Series 2 after swim

[retailacc]

Hello guys,

So I took my brand new Series 2 for a swim this afternoon, and after leaving the pool I noticed that the screen was a bit fogged up and looked like there was humidity underneath the glass (I tried to wipe it, but it obviously wasn't coming off).

So my question, is this a normal thing that happens due to the temperature difference between water and the environment outside the pool? I thought for a second that my watch wasn't properly sealed.

Thank you in advance

 

[44267547]

Hello guys,

So I took my brand new Series 2 for a swim this afternoon, and after leaving the pool I noticed that the screen was a bit fogged up and looked like there was humidity underneath the glass (I tried to wipe it, but it obviously wasn't coming off).

So my question, is this a normal thing that happens due to the temperature difference between water and the environment outside the pool? I thought for a second that my watch wasn't properly sealed.

Thank you in advance

Did the moisture dissipate under the display?

The Apple watch Series 2 is rated at 50 m water resistant. Which is suitable Subermsion and your watch should not be fogging up internally under the display. So perhaps the seals or the Apple Watch might be manufactured improperly. Pool water should not be an issue, however steam from a hot tub or sauna is another topic.

 

[retailacc]

Did the moisture dissipate under the display?

The Apple watch Series 2 is rated at 50 m water resistant. Which is suitable Subermsion and your watch should not be fogging up internally under the display. So perhaps the seals or the Apple Watch might be manufactured improperly. Pool water should not be an issue, however steam from a hot tub or sauna is another topic.

Perhaps I exaggerated, but it was like an (extremely) softer version of this (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201006/r577264_3605905.jpg) I say 'softer' because I could see the display perfectly, but at the same time notice a tiny bit of that.

Could it just be the temperature difference? I don't want to overthink it, but I wouldn't want it to die next time I go for a swim lol. Does the included 1 year warranty cover something like this?

Thank you in advance!

 

[44267547]

Perhaps I exaggerated, but it was like an (extremely) softer version of this (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201006/r577264_3605905.jpg) I say 'softer' because I could see the display perfectly, but at the same time notice a tiny bit of that.

Could it just be the temperature difference? I don't want to overthink it, but I wouldn't want it to die next time I go for a swim lol. Does the included 1 year warranty cover something like this?

Thank you in advance!

Perhaps the temperature was a contributor to why moisture was under the display based on the ambient temperature outside and from the pool temperature. However, I would still monitor it and if it continues to do it, I would certainly contact Apple and you be looking at a replacement device under warranty.

But from my experience, moisture should not be building up under the display from pool uses, which it is intended for.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

No type of moisture or condensation should be beneath the top glass. If it is, then a seal has been compromised, and you have the potential for damage.

 

[matrix07]

Should photograph it and have Apple looking at it. I don't have any kind of moisture inside after a swim, but I also didn't have any extreme contrasting temperature at the pool either.

 

[Newtons Apple]

No type of moisture or condensation should be beneath the top glass. If it is, then a seal has been compromised, and you have the potential for damage.

^^^THIS^^^

Even the smallest amount of moisture will ruin the OLED display and possible other parts. Get Apple to replace it of repair

 

[ftaok]

So I've noticed that during and after a swim, the screen will have a fine film of "something". Kinda like how your skin will feel grimy after a swim. Could be chlorine, could be body oils, or something even grosser ... so I'll go with chlorine.

Did the fogginess go away after washing it? I washed it with soap and the film went away.

 

[mmomega]

I'll just say I've yet to notice this on a series zero / original Watch yet and I swim with it quite a bit since the day I bought it. My temp changes go from my wife keeping the house at 67F all year, walk out into the Texas summer at 100+ into the pool that's between 85-90 and back into the house at 67 then to a hot shower.
If yours is fogging up at all, get a picture as clearly as possibly and visit an Apple Store if you have one close by.

 

[Julien]

What the OP is likely seeing is chlorine or sodium reacting with or depositing onto the oleophobic coating. I have also seen this (like others who have posted) and it wiped away with a damp microfiber cloth.

If there was any water ingress then the OLED wold be ruined and it would be obvious.

 

[retailacc]

So I've noticed that during and after a swim, the screen will have a fine film of "something". Kinda like how your skin will feel grimy after a swim. Could be chlorine, could be body oils, or something even grosser ... so I'll go with chlorine.

Did the fogginess go away after washing it? I washed it with soap and the film went away.

It definitely went away relatively soon. There's a mini shower next to my pool, so it might have been that. I also wiped it with my towel but I don't recall what did the trick.

What the OP is likely seeing is chlorine or sodium reacting with or depositing onto the oleophobic coating. I have also seen this (like others who have posted) and it wiped away with a damp microfiber cloth.

If there was any water ingress then the OLED wold be ruined and it would be obvious.

That sounds smart enough to me, and I hope it's actually that! Thank you for your input. So does swimming with it reduce the lifespan of the oleophobic coating?

I'll go for a quick swim one of these days to see if I can reproduce the effect and snap some pictures at the same time.

Thank you all!

 

[Arran]

A quick way to see if there's moisture inside a watch is to hold an ice cube against the screen for a few seconds only. The localized cooling of the glass will cause moisture inside to condense and fog up the inside of the screen. You'll see localized fogging (precisely where the ice cube touched) within a few seconds.

I've used this trick with conventional watches before. I've even used to test if domestic double-glazing units have been compromised.

 

[honglong1976]

Any thing under the glass is a due to a compromised seal! Sealed, it should never happen.

 

[fedecape]

What the OP is likely seeing is chlorine or sodium reacting with or depositing onto the oleophobic coating. I have also seen this (like others who have posted) and it wiped away with a damp microfiber cloth.

If there was any water ingress then the OLED wold be ruined and it would be obvious.

does this reaction with the oleophobic coating damage it / shorten its lifespan ?

 

[Julien]

does this reaction with the oleophobic coating damage it / shorten its lifespan ?

The oleophobic coating is an organic compound and even exposure to oxygen (air) 'damages' it. Touching 'damages' it, your clothes touching 'damages' it & wiping 'damages' it. So no matter what you do short of placing in a nitrogen filled container it will wear off. So in all likelihood swimming will place more wear on it than than not swimming. Relatively it is probably minimal and not something to even give a 2ed thought to.

Anyone who has a iDevice that they use and is over a year old will have very little oleophobic coating left anyway. Since the wear is gradual almost no one notices the difference. You can buy replacement kits and restore it at any time.

 

[44267547]

The oleophobic coating is an organic compound. You can buy replacement kits and restore it at any time.

On a side note, I don't disagree one can reapply the coating with replacement kits, however; achieving the results desired from these third party kits is highly unlikely of the Factory applied oleophobic coating, as the coating doesn't have nearly the longevity from the factory and results tend to be mixed.