you go looking for the steel space gray version, you're going to have a bad time ;)
 
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Wicked1 said:
Thanks I was concerned because I wash my hands and water always splashes up and if I accidentally jumped in a pool, I was hoping it was waterproof enough for that at least, not going diving with it, I have a Citizen Diving watch for that...lol

I searched the forum and could not find a specific thread so started this one
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It is rated waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes so you'll be more than fine.

Newtons Apple said:
While some think they are quite resistant to water, we have seem some leak with hardly any exposure. We all depend on the glue that holds the back and front together.
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They are called manufacturing defects. In fact, I recommend doing a "water stress test" when getting your new AW to rule this out (rather than find out the hard way later down the line). Simply submerge it in a glass of water for 15 minutes or so and you'll know fairly quickly if the glue is defective or nonexistent.
 
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I've had some people swear that it works in the pool, and urging me to try. I haven't yet dared.

I do sometimes shower with it, and it's been fine.
 
Well, it survives the pool, but the screen's touch response is wacky when it or your fingers are wet.

It's why I think it's silly for people to be asking for a "truly waterproof" Watch. Even if it doesn't leak at 200 meters, you're still not going to be able to use the touchscreen (never mind trying to use Hey Siri …).
 
Wicked1 said:
I have no idea but I heard they are water resistant, trying to figure out just how water resistant they really are.

I have the Space Gray Stainless 42mm version with black sports band
Click to expand...

Why didn't you just go to Apple's site and check for yourself?
 
The watch is water resistant but some may still say the band is not ;)

Image - 2.jpg
 
I would not submerge one on purpose. From all the data I've seen, it will MOST likely be fine, but it's not guaranteed, and some watches have failed this way.

I once swam with mine for 10 minutes. I stayed near the surface. It was not intentional. We were kayaking in a lake and fell out (long story). The watch ended up fine.
 
Would anyone buy a watch-like device which isn't waterproof to some degree?

You can excuse vintage wristwatches, which likely have some microscopic pitting, preventing a good seal even with new gaskets.

But new watches? Be realistic here.
 
I accidentally wore mine into the ocean, it was fine. I sent some texts when I was close enough to the shore.

and I wear it in the shower every day. It controls my moxie bluetooth speaker in there
 
It sounds cool, but I can't understand why you wouldn't even want to be without the thing for just 5 minutes...
 
Julien said:
:apple:Watch is advertised and therefore MUST be warranted to be waterproof to the IPX7 standard.
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you are correct, if someone intentionally submerged their apple watch in an amount of water below the IPX7 standard, and it failed, apple must fix it...

but - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205000

it's not waterproof. that's incorrect. the fact you have to qualify it to the IPX7 standard, means it's only water resistant.

water resistance can be affected by water pressure (hence the test to 1m in the IPX7 standard). the test itself requires only a stationary submerged watch, which might be subjected to similar or higher pressures at much lower levels of submersion, hence the official "don't go swimming with it". you probably can, but if it fails it's not their problem. it's outside the scope of any warranty they have to provide. they might choose to on a goodwill basis, but they've never advertised it as being waterproof for any sporting purpose besides sweat.
 
nicho said:
you are correct, if someone intentionally submerged their apple watch in an amount of water below the IPX7 standard, and it failed, apple must fix it...

but - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205000

it's not waterproof. that's incorrect. the fact you have to qualify it to the IPX7 standard, means it's only water resistant.....
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Notice how I put the word proof in italics.:eek: There is NO such thing as completely waterproof. A device (watch) can only be waterproof up to it's rating (IPXX or ATM X). After that there are only degrees of water resistance. So it IS waterproof up to the IPX7 standard.

Also if you would have read the entire thread you would see my post #4;)

Julien said:
Waterproof is a subjective term with NO defined meaning. There are many degrees of water resistance....
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Julien said:
Notice how I put the word proof in italics.:eek: There is NO such thing as completely waterproof. A device (watch) can only be waterproof up to it's rating (IPXX or ATM X). After that there are only degrees of water resistance. So it IS waterproof up to the IPX7 standard.

Also if you would have read the entire thread you would see my post #4;)
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It's a debate over semantics I suppose. Waterproof is a rubbish term.

Besides, how can something which doesn't work properly underwater be called waterproof in any way?
 
nicho said:
It's a debate over semantics I suppose. Waterproof is a rubbish term.

Besides, how can something which doesn't work properly underwater be called waterproof in any way?
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Neither is it "water resistant" if it doesn't work property when wet.

Call it whatever you like but the point is it is guaranteed not to suffer water ingress up to the IPX7 standard (or Apple will replace it).
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Neither is it "water resistant" if it doesn't work property when wet.

Call it whatever you like but the point is it is guaranteed not to suffer water ingress up to the IPX7 standard (or Apple will replace it).
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my point was that the ipx7 standard doesn't test motion and therefore in the real world doesn't mean so much, beyond activities where you might plunge the apple watch into water slowly (such as doing the washing up) and rain and such.

swimming in even shallow water would therefore not be covered by any kind of guarantee, although it is typical of apple to go above and beyond whats required of them and replace anyway.
 
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