Apple Watch not waterproof at all?

[kalt]

Even the athletic/fitness model? I can't wear it in the shower? I'm really shocked by this, especially since it has inductive charging, which means there is no need for any holes for charging plugs/cords/etc.

I can understand it not being waterproof down to 300+ meters like some fancy diving watches, though my Breitling Emergency watch is okay down to 30 meters, and it has all sorts of antennae inside, and twist-off openings to remove them, and an external test button on the back of the case.

I'm surprised more people aren't complaining about the conspicuous lack of info regarding water-proof/resistance in all the ads for the Apple Watch. Literally not a word. And the few times it's been asked, the answer from Apple is apparently no - not waterproof.

If this is true, the Apple Watch will be a huge flop. And don't compare it to the iPhone not being waterproof, that's two totally different things. Though frankly, by now, the iPhone should be waterproof too, at least minimally... i.e. to able to fall into a sink or be worn in the rain.

I'm not spending a dollar on a watch that can't get wet, I don't care how cool and amazing it is. Being able to get wet is a necessary function for something you wear on your wrist.

 

[Julien]

Even the athletic/fitness model? I can't wear it in the shower?....

I'm surprised more people aren't complaining about the conspicuous lack of info regarding water-proof/resistance in all the ads for the Apple Watch. Literally not a word. And the few times it's been asked, the answer from Apple is apparently no - not waterproof....

Being able to get wet is a necessary function for something you wear on your wrist.

Your information is based on what????? We don't know but I bet it will be at least IPx6 and probably IPx7 water proof/resistant. Please point to any aWatch ads you have seen? Just look at this picture on the Apple site. Sure looks like water to me.

 

[MeFromHere]

David Pogue wrote a column about the watch when it was announced, based on the public presentation and a private briefing:
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/apple-watch-update-more-details-and-hands-on-97091024129.html

Scroll down to the "What Apple said privately" section.

"For example, the Apple Watch is water resistant. Sweating, wearing it in the rain, washing your hands, or cooking with it are fine. Take it off before you swim or get in the shower, though."

 

[kalt]

David Pogue wrote a column about the watch when it was announced, based on the public presentation and a private briefing:
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/apple-watch-update-more-details-and-hands-on-97091024129.html

Scroll down to the "What Apple said privately" section.

"For example, the Apple Watch is water resistant. Sweating, wearing it in the rain, washing your hands, or cooking with it are fine. Take it off before you swim or get in the shower, though."

Yea "water resistant" is basically the same as the iPhone/iPad. You can even spray 95% of it it with a little mist of water to put a Zagg-style screen protector on it. But it can't be used in rain or in the shower. Water resistant means most parts of it can get a drop of water on it and not be instantly harmed. A Gutenberg Bible is not water resistant.

As for that picture, (a) it's probably a rendering (b) the watch isn't wet at all, it's just near water; and (c) I bet Apple won't use pics like that once it's released.

 

[Piggie]

David Pogue wrote a column about the watch when it was announced, based on the public presentation and a private briefing:
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/apple-watch-update-more-details-and-hands-on-97091024129.html

Scroll down to the "What Apple said privately" section.

"For example, the Apple Watch is water resistant. Sweating, wearing it in the rain, washing your hands, or cooking with it are fine. Take it off before you swim or get in the shower, though."

It just throws into question sports when it comes to rain.

People have said they run in the rain, even I have got caught out and ended up cycling in the rain, and I mean RAIN! To cover warranty, I wonder if it's going to be expected that you would take the watch off, if you were to find yourself in the rain for more than a few moments whilst out doing sports?

If anything I could feel Apple perhaps would use extra measures to more waterproof the cheaper sports model than the higher end models, as it's the sports end that is naturally going to get more abuse in that way.

 

[matrix07]

Even the athletic/fitness model? I can't wear it in the shower? I'm really shocked by this, especially since it has inductive charging, which means there is no need for any holes for charging plugs/cords/etc.

I can understand it not being waterproof down to 300+ meters like some fancy diving watches, though my Breitling Emergency watch is okay down to 30 meters, and it has all sorts of antennae inside, and twist-off openings to remove them, and an external test button on the back of the case.
I'm surprised more people aren't complaining about the conspicuous lack of info regarding water-proof/resistance in all the ads for the Apple Watch. Literally not a word. And the few times it's been asked, the answer from Apple is apparently no - not waterproof.

