Warning: Apple Watch SE2 unfit for extended swimming use?

[Monkswhiskers]

All understood, and followed. Think it should allow for diving into a 2m pool!


Have bought refurbished Apple products in the past. It's just that in-store I was told the Watches come with a two year warranty (by the same rep. who said unsuitable for ocean swimming!), and on the website it says there's a one year warranty for the refurbs. Truthfully, I think it's only one year warranty from Apple, without purchasing Apple Care. There may be some further protection in Consumer Law - but wouldn't expect Apple to comply willingly

For what it's worth, John Lewis (UK retailer) DOES give a two year warranty. Plus they've been 100% better than Apple in handling return / replacements.

Interesting, I always wondered what JL's warranty would be like, whether they actually perform a 'repair' or swap out like Apple do.
I certainly wouldn't trust using my AW in water after a 3rd party repair had opened up the watch and poked around a bit and glued the screen back on.

 

[wiimixer]

I always wondered what JL's warranty would be like, whether they actually perform a 'repair' or swap out like Apple do.
I certainly wouldn't trust using my AW in water after a 3rd party repair had opened up the watch and poked around a bit and glued the screen back on.

JL have been great: Phone tech support line; no wait time; simple troubleshooting. e.g. tried reset? tried charging for 24 hours? (all made easier since watch is effectively dead!); then offered refund or replacement. Contrasts sharply with Apple's customer service

Agreed. After four failed brand new Apple Watches, I certainly wouldn't trust them in water if they've been opened up! Indeed, I have a Series 4 Watch, and have no intention of getting it wet again!

 

[Night Spring]

All understood, and followed. Think it should allow for diving into a 2m pool!


Have bought refurbished Apple products in the past. It's just that in-store I was told the Watches come with a two year warranty (by the same rep. who said unsuitable for ocean swimming!), and on the website it says there's a one year warranty for the refurbs. Truthfully, I think it's only one year warranty from Apple, without purchasing Apple Care. There may be some further protection in Consumer Law - but wouldn't expect Apple to comply willingly

For what it's worth, John Lewis (UK retailer) DOES give a two year warranty. Plus they've been 100% better than Apple in handling return / replacements.

In the US, new Apple devices only come with a one year warranty. But now that you mention this, I recall reading that UK/EU consumer laws require products to have two year warranty. I also have vague recollections of people saying they had trouble getting Apple to honor the two year warranty requirement. If John Lewis has such good customer service, it might be worth it to continue buying from them rather than going for refurbs. In the US, much as Apple's customer service has deteriorated, it's still better than any other retailer.

 

[McScooby]

JL have been great: Phone tech support line; no wait time; simple troubleshooting. e.g. tried reset? tried charging for 24 hours? (all made easier since watch is effectively dead!); then offered refund or replacement. Contrasts sharply with Apple's customer service

Agreed. After four failed brand new Apple Watches, I certainly wouldn't trust them in water if they've been opened up! Indeed, I have a Series 4 Watch, and have no intention of getting it wet again!

Costco's the place to go, can even get an Ultra for £699.

 

[wiimixer]

Update: went to exchange the latest failed SE2 at John Lewis (JL), and...

. they & I agreed a fifth SE2 is most likely going to fail like the previous four
. a brand new 45mm Series 7 was available for £319 on clearance
. an Apple employee (Adam) working within JL advised the numbered (non SE) watches are built more robustly
. Adam suggested eMailing Tim Cook re. SE2 not performing 'as advertised'!
. interestingly, one of the JL team swims with an SE2 for up to 90 mins - leisure swimming only

So, I paid the additional £20 and walked away with a brand new (even if old model) S7. Everybody happy, for now at least, and fingers crossed we have a good compromise solution!

Based on the new info., I'm thinking the vigorous club swimming my daughter does challenges the watch in a manner akin to water skiing etc. which the watch isn't designed to cope with. I've some sympathy with Apple here, since the IP ratings for water ingress is fairly crude. That said, the marketing strongly suggests the SE2 should be the perfect watch for my daughter's use case!

Thanks to all for taking an interest. And SE2 owning swimmers, please take note!

I'll let you know what Tim Cook says

 

[Thoradin]

Update: went to exchange the latest failed SE2 at John Lewis (JL), and...

. they & I agreed a fifth SE2 is most likely going to fail like the previous four
. a brand new 45mm Series 7 was available for £319 on clearance
. an Apple employee (Adam) working within JL advised the numbered (non SE) watches are built more robustly
. Adam suggested eMailing Tim Cook re. SE2 not performing 'as advertised'!
. interestingly, one of the JL team swims with an SE2 for up to 90 mins - leisure swimming only

So, I paid the additional £20 and walked away with a brand new (even if old model) S7. Everybody happy, for now at least, and fingers crossed we have a good compromise solution!

