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SS haptic bad; Sport haptic good?

I just got my Stainless Steel Sport Band model today and the haptic seemed weak. I had a co-worker of mine who has a Sport Model (but didn't bring it today). He tried mine on and I fired off the taptic. Even at the strongest setting he said it was half as strong as his notifications even at the strongest setting. Not sure what's up, but it seems like mine might be defective? If you're having the same issue it might be worth stopping by an Apple Store to try a different watch, especially the sport model.

Maybe the stainless steel is dampening the haptic vibration. At this point on my SS, haptic is a useless feature. In the meantime, my colleague at work with a sport model loves the haptic feature.
 
Maybe the stainless steel is dampening the haptic vibration. At this point on my SS, haptic is a useless feature. In the meantime, my colleague at work with a sport model loves the haptic feature.

That's what I'm suspecting as well. The SS version is a lot heavier than the AL one so using the same haptic engine power settings probably isn't cutting it. Hopefully they can fix it with a software patch cause at the moment, haptic is pretty useless on my SS watch.
 
The haptic alerts on my 42mm SS were fine before the OS update, but seem weaker now. I powered off both my watch and phone with no improvement. Just to see what would happen, I made a Genius Bar appointment. The Genius Bar specialist (genius?) suggested re-pairing my watch. We did that but it still feels the same. It seems odd that Apple doesn't have a way to test the taptic engine.

The specialist at the Genius Bar has a 38mm AW, and she let me try it on to compare it to mine. She said the haptic alerts on the 38mm are typically lighter than on the 42mm. The taps on her watch felt about the same as mine. Unfortunately, she couldn't offer any other suggestions.

I have heard other folks on here say their alerts feel stronger after the OS update, but my alerts definitely feel weaker since then. I guess I'll watch it for a while and see if it gets any better or worse - maybe after the next OS update.
 
I've been having the very same issue with my 42SS. I ordered it well past the Taptic Engine issue and it's still very weak. Whenever I drive my car or move vigorously, it's difficult to feel it, and I have it cranked up to the max.
 
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.

Mine is the same and if I am active or moving around there is not way I feel that little tap. Also unless I am in a quiet environment I will not hear the little ding either so the AW is pretty well useless for me unless Apple allows me to get the phone to make it regular notifications and that is not going to happen. Good bye AW.
 
I also find the Taptic to be too weak to notice on my 42 stainless steel unless I'm sitting very still. When driving or walking I miss most notifications.

I wish Apple would enable the phone to still produce a message notification sound and vibration when it is paired to the watch. That would be very beneficial.
 
Anyone visited a store to do a side-by-side? I still feel that mine is weak compared to some of the comments I am hearing.
 
I do believe the sport models have a more noticeable vibration. But so far with my steel one the only alerts I miss are the single beep/tap from the halfway point of an exercise app. The others are pretty obvious. They also vary between the apps that generate them. But other than some of those activity alerts I haven't missed any. And I'm grateful that I do not have to mute the watch to avoid annoying others with the sound. I hear them and others around me do if it's quiet but normally it's only me. Unlike those that have those annoying and obnoxious phone sounds going off.
 
Same issue on my 42mm SS.

I used a 42mm Sport model for a week and felt the haptics were quite good once I put the setting to max and activated the prominent feature. Today, I switched to a 42mm SS with Sport Band and find that the haptic are terrible. Using the same settings (max+prominent), I miss most of the notifications.

I suggest we all do the following:
1) Confirm setting is on max and prominent is active
2) Confirm that your watch band is snug
3) Power off, then power back on. Set Haptic to minimum then bring it back to max
4) Post the following here: Version Number, Model, Size / Style, Band
5) Create a support ticket with Apple and submit feedback here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/ reference this thread in your feedback. Apple priorities issues based on the severity and number of users experiencing the problem - so make sure to submit a ticket!

Version: 1.0.1 (12S632)
Model: MJ3U2ZA/A
Size: 42mm Stainless
Band: Sport Band
Issue: Weak haptics, especially on comparison to Sport with same size/band

Also, we can keep a running list of users with this issue, so that they know this isn't an isolated incident

So far:
  1. Agnosto
  2. Berenger
  3. Damitri
  4. mightyjabba
  5. Zeos
  6. tumtumtum
  7. Blackbird77
  8. mrgeekguymd
  9. Newtons Apple (SS?)
  10. KojiH
  11. Chip Whitley (SS?)
  12. bluegt
 
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Reactions: fidiri
All haptic engines are not the same. Even the Geek told me that they notice some have a more robust haptic motor than others. My first SB SS 42mm was weak right off the bat. My second started out strong but got weaker until it stopped completely after two weeks. My third is the strongest I have had and does not seem to be getting weaker.

I know Apple knows about this as the Geeks said that they had seen more than a few watches retuned due to the haptic tapper being poor or defective.
 
Same issue on my 42mm SS.

I used a 42mm Sport model for a week and felt the haptics were quite good once I put the setting to max and activated the prominent feature. Today, I switched to a 42mm SS with Sport Band and find that the haptic are terrible. Using the same settings (max+prominent), I miss most of the notifications.

I suggest we all do the following:
1) Confirm setting is on max and prominent is active
2) Confirm that your watch band is snug
3) Power off, then power back on. Set Haptic to minimum then bring it back to max
4) Post the following here: Version Number, Model, Size / Style, Band
5) Create a support ticket with Apple and submit feedback here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/ reference this thread in your feedback. Apple priorities issues based on the severity and number of users experiencing the problem - so make sure to submit a ticket!

