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

Will Apple Watch Series 4 work on tattoos?

L

lentus

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 11, 2010
47
2
Now, since there will be two types of sensors that detect yuour heart (IR, and electrical) will the Series 4 work better on tattoos?
I've had previous generations but they wouldn't work properly on my wrist due to tattoos.
They would lock frequantly due to not detecting being on a wrist (with dark tattoos).

Any info on this?
 
Doubt it, the main sensor is still optical as far as I understand. Electrical is only triggered by ECG?
 
I'm really hoping for this too. I use the Epoxy Bottle Cap Sticker workaround, which seems to work fine keeping the watch from locking when on my wrist. However, there is some weird power degradation that can take place (I've gone from 100% charged to 10% charged in an hour), and sometimes getting the watch to charge overall can be tricky. Since there is a single optical sensor, I'm hoping its stronger and can see past the tattoo (which is the reason the epoxy stickers work - it magnifies the skin to see past the ink). I'll have to check it out when they have them at the Apple Store, but hoping someone can beat me to it with some good news.
 
People will start receiving their watches today.
I'm really curious about the answer to the question if the new apple watch works better on tattoos.
Please let us know.
 
I have a tattoo on my left wrist and my series 3 occasionally loses connection. I’m not sure if it’s because of the tattoo or because I don’t wear my watch tight enough. I like it slightly loose instead of being snug which might play a part. Either way..it doesn’t lose connection enough to the point where I’m frustrated...just annoying at times.

A fix..which isn’t ideal if you use Apple Pay or heart monitoring, is to turn off wrist detection. Like I said it’s not ideal but you’ll never lose connection and if you lay your watch down anyone can see what’s on it.
 
Praise all the Apple Watch engineers!!!!!

My left sleeve is fully tattooed til my fingers. Apple Watch Series 2 lost connection and was not able to detect my heartbeat properly!

Apple Watch Series 4 stays connected and measures properly!

Verified it with Apple Heart Beat Meassure App and HeartWatch, compared to my Polar H7 chest strap! Discrepancy of 2-3 bpm, obviously due to different intervals of measurement!

Sooo in love with my Watch right now!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ntombi, DblHelix, bunnicula and 4 others
I have full sleeve tattoos, my Apple Watch 3 locked itself often through out the day and was very annoying, even more annoying was when the fitness app kept pausing mid workout. I’ve been wearing my Apple Watch 4 since lunchtime, it has not locked itself yet which is a good sign, I won’t be using the fitness app until the morning but I’m pretty hopeful that all will be ok with this new design of sensor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bunnicula, Rangers94 and misanthrophy
misanthrophy said:
Praise all the Apple Watch engineers!!!!!

My left sleeve is fully tattooed til my fingers. Apple Watch Series 2 lost connection and was not able to detect my heartbeat properly!

Apple Watch Series 4 stays connected and measures properly!

Verified it with Apple Heart Beat Meassure App and HeartWatch, compared to my Polar H7 chest strap! Discrepancy of 2-3 bpm, obviously due to different intervals of measurement!

Sooo in love with my Watch right now!!
Click to expand...

That’s great to know! I wonder why Apple has never addressed this?
 
Nozuka said:
Because then they would have to admit, that the old watch had problems with it ;)
Click to expand...
Not really, they officially always said on their support documents that it is not fully supported.

It is like iPhone 6S vs. 7. 6s no dust or splash resistant. iPhone 7 IP67 verified.
 
This is sounding hopeful guys! I'll not get my watch until the first week of October, but looking forward to it more now. I hoped it can handle my black / red / grey sleeves!
 
dbrewood said:
This is sounding hopeful guys! I'll not get my watch until the first week of October, but looking forward to it more now. I hoped it can handle my black / red / grey sleeves!
Click to expand...
tested it a bit further.

If I place it directly on top of almost solid black ink, then it looses the connection. But on black shading with red lines and some free spots it just works.

So I guess, as long as you do not have a full black sleeve it "should be fine".
 
lentus said:
These reports make me so happy :) Please keep them coming.
Click to expand...
I have been using the series 3 and now the series 4. I never had locking issues, but the heartrate wasn't always 100%. I have a black portion of my tribal tat going straight down the middle of the arm to the wrist, so it's in the worst possible pace for these watches. But with the Series 4, no issues so far. Reads my heart rate without issue, every time. See below.
tattoo.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: bunnicula
Lloydbm41 said:
I have been using the series 3 and now the series 4. I never had locking issues, but the heartrate wasn't always 100%. I have a black portion of my tribal tat going straight down the middle of the arm to the wrist, so it's in the worst possible pace for these watches. But with the Series 4, no issues so far. Reads my heart rate without issue, every time. See below.View attachment 786336
Click to expand...

Cool band with the blue parts. Is this an official nike band? Never seen it before in that color
 
I hope both pictures gives you a good comparison what works and what not.
 

Attachments

  • CB0963D1-8CA5-4AF1-8DE4-DFBACFB9BBBF.jpeg
    CB0963D1-8CA5-4AF1-8DE4-DFBACFB9BBBF.jpeg
    2 MB · Views: 861
  • FE914388-98B8-4938-B44E-AA4A3D22E747.jpeg
    FE914388-98B8-4938-B44E-AA4A3D22E747.jpeg
    2 MB · Views: 1,017
misanthrophy said:
I hope both pictures gives you a good comparison what works and what not.
Click to expand...
Another awesome arm of ink!
On the attached my S3 will read the heart-rate (but it fluctuates) in the green area, I'm hoping to get a reading in the 'right' wearing position, more towards the red position.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1284b.JPG
    IMG_1284b.JPG
    311.6 KB · Views: 513
OK, figured out why some of you are having issues with the watch locking on previous watches you had and why it isn't now. Has to do with settings
Nozuka said:
Cool band with the blue parts. Is this an official nike band? Never seen it before in that color
Click to expand...
I found it on ebay I believe. It matched the color on my Nike ID custom shoes, so I got it. No idea if it is Nike or a knockoff. Feels like the real thing, but it is probably a knock-off.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nozuka
Guys I’m happy to report I’ve been wearing my Series 4 all day on my sleeve and have not had 1 disconnect. Very happy!
On the Series 3 I would’ve had 1 or 2 disconnects by now. Looks like they improved the sensors on the 4. I am in love with my 44mm SBSS. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lloydbm41
Lloydbm41 said:
OK, figured out why some of you are having issues with the watch locking on previous watches you had and why it isn't now. Has to do with settings.
Click to expand...
So which setting are you thinking of?

Rangers94 said:
Guys I’m happy to report I’ve been wearing my Series 4 all day on my sleeve and have not had 1 disconnect. Very happy!
On the Series 3 I would’ve had 1 or 2 disconnects by now. Looks like they improved the sensors on the 4. I am in love with my 44mm SBSS. :)
Click to expand...
The hopes for good news continues.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back