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Weak Taptic Engine?

S

Steven Jackson

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 8, 2006
387
7
Lincoln, U.K.
Loving the Apple Watch, but I'm a bit worried I got a Gruber model. The haptics seem very weak and I'm alerted to notifications more by the sounds than by the Taptic Engine. I kind of feel them when I'm sitting down relaxing, but not at all while driving or walking...

I don't have particularly tough, gnarled, work-grizzled wrists – I expected I would be able to mute the watch while at work and still be aware of all my notifications through vibro-sense...

Do I have a duff watch or are they all like this? How strong is the Taptic Engine supposed to be?

Cheers,

Steve.
 
Steven Jackson said:
Loving the Apple Watch, but I'm a bit worried I got a Gruber model. The haptics seem very weak and I'm alerted to notifications more by the sounds than by the Taptic Engine. I kind of feel them when I'm sitting down relaxing, but not at all while driving or walking...

I don't have particularly tough, gnarled, work-grizzled wrists – I expected I would be able to mute the watch while at work and still be aware of all my notifications through vibro-sense...

Do I have a duff watch or are they all like this? How strong is the Taptic Engine supposed to be?

Cheers,

Steve.
Click to expand...

adjust it in the sounds/taptics section.
 
They are definitely subtle. I have muted mine and have missed several because they are so slight. But they are meant to be slight rather than some obnoxious buzzing on your wrist. It's just a slight tap.

There is a way to strengthen the taptic feedback on your watch via your watch app on your phone (there may be a way to do it directly on the watch too, but I haven't tried). I haven't yet upped the vibrations because I figured I'm just used to the obnoxious buzzing and this might just be pleasant after a while.

I used it as a silent alarm this morning and it woke me up just fine. It is not over the top, but in instances of alarms, the vibration is stronger. Test it out with the alarm first to see if you can feel that first. Then, if it's working fine, just up the taptic feedback if that suits you better.
 
That makes me think I might have a knackered watch. There's NO WAY the haptics on my watch would wake me up!

And there aren't many options. It seems like they're off, low or high.
 
Mine feels more like somebody tapping (with one finger) than a vibration.

I don't think it would wake me up. There is an option to turn up the intensity though.
 
I have yet to feel mine. Or hear any alert sounds. The setting is all the way up for both. I'm beginning to think my watch may have a problem. :(
 
You probably wear your watch loosely and when you're standing up it has little contact with your skin.
 
yeah I think you are expecting too much, Its very subtle. There is a setting in the watch app for the phone that adds a additional haptic action to most alerts. it makes it much more noticeable. Try that.

----------
corlando465 said:
I have yet to feel mine. Or hear any alert sounds. The setting is all the way up for both. I'm beginning to think my watch may have a problem. :(
Click to expand...

if you are not hearing it either. for example the texting sound effects. its prob a setting you have wrong
 
I have a question for you guys. Does every notification you get have a taptic response? Because it seems like mine don't. I think I get one from a text message, but I use this app called Push a lot and I don't get any taptic response from that notification whatsoever. I DO get all the notifications, just no vibrations. I'm not sure if I have something set wrong or what.

I've turned all the taptic stuff up as high as it'll go.
 
iregret said:
I have a question for you guys. Does every notification you get have a taptic response? Because it seems like mine don't. I think I get one from a text message, but I use this app called Push a lot and I don't get any taptic response from that notification whatsoever. I DO get all the notifications, just no vibrations. I'm not sure if I have something set wrong or what.

I've turned all the taptic stuff up as high as it'll go.
Click to expand...


Well all the apps listed in the watch app on the phone are adjustable. if its not listed there I'm not sure how you would even adjust the watch settings for it. for example IDK how to adjust the Facebook notifications. All the apps listed tho the haptic works fine.
 
iregret said:
I have a question for you guys. Does every notification you get have a taptic response? Because it seems like mine don't. I think I get one from a text message, but I use this app called Push a lot and I don't get any taptic response from that notification whatsoever. I DO get all the notifications, just no vibrations. I'm not sure if I have something set wrong or what.

I've turned all the taptic stuff up as high as it'll go.
Click to expand...

It's hit or miss here. The tactic response is very subtle. If you are busy or running or talking it's easy to miss the feeling (when the alerts work properly).
 
I came from a Pebble Steel which was like have a pager vibrating on my wrist. I found the tactic feedback a bit weak at first but am getting more accustomed to it now. Activating the prominent feedback helped a lot, too.
 
I have missed a number of notifications as well, but I have a theory.

I think it is because we aren't used to the haptic notifications so we don't know enough to pay attention. We are used to audio alerts so when one happens we recognize it quickly and know that something is required of us. When we get used to recognizing a faint haptic touch I think we will miss far fewer notifications.

I have no scientific rationale behind my theory. Make sense?
 
i have the same concerns. I feel like it's weak as well compare to my pebble. I've only played with my wife's watch a bit so I'm not 100 percent sure. Mine still hasn't come. :(
 
chrise2 said:
i have the same concerns. I feel like it's weak as well compare to my pebble. I've only played with my wife's watch a bit so I'm not 100 percent sure. Mine still hasn't come. :(
Click to expand...

the prominent haptic setting makes it much more noticeable and actually flows cooler with the ding notification sound the watch makes
 
-> Settings app (on the watch)
-> Sounds & Haptics
-> Prominent Haptic (scroll all the way down to find it)

I had the same problem, but turning on Prominent Haptic fixed it for me. This should, IMO, be the default setting.
 
cfrolik said:
-> Settings app (on the watch)
-> Sounds & Haptics
-> Prominent Haptic (scroll all the way down to find it)

I had the same problem, but turning on Prominent Haptic fixed it for me. This should, IMO, be the default setting.
Click to expand...

I agree. Prominent definitely makes it more intense and noticeable.
 
I wish that we could customize the haptics for certain alerts. The text message is two short bursts. If I could have it give more, that would help. It definitely less prominent than my Pebble. I do not like the prominent haptics.

I used Siri to create a timer and that alert was much better. Maybe there will be a software update to do this.
 
chrise2 said:
i have the same concerns. I feel like it's weak as well compare to my pebble. I've only played with my wife's watch a bit so I'm not 100 percent sure. Mine still hasn't come. :(
Click to expand...

For my preferences it's very weak. Three days of use and it's still an issue albeit a small one. I'm certain the second gen will be improved. Apples good about that.
 
ddoyle777 said:
I have missed a number of notifications as well, but I have a theory.

I think it is because we aren't used to the haptic notifications so we don't know enough to pay attention. We are used to audio alerts so when one happens we recognize it quickly and know that something is required of us. When we get used to recognizing a faint haptic touch I think we will miss far fewer notifications.

I have no scientific rationale behind my theory. Make sense?
Click to expand...

I kinda agree with this. The haptics are subtle and the first time if felt them I thought the band on my watch was slipping...it was an odd sensation. But I think it's something that you slowly become more sensitive to - at least it is for me. It's like your brain has to learn to register their sensation for what it is because it's so different.

But I do agree that if your up and moving around a lot they can be missed at the default setting.
 
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