Based on the new info., I'm thinking the vigorous club swimming my daughter does challenges the watch in a manner akin to water skiing etc. which the watch isn't designed to cope with. I've some sympathy with Apple here, since the IP ratings for water ingress is fairly crude. That said, the marketing strongly suggests the SE2 should be the perfect watch for my daughter's use case!

Thanks to all for taking an interest. And SE2 owning swimmers, please take note!

I'll let you know what Tim Cook says

Keep us informed of how things go, with both the new watch and the email to Tim Cook.

I’m glad the JL staff were of the same mindset and allowed you to make an exchange to the S7, though waiving the £20 extra would have been an even better touch that I’d have tried my luck for.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

Update: went to exchange the latest failed SE2 at John Lewis (JL), and...

. they & I agreed a fifth SE2 is most likely going to fail like the previous four
. a brand new 45mm Series 7 was available for £319 on clearance
. an Apple employee (Adam) working within JL advised the numbered (non SE) watches are built more robustly
. Adam suggested eMailing Tim Cook re. SE2 not performing 'as advertised'!
. interestingly, one of the JL team swims with an SE2 for up to 90 mins - leisure swimming only

So, I paid the additional £20 and walked away with a brand new (even if old model) S7. Everybody happy, for now at least, and fingers crossed we have a good compromise solution!

Based on the new info., I'm thinking the vigorous club swimming my daughter does challenges the watch in a manner akin to water skiing etc. which the watch isn't designed to cope with. I've some sympathy with Apple here, since the IP ratings for water ingress is fairly crude. That said, the marketing strongly suggests the SE2 should be the perfect watch for my daughter's use case!

Thanks to all for taking an interest. And SE2 owning swimmers, please take note!

I'll let you know what Tim Cook says

Result! The 7 is fantastic for fast charging alone.

I am really surprised what he said regarding the build quality of the SE.

Being the design of the 4/5 you would think it would have the same construction.

What could they be saving on? Cheaper and less efficient glue and gaskets?

 

[wiimixer]

10 week update....

S7 *thoroughly* swim tested, and still holding up perfectly!

Not sure it qualifies as a scientific test, but S3 & S7 models perform well in the water - whereas FOUR SE2 models failed within a month or so of regular/club swimming.

I'll define regular swimming as 4/5 sessions per week, average 90 min sessions, max 120 mins - with no diving.

As Monkswhiskers says above: "What could they (Apple) be saving on? Cheaper and less efficient glue and gaskets?"

A fair question. I certainly don't have an answer. Any suggestions?

But my advice to anyone seeing the SE2 as a suitable swim tracker - understandable, based on it's promotional material - read through this thread, and swim with caution, or consider springing the extra £/$/€ for a numbered model if you're still a potential buyer.

I'll sign off by acknowledging this is just one person's experience, hence a singular viewpoint. Nevertheless, I hope the info. might be helpful to someone else out there

 

[jz0309]

10 week update....

S7 *thoroughly* swim tested, and still holding up perfectly!

Not sure it qualifies as a scientific test, but S3 & S7 models perform well in the water - whereas FOUR SE2 models failed within a month or so of regular/club swimming.

I'll define regular swimming as 4/5 sessions per week, average 90 min sessions, max 120 mins - with no diving.

As Monkswhiskers says above: "What could they (Apple) be saving on? Cheaper and less efficient glue and gaskets?"

A fair question. I certainly don't have an answer. Any suggestions?

But my advice to anyone seeing the SE2 as a suitable swim tracker - understandable, based on it's promotional material - read through this thread, and swim with caution, or consider springing the extra £/$/€ for a numbered model if you're still a potential buyer.

I'll sign off by acknowledging this is just one person's experience, hence a singular viewpoint. Nevertheless, I hope the info. might be helpful to someone else out there

Thanks for the update, interesting.
from your previous post:

. an Apple employee (Adam) working within JL advised the numbered (non SE) watches are built more robustly
. Adam suggested eMailing Tim Cook re. SE2 not performing 'as advertised'!
. interestingly, one of the JL team swims with an SE2 for up to 90 mins - leisure swimming only

I highly doubt that an Apple retail employee has any insight on how products are manufactured, so their statement of "robust" I take with a very very large grain of salt.
I would suggest to email Tim Cook and describe your experience with how the S7 performs vs the SE2, someone might respond ...