Version: 1.0.1 (12S632)
Model: MJ3U2ZA/A
Size: 42mm Stainless
Band: Sport Band
Issue: Weak haptics, especially on comparison to Sport with same size/band

Also, we can keep a running list of users with this issue, so that they know this isn't an isolated incident

So far:
  1. Agnosto
  2. Berenger
  3. Damitri
  4. mightyjabba
  5. Zeos
  6. tumtumtum
  7. Blackbird77
  8. mrgeekguymd
  9. Newtons Apple (SS?)
  10. KojiH
  11. Chip Whitley (SS?)
  12. bluegt



I've just feedback to the link you provided. I have just received a Stainless Steel Space Black as a replacement for the Space Grey Sports version. Definitely a difference in the strength of the Haptic "Tap", when set to Max and Prominent Haptic. Must me the "momentum" required to give the same "force" feedback on the back of the wrist.
 
All haptic engines are not the same. Even the Geek told me that they notice some have a more robust haptic motor than others. My first SB SS 42mm was weak right off the bat. My second started out strong but got weaker until it stopped completely after two weeks. My third is the strongest I have had and does not seem to be getting weaker.

I know Apple knows about this as the Geeks said that they had seen more than a few watches retuned due to the haptic tapper being poor or defective.

I may stop at the Apple store this weekend and talk to them. My haptics seemed fine art first, but am to have gotten weaker. Now I barely notice them, even when I am looking for it.

42 SS with milinese and Sport band.
 
I have the same problem with 42SS Milanese Loop and Sport bans, The haptic feedback is too Low, and I miss a lot of notifications
Tomorrow I'll contact Apple, I hope to resolve it with another watch
Anyone tryed the new WatchOS 2? , if it resolve the problem?
Thanks
 
Would be interested to see what kind of response people have been getting here lately from Apple. I too have noticed the haptic feedback to be hit or miss at times with my current watch. Sitting quietly at my desk I feel it no problem. Up and moving around, sometimes I do, but often I don't at all. The ones that I had prior to this (different style watch so returned them) seemed fine with the haptic feedback and I felt it all of the time. This current watch however not so much. I have it on max. I did have the prominent haptic turned on at one point as well and still missed notifications sometimes. I have been trying to tell myself that it is just me. I did reboot the watch and repair it, and this seemed to maybe help....but then again it might just be placebo. Will Apple send me out a replacement if I request it? I have Applecare +. Gen 1 product I think I would be insane not to have gotten that. ;-)

EDIT: Just an update. I contacted Apple through their support page with online chat about the issue of weaker taptic notifications. They are sending me out an advanced replacement (I have Applecare +) for the watch this week which I should have in a couple of days and then I will send back my current one. I am certainly hoping the one they send me works better. Here's hoping.
 
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My four week old Space Black SS has gotten very weak haptic the past couple days. Disappointing for $1100 watch, but it would be on $400 sport too.
Only thing is about the Apple replacements, your box no longer matches your serial number, so the first generation keepsake just isn't quite the same anymore, oh well.
 
So I got the replacement. Interesting how they send just the watch body in it's own special box without any bands or other stuff. I will add pictures of the packing later just for fun. The haptic feedback is definitely better than on the other one. I am happy about that for sure. As to the serial number changing, yes, this does occur, but is nothing I am concerned with here. I just want the watch to work right and without the haptic feedback being good, it is pretty much useless.
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It took me three watches before I found a haptic keeper!

Hope your turn is now!
Lol, well the haptic does work, however the watch band locking mechanism is borked. I cannot use a Milanese Loop band with it as it will not latch securely in place. Crazy. My local Apple store tried 3 different brand new Milanese bands with it and each one wouldn't latch for both ends. Strangely it was the same end on each band. Tried the bands with other watches in the store and it latched no problem. So now I gotta get another replacement from Apple. Sigh. Hope the haptic is good on this one...
 
My new 38mm sport seems to work fine for me. I have haptic at full strength, but I do not have prominent haptics enabled. To my surprise I even felt the tap of an incoming text from my wife while I was riding my bicycle on a fairly rough road (I waited until I was at a safe place to view the message). I doubt I would notice it while cycling on gravel though.
 
I have nothing to compare to, having only experienced my own Watch, but I would characterize the vibrations as "strong", especially when set to high (sport model, 42mm.)

When setting a timer and putting down the watch on its side on a desk, the haptic motor is powerful enough to make the whole watch rattle against the surface when the timer alert goes off. I feel more subtle vibrations too, such as when using the walking exercise program and the Watch tapping my wrist for every kilometer walked.

One might perhaps expect the stainless models to be a bit more muted though, due to steel's higher mass. Theoretically this could be compensated for by sending more current through the linear actuator, but this would of course also wear down the battery faster...
 
Lol, well the haptic does work, however the watch band locking mechanism is borked. I cannot use a Milanese Loop band with it as it will not latch securely in place. Crazy. My local Apple store tried 3 different brand new Milanese bands with it and each one wouldn't latch for both ends. Strangely it was the same end on each band. Tried the bands with other watches in the store and it latched no problem. So now I gotta get another replacement from Apple. Sigh. Hope the haptic is good on this one...

I tried the Milanese band and returned it the next day. For me the leather loop is by far my favorite.
 
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