Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

cvhsalumni

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 18, 2014
5
1
I have seen the swim tests in a few youtube videos but I would love to hear of anyone that has been consistently swimming with their apple watch.

I do light swimming (15-20 minutes at the most 1-2 times a week) and would love to hear if anyone out there has been wearing their watch while swimming on a somewhat consistent basis.

Thanks!
 
I have not been swimming with my watch but I'm very interested in this topic. I'm on a school swim team that last 3 months of the year. 6 days a week 3 hours a day. I would love to wear my watch in that time. But even if people are doing it with out a problem I probably wouldn't do it until swimming is officially supported by Apple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eagleglen
I have not been swimming with my watch but I'm very interested in this topic. I'm on a school swim team that last 3 months of the year. 6 days a week 3 hours a day. I would love to wear my watch in that time. But even if people are doing it with out a problem I probably wouldn't do it until swimming is officially supported by Apple.

I agree. I think I'm in the same boat where I wouldn't risk but would still love to hear if anyone is trying it out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Doctor11
Well, the Apple Watch is classified as IPX7 which means you can wear it for half an hour max up to a depth of 1 meter. Apple doesn't recommend using it while swimming or such. It's really up to you.

If the watch fails and Apple won't swap it then you're sitting on the cost.
 
This is why I like AppleCare+. I'm not an avid swimmer, but we do have a pool. I like the idea of not worrying about it. If I do have an issue and Apple says that I have exceeded the IPX7 guidelines (not sure how they can tell), then I have a fall back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LoveToMacRumors
Well, the Apple Watch is classified as IPX7 which means you can wear it for half an hour max up to a depth of 1 meter. Apple doesn't recommend using it while swimming or such. It's really up to you.

If the watch fails and Apple won't swap it then you're sitting on the cost.

Not shooting you down here but IPX7 doesn't mention anything about repeated exposure and in the case of the watch exposure to chlorine in the water or other bacterial agents that might have some impact on the materials used for the waterproofing of the speaker and mic etc.

I think the same goes for showering with soap etc. People cite that Tim Cook wears his in the shower but he doesn't claim it will do it forever, in fact his company advises against it. Even if he couldn't just turn to anybody in the company and say 'Ah, bring me a new one today', I think he can personally afford to treat his watch as disposable :D
 
Last edited:
I have been out to the pool twice and swam with the SS Watch for about 15 minutes. Each time i lose sound and haptic feedback for about 2-3 hours and slowly comes back. Freaks me out and not sure I will be swimming with it any more.
 
This is why I like AppleCare+. I'm not an avid swimmer, but we do have a pool. I like the idea of not worrying about it. If I do have an issue and Apple says that I have exceeded the IPX7 guidelines (not sure how they can tell), then I have a fall back.

The reality is that even with an IPX8 water rating, the watch has to be serviced for reliable function of the seals. The Watch cannot be serviced or tested in this manner per their own disclaimer. So even though the watch may be perfectly water resistant today, and even during its first year, depending on the conditions to which it is exposed, the seals may lose their effectiveness, and the watch may fail to prevent leaking when performing the same activity from a year earlier. However, Apple is guaranteeing that brief exposure to lightly running water will not sufficiently strain the watch so that leaky seals might allow water ingress, at least for 3 years. Pushing those limits now might accelerate the problem.

However, it's hard to say how Apple will handle these kinds of claims, because the watch is supposed to be water resistant. Presumably an inspection of how the seal was breached would verify whether it was pressure related or just an improperly seated, or decayed seal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pirateRACE
Not shooting you down here but IPX7 doesn't mention anything about repeated exposure and in the case of the watch exposure to chlorine in the water or other bacterial agents that might have some impact on the materials used for the waterproofing of the speaker and mic etc.

I think the same goes for showering with soap etc. People cite that Tim Cook wears his in the shower but he doesn't claim it will do it forever, in fact his company advises against it. Even if he couldn't just turn to anybody in the company and say 'Ah, bring me a new one today', I think he can personally afford to treat his watch as disposable :D
Erm, besides the fact that I didn't go into detail with my post I absolutely didn't recommend wearing it while swimming, surfing, whatever. Your post should be aimed at the guys that don't care about what Apple writes in the manual.

We're actually on the same side, you and me. LOL
 
However, Apple is guaranteeing that brief exposure to lightly running water will not sufficiently strain the watch so that leaky seals might allow water ingress, at least for 3 years. Pushing those limits now might accelerate the problem.
Where did they publish 3 years of coverage for water ingress? The manufacturer's warranty is 1 year.
 
Had watch since launch. Been swimming with it approx 2wice a week at 24 hour fitness. No problems.

I have AppleCare and would be willing to chance the headache of a repair/replacement if it collected data during the swim. However, my understanding is that functionality is lost when water comes between the watch and skin. Malochico1, are you getting normal fitness data from the watch during these aquatic fitness sessions?
 
Where did they publish 3 years of coverage for water ingress? The manufacturer's warranty is 1 year.
It's three years with Apple Care. The max warranty available on any Apple product. After that, every "defect" is out of warranty.
 
Well Apple as been telling people to run water over the watch. If the digital crown gets sticky or hard to turn, due to dirt and grime getting between the crown and the watch body.

I wash mine off with just warm water while showering, because of all the sweat that was on it from working out today. I think that a little water won't ruin the watch. But going swimming with it, I don't think so. I would use my Citizen Eco drive aqualand for that.

But then again its not like you are going diving with it. Just free style swimming could be ok for the watch I guess. There are videos on youtube with people swimming with it no problem.
 
It's three years with Apple Care. The max warranty available on any Apple product. After that, every "defect" is out of warranty.
AC+ only adds a year to Apple Watch, not 2. (so you have 2 total). And that's extending the standard warranty. Jury's still out if Apple's going to cover water damage under standard warranty or not. (Now you could use one of your two accidental claims).
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.