I hate it when people whined without properly educating themselves. Yes, the Watch is not waterproof, but it's water-resistant.
In all the ads? The picture Julien posted is one of the Apple's ad. One Apple representative even use the exact word "water resistant" when she demoed a unit to journalists. Why don't you do your homework before whining?

If this is true, the Apple Watch will be a huge flop. And don't compare it to the iPhone not being waterproof, that's two totally different things. Though frankly, by now, the iPhone should be waterproof too, at least minimally... i.e. to able to fall into a sink or be worn in the rain.

I'm not spending a dollar on a watch that can't get wet, I don't care how cool and amazing it is. Being able to get wet is a necessary function for something you wear on your wrist.

If you know Apple, you'll know one thing. They might love to use hyperbole about their products, like "the best.. magical.. etc." but unlike other manufacturers they will never claim their products as more tolerant than was designed even though it is, like iPhone and the rain. There're quite a few reported incidents that the iPhone can survive dropping in the water, as long as half a day or even a day, like this:
http://bizblog.plentech.com/other-news/dropped-iphone-lake/
The iPhone is tolerant of water. Apple just don't want to guarantee it. It's best for you, and best for them.

 

[kdarling]

People have said they run in the rain, even I have got caught out and ended up cycling in the rain, and I mean RAIN! To cover warranty, I wonder if it's going to be expected that you would take the watch off, if you were to find yourself in the rain for more than a few moments whilst out doing sports?

I'm thinking that someone will come up with "Otterbox" like enclosures

 

[Southern Dad]

I can swim or shower with my Pebble. Just sayin'

 

[Rogifan]

I'm thinking that someone will come up with "Otterbox" like enclosures

I wonder if we'll see the same for Microsoft Band as that's not waterproof either.

 

[OllyW]

What the water resistance rating actually mean.

It's safe to wear it while washing your hands or if you are caught in a rain shower. Swimming, showering or washing your car is out.

 

[maflynn]

I wonder if we'll see the same for Microsoft Band as that's not waterproof either.

The band is water resistant
From MS:

Microsoft Band is not waterproof. Light rain and hand washing shouldn’t harm it, but do not immerse it in liquids of any kind. This means it should not be worn while swimming or in the shower.

I'm now an owner of the MS Band and I can say that due in part to the USB connector behind the display, is one reason why its not water proof. Its a magnetic connector like the MBP's magsafe connector.

 

[Julien]

What the water resistance rating actually mean.

It's safe to wear it while washing your hands or if you are caught in a rain shower. Swimming, showering or washing your car is out.

It would be even more informative if Apple would state the IP code (International Protection Rating/Ingress Protection Rating) of the aWatch. I doubt they will but if so here is the chart for liquid protection (2ed number in the code [1st number is solid particle] example IPxx). If rated IPx6 or higher would mean you could shower in it but not swim unless IPx8.

EDIT: Wikipedia does a better job of explaining.

 

[matrix07]

What the water resistance rating actually mean.

Image

It's safe to wear it while washing your hands or if you are caught in a rain shower. Swimming, showering or washing your car is out.

I used to have the Suunto that was all green. The software was **** though (it's the best of their class *then* but it's not Apple). For Watch the second row is all I ask for. Maybe the 2nd generation.

 

[mtmac]

I'm guessing the microphone and speakers are what's prohibiting this generation from being waterproof. I agree that Apple (as well as most manufacturers) are hesitant to encourage uses up to the limits of the device as it will cause more warranty replacements. A ladder that is rated at 250lbs likely won't fail under twice that much load. Most products impose limitations that are well below the devices ability.

Think about the rain vs shower argument. I've been in storms that are dumping far more water than the low flow showers that are the norm. I've also been caught in storms for much longer than I would ever stay in the shower. So while it likely will handle it, they don't want to encourage heavy water use. It encourages users to to be more careful and lowers their warranty costs.

If you don't continually immerse it, it will most likely not fail. During the warranty period, Apple will replace it as long as you tell them it failed while operating within their guidelines.

