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dsabathi

macrumors member
Original poster
May 8, 2019
60
75
Went to a swim in a fresh water lake yesterday.
After about 2 hours later, the display of my blue aluminium AW6 became black.
All other functions OK, I can feel the taps and hear the sounds.
Force restart did not help, shaking the watch sometimes brings the display back for a few minutes.

So I called Apple and the first reaction was that they won't pay for water damage.
(I don't have apple care for it but according to european law it is still under warrenty).
After some time the agent told me to forward my request to her boss.
The boss told me I have to bring the watch to a rapair shop they told me (no apple store nearby) and let them check and document with pictures if this is indeed a water damage.
I have to send these pictures to Apple and than they will decide what to do.
Is this the standard procedure?
Anyone else having a water damage after swimming with an AW6? It's supposed to be water proof..

Greetings from Austria,
Dieter
 
it's not water proof, it's water resistant. similar words, but a fairly large difference in meaning.
more detail about the difference here

but from apple's watch site. (This is from the US, it might be different in Austria.)
go to the main watch page on your apple site, and then select compare (Vergleichen??), the following is from the US page's foot note.
Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 3 have a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means that they may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, they should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth.
I think this is the version from the Austrian page, I don't speak German, but it looks very similar.
Die Apple Watch Series 6, die Apple Watch SE und die Apple Watch Series 3 sind nach ISO Norm 22810:2010 wassergeschützt bis 50 m. Das bedeutet, sie sind für Aktivitäten in flachem Wasser wie Schwimmen in einem Pool oder im Meer geeignet. Sie sollten aber nicht beim Sporttauchen, Wasserski oder bei anderen Wasseraktivitäten mit hohen Geschwindigkeiten oder in tieferem Wasser verwendet werden.

as long as you were just swimming, it should be covered.
If you were diving then maybe it leans more to user damage.

how long have you had the watch?
If it's fairly new, it could be a manufacturing defect, that just hadn't shown up yet.

if there was physical damage before, like a cracked screen, then it probably won't be covered.
 
Just swimming. And no, not high speed ;-) Ordered the Aw6 on launch day. Watch was never open before, no scratches and no cracks.
So I think it should be a manufacturing defect.
Lets see what they say when the open up the watch tomorrow.
Just found it a bit unusual that I have to bring it to a apple service partner before they accept me to send it to apple..
 
Water resistant is the key word.
Though Apple says it’s ok for swimming, so they owe a part here.
Was this the first time YouTube wore it when swimming?

I know this doesn’t help but AW is the one product I’m happily paying for AC+
 
as this the first time YouTube wore it when swimming?

Used it once or twice before. Due to Covid19 lockdowns there was not much chance for swimming before.
Before I bought the AW6, I had an AW3 I used a lot for swimming and I never had any issues like that.
 
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Update: Called the local Apple service partner apple told me to contact. They said all they can do is send the watch to Apple. So I decided to open up an other case and send the watch to Apple by myself..
Hope this will not be the start of a never ending story.
 
Exactly, what is everyone on about he said he went swimming and the watch is designed for that. If he said he was deep sea diving that would be different
 
Worn mine in the sea swimming for last two weeks every day for an hour and zero issue. Stick it on water lock before and then off after and a gentle rinse under the tap when I get home. I will be getting the AW7 cellular model later in the year as as currently got the AW6 without it and it would be so handy to completely be free of my phone when swimming.
 
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Glad to hear that they are replacing it. I have the AW6. I swim laps six days a week for an hour with it. I swam with my AW3, 4, and 5 too. Never had an issue. Sounds like a defect to me.

Did they indicate it was water damage?
 
I used my AW3 a lot for swimming and never had an issue.
No indication at all. I only got an SMS that the device will be replaced without further explanations.
But in fact I don't care, I have a working watch again ;-)
 
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Long story short:
AW6, bought in the UK, had a swimming workout in Greece. Screen became initially unresponsive, next day black screen.
Fast forward 2 weeks, back in the UK, gave it to Apple store on Sunday, and today they found liquid damage and rust. They are asking ~£230 for repair, I denied telling that I used it for a swimming workout as intended.

I have a call with a senior advisor tomorrow. Totally disappointed, what is the point of swimming workouts then?

I previously had an AW2 and AW3 which I used several years in the same beaches for the same workouts. Can't see my fault and why warranty won't cover this? I have several Apple products, first time I face trouble with them, not happy.
 
Watch manufacturers warranty water resistance to the depth rating when the watch is under warranty, Apple should do the same. If they advertise the watch being suitable for shallow water submersion then it should be covered after an inspection..
 
Swim at your own risk ... or maybe Apple's. It depends.
I purchased AppleCare+ for that reason. It's a watch and going to see way more chances for damage so the $79 was a no brainer to get 2 no question asked accidental replacements (except deductible cost). I still think while the watch is covered under the regular Apple warranty, water damage should be covered at no cost within reason
 
I started lapping swimming in a pool a week ago with my series 6. The first couple days were fine, but now my screen is totally unresponsive for a few minutes after I get out of the pool(yes, I turn the Digital Crown to eject water). It seems to be fine once it dries out and it seems to be recording the swim session ok. The main issue is I can't stop my pool workout since the screen doesn't recognize the touch. Is this issue a precursor to total failure?
 
I started lapping swimming in a pool a week ago with my series 6. The first couple days were fine, but now my screen is totally unresponsive for a few minutes after I get out of the pool(yes, I turn the Digital Crown to eject water). It seems to be fine once it dries out and it seems to be recording the swim session ok. The main issue is I can't stop my pool workout since the screen doesn't recognize the touch. Is this issue a precursor to total failure?
Yes, see my previous post in this thread, I think that it is high likely that it'll fail soon....
 
I started lapping swimming in a pool a week ago with my series 6. The first couple days were fine, but now my screen is totally unresponsive for a few minutes after I get out of the pool(yes, I turn the Digital Crown to eject water). It seems to be fine once it dries out and it seems to be recording the swim session ok. The main issue is I can't stop my pool workout since the screen doesn't recognize the touch. Is this issue a precursor to total failure?

I have had this myself after long swims, my watch is still working, I put it down to my fingerstips being water saturated and not engaging with the screen.
 
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I swim a mile everyday with my AW6. I have noticed the screen not responding if my finger is really wet but a quick wipe on my suit seems to fix it. If your AW is that unresponsive I suspect you will have more issues. Sounds like water is getting in there!
 
The main issue is I can't stop my pool workout since the screen doesn't recognize the touch.
Obviously you want this sorted, however in the meantime you can tell Siri to end your workout and that should happen. You need to unlock the screen first by turning the Digital Crown.
 
Obviously you want this sorted, however in the meantime you can tell Siri to end your workout and that should happen. You need to unlock the screen first by turning the Digital Crown.
Yes, it happened again yesterday and no amount of trying my finger or the screen got it to respond. It took a few minutes and then it would work again. Thanks for the tip about using Siri.
 
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