Apple Watch (SE or 6), Swimming and Warranty

txb on 05/10/2021 - 18:07

Has anyone taken their newer model apple watch for a swim/been submerged? Particularly if you then had issues with it? I tried but stupidly have been going in circles trying to get a warranty question answered by Apple chat support. They insist water Dave isn't covered under the standard warranty…yet I look at the SE and 6 product pages and see swimming as a feature the watch can track. Baffles me how they can't see the irony.

So, is a water leak covered as a manufacturing defect since it is resistive (not waterproof)? Where does the line get drawn?

Electrical & Electronics Apple Smartwatch

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 05/10/2021 - 18:15

    have a look at this apple support article here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205000

    there's a section here that i think is important: "Water resistance isn't a permanent condition and may diminish over time. Apple Watch can't be rechecked or resealed for water resistance."

    so whilst they do say you can swim in a pool or fresh water with the watch, they also say the water resistance diminishes over time, and is most likely the reason why water damage isn't covered by warranty

  • Orico on 05/10/2021 - 18:20
    +1

    Buy a proper fitness watch for swimming.

  • Kirbieb on 05/10/2021 - 18:48
    +5

    Had a quick look on youtube. There is an ad on the official apple page of the apple watch 6 going in salt water on the arm of a surfer.
    On the product information page it lists swimming as one of the activities the watch will track.

    Realistically, they might not cover it but depending on how far you were willing to push it, your consumer rights would cover you under Australian law, as it is clearly shown going into water.

    • Caped Baldy on 05/10/2021 - 19:33

      Yeah, it's heaps of BS. The water resistance ratings are only for fresh water, for a certain depth and for a particular amount of time.

      I learned the hard way when salt crystals got inside my xperia z2. Fortunately, the water detecting paper did not get wet and I got a refund.

    • AustriaBargain on 05/10/2021 - 20:23
      +1

      You sure they weren't surfing on a fresh water lake?

      • Kirbieb on 05/10/2021 - 20:30

        I wish i knew of a lake with some waves like in their advertisements.

  • lint on 05/10/2021 - 19:50

    Water resistance and warranty is a difficult topic. Manufacturers typically don't like to warranty water damage despite making water resistance claims because it's difficult to tell whether a damaged unit has been used beyond its specified resistance limits.

    That said, you should generally be covered by Australian Consumer Law if the water resistance fails when you use it for water activities they've shown on promotional material, even if Apple's fine print tries to limit the coverage. But all within good reason - don't expect it to continue to be water resistant if you've cracked the screen, or to provide the same sort of water resistance after five years as it did brand new, for example.

    There have been plenty of examples where the water resistance of the Apple Watch has gone well beyond Apple's claims, but your mileage may vary.

    I've just noticed that the support page says the stainless steel watch band is not water resistant and shouldn't come into contact with liquids. I didn't know that was the case… I've been rocking mine for five years and have been in the pool with it, washed it, and gotten it wet without a worry and it's still fine.

  • AustriaBargain on 05/10/2021 - 20:22

    In the keynote for the latest Apple Watch they showed someone taking a call while out surfing with one on.

  • jbird84 on 05/10/2021 - 20:49

    I'd imagine water damage isn't covered because there's no way of knowing how deep you took it or under what unusual conditions it may have been subject to. For all they know, you bring in a watch that has water damage, and they have no way of knowing if you dipped in a pond briefly or if your cousin Jeffy opened it up and took the pressure washer to it. Just because an ad shows someone getting splashed with water, does not mean they will replace a wet watch for free.

  • kipps on 05/10/2021 - 21:08
    +1

    I’ve had no issues swimming with my Apple Watch. If it gets water damaged I’ll take up the good fight with Apple. The device is far more likely to be obsolete by the time I have any great issue I expect.

  • contrafibularities on 05/10/2021 - 22:18

    The ACCC. Is currently suing Samsung for this very issue. Showing pictures in their ads for their phones in pools at the beach etc, claimed they were waterproof but excluded liability for water damage and and advised against use in pools and at the beach in the fine print.
    https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/samsung-in-court-for-m…

  • txb on 15/11/2021 - 23:47

    Just to update if anyone else happens to be googling this issue.
    I had an SE I used heavily at the beach and pool. Aluminium case started degrading, eject function and sound was compromised.

    I observed and held my breath at the Apple store and merely stated to the store rep that my watch was not functioning as it used to. I briefly mentioning it has been in water. They express shipped a replacement to me no further questions after it was sent for a repair assessment. Im convinced I just had a bad egg. Lucky it was within my warranty period.

    I had spent a good amount of hours readying a response focusing on it was
    a) within the 1 year limited warranty
    b) had used it in shallow water, acknowledge it is a feature on their SE watch sales page
    c) state this is a manufacturing defect

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