If swimming or diving with a watch is a deal breaker, wait for a future generation or buy a waterproof watch.

Apple had to start somewhere. For a first generation product, it is a good start. Of course people still want it waterproof, thinner, independent, gps, longer battery life, more sensors, a round version etc.; but had they solved all these issues, we could be waiting for many years for the devise. Getting an income stream from this devise will make all those other things happen much quicker. At some point they had to pull the trigger and sell it.

 

[Julien]

....Think about the rain vs shower argument. I've been in storms that are dumping far more water than the low flow showers that are the norm. I've also been caught in storms for much longer than I would ever stay in the shower. So while it likely will handle it, they don't want to encourage heavy water use. It encourages users to to be more careful and lowers their warranty costs.....

I had a sports watch that was rated IP6. It was recommended that rain was OK but not to shower. I wore it in the shower 5 times a week for over 2 years without ever having a problem.

 

[p3ntyne]

The band is water resistant
From MS:


I'm now an owner of the MS Band and I can say that due in part to the USB connector behind the display, is one reason why its not water proof. Its a magnetic connector like the MBP's magsafe connector.

My G Watch has an exposed magnetic charger yet it has an IP67 rating.

What the water resistance rating actually mean.

Image

It's safe to wear it while washing your hands or if you are caught in a rain shower. Swimming, showering or washing your car is out.

Would you know which one of these is closest to IP67?

 

[cambookpro]

My G Watch has an exposed magnetic charger yet it has an IP67 rating.

Would you know which one of these is closest to IP67?

IP67 denotes a rating of 6 for solid particles, and 7 for water.

This table isn't great, but is readable (just) and shows what the IPxx ratings mean.

 

[Piggie]

I will agree.

I don't understand the Rain fine, Shower Not concept.
Like said above, I've been cycling a few times, and running once in rain that hammered down and I've been totally socked in moments, to the point I may of well been laying in a bath.

If a watch is said to be fine in that scenario, especially as you are waving your hand around, which creates more force for water ingress. To be honest, I can't see a typical shower being much different.

The only difference being a shower is warm hopefully, and you would shower with a watch much more often than being in the rain.

My hope would be Apple would give it an official industry standard IP rating that everyone knows, understands and it fully established across many industries.

What I think will happy is Apple will totally ignore any so called industry standard as they never want to comply with anything anyone else has decided, unless forced to by law, and will just come up with their own terms of describing the level of water protection, which will mean nothing, as anyone can some up with anything if it does not have to be put under current known tests to see if it passes.

In reality.

I think The Watch is designed to be more water proof than Apple are admitting, and they are just playing it safe.

There is no way on earth Apple can ever know if your watch got soaking wet in a thunderstorm on your bike, or when you were in the shower.

 

[DakotaGuy]

My new LG G Watch R is rated IP67 and can be immersed in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. I'd think the Apple Watch would at least match those specs.

 

[samiznaetekto]

I think the biggest problem in waterproofing the uglyWatch is not microphone or speaker (those can be behind membranes), but the digital crown. It's more challenging to waterproof a rotating part.

Digital crown is a useless element anyway. Pinch to zoom works beautifully on my Gear S, no need for any button or wheel other than home button.

 

[mKTank]

Yea "water resistant" is basically the same as the iPhone/iPad. You can even spray 95% of it it with a little mist of water to put a Zagg-style screen protector on it. But it can't be used in rain or in the shower. Water resistant means most parts of it can get a drop of water on it and not be instantly harmed. A Gutenberg Bible is not water resistant.

As for that picture, (a) it's probably a rendering (b) the watch isn't wet at all, it's just near water; and (c) I bet Apple won't use pics like that once it's released.

Uh, no. Nobody said iPhone is water resistant. Its 'resistance' to water that you're going on about is more like 'water can't penetrate a glass panel' rather than 'they've actually made some effort to keep water out' (and no, it being tightly packaged and naturally water-resistant doesn't apply).

 

[bobob]

When the final specs are released, I will be shocked if the Apple Watch isn't at least IP6 water resistant, especially from those models that belong to what Apple calls the "Sport collection".