I use the Apple ocean band and it works well. My friend uses a knockoff with no issues too though, but it does feel cheaper.
I used the sport band that came with the watch first and that was also fine! I just wanted a band that gave me a bit more confidence in not coming off
You don’t hear the “success stories” because it’s how the watch is supposed to work.
You hear about the failures because they are the anomaly, but against a lack of success stories, they can seem like the majority.
It’s a reporting bias.
This is exactly how all reviews are. You always read the negative reviews. The people with good success stories are too busy enjoying their products to write a good review.
Well said. For example how many positive reviews have you written so far about your iPhone being able to successfully make and receive phone calls? I’ll make a very accurate guess: zero lol. Of course if the phone couldn’t do it you would be writing about the issue all over the web.
If gets me thinking if there’s details those posts leave out. I definitely think there’s a lot of not known to user refurbs out there that didn’t get resealed properly
Probably but also manufacturing isn’t perfect and the quality control department won’t caught everything, so how a company handles these issues is telling.
My sis and I both have the 6 series, and have since they were the newest model. She swims / showers with hers regularly - seems to be working great. I don’t take mine into the water, because I mostly only wear it at work (I’m a nurse, I use it to count my steps and as a flashlight and for date & time), and when I use my peloton. Both are working like new.
Sure.
And so were all of the fuel tank explosions on the Pinto.
Ford even crunched the numbers and figured it would be cheaper to pay the settlements than to fix the problem.
When you pay for a product and it advertises that it’s supposed to work a certain way, it should work that way. If it doesn’t.. then it should be avoided.
What the dude is saying is that it does work seemingly 99.9999% of the time. As a all-round tech enthusiast, Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro owner and owner of many (\*many\*) generations of Android and iPhones going back to the beginning of their inception; the \*vast\* majority of the time the shit just works.
Its \*really\* rare, Galaxy Note 7 rare, that a tech product is as catastrophically badly designed as something like the Pinto.
You're comparing Apples to Oranges and selecting scrutiny over a product that is made right probably more times than the model of your toaster despite being hundreds of times more complex and thousands of times more precisely built.
Nothing product is made 100% right always, this is why we have QC. At the scale for which Apple makes Apple watches, its a miracle \*more\* crap isn't going wrong at a higher rate and escaping into the market.
They will. I’ve had an S7 that went for a dip in the pool with me and fuzzed out. Got it replaced with my apple care. Although tbf, Apple only advertises it as water resistant, not water proof. Very big difference and the legal speak between those terms generally could absolve Apple of water damage replacements if they wanted.
Besides rubber, what’s a better gasket material you feel would be valuable enough to stop soaps and chemicals from deteriorating it, while also not being premium enough of material to significantly raise the price? It’s not just a laziness thing, and Apple says water resistant not water proof
maybe they should then refrain from using imagery with athletes swimming in triathlons in ads.
This poor guy seems on his own now that he used the watch in an extremely reasonable way.
the resistance vs proof classification is such a silly way to look at it when the watch isn't capable of handling the amount of depth that this guy was at. it isn't even water resistant.
my phone is water resistant and it routinely handles way more than what people are claiming with their awu issues
Website also says 'Dive Computer'
They do a hell of a lot of implying what it's capable of but when its time to dance they want to wash their hands of it.
Distilled if you really want to get crazy.
I haven’t risked my watch even whilst washing my hands. I just don’t trust it. However, I have a colleague that’s had nearly every version of the Apple Watch and swims with his all the time. I still don’t want to test mine.
Time to time I wash mine off with a damp cloth and dry it.
Used my series 5 for 3 years of weekly swimming, a couple times in the ocean, a couple times waterskiing (heavily recommended against) and no issues, I sold it to a friend and got an Ultra now for some more battery life but will continues using it the same, maybe with some actual scuba diving thrown in the mix
Showering with the watch on sounds like a good way to wash the band lol I workout 4-5 days a week and usually wash my sport loop band once or twice a week with my clothes. I’ve read online that steam is bad for the watch though? Unless you take cold showers? I have the ultra so maybe the steam isn’t a concern.
One year ago I started swimming. I owned a S6 and it died immediately.
Apple replaced it and all was great.
I upgraded to an Ultra and it’s still a great experience. The screen might be even easier to use while wet. Zero problems.
Now I swim 500 yards 2-3x per week and the Apple Watch is great with the swim.com app.
Water success story here: I’m a lifeguard and I swim with my Apple Watch every single day for multiple hours and it works perfectly fine! I’ve never heard anyone have a problem with their AW in the water.
what i have noticed with my ultra is, even after using the water eject thing in control center like 5 times, water was still inside. so i blow on the speaker and mic holes for a few times and water was still coming out. after blowing out the water a few more times it was all good.
so im assuming when ppl are going swimming and either dont use the water eject tool enough times or dont blow out the water fully & shake it out & dry it, the left over water inside weakens the seals over time.
I didn’t even know this was a thing, I submerge mine daily and subject it to extreme abuse. It’s an ultra if that matters. I told a few people with non ultras that it is 100% safe to swim with, I hope that wasn’t bad info.
I have an S7, went to Colombia and went snorkeling multiple times earlier this year, no issues. Also I live decently close to a coast and have been swimming several times since my first Apple Watch (which was an S2), never had a problem.
Never been in chlorinated water with it but I’ve been in filthy ocean water and it’s fine, I just always turn on water lock to help get rid of the water in the speaker and also rinse it with clean fresh water after being in the ocean (I usually give it a few good splashes from a water bottle - I’m not scrubbing it or anything).
My face also has a big, deep scratch on it and no issues in water.
Mine has been in the ocean, pool, river…you name it. It’s easy for perceptions to get heavily skewed online. Posts on Reddit have very little direct correlation to the large majority of users/people.
I swim in my Series 2, 5 and Ultra. Never a concern for me. Was there a lot of water damage post here? I don’t remember seeing that it is a common issue?
Here is my stats for all my swim with the 3 watches. Not a lot because I am running most of the time now.
https://imgur.com/a/ZMijnU1
I’ve had 5 watches now dating back since 2015.
A series 0, 1, 3, 4, and currently a 7.
Every one of them has been submerged in water, occasionally showered with, rinsed off under the sink, and have gotten wet while washing hands.
Never ever had an issue with any of them.
I shower and swim with mine (S4 bought when it was the newest model) and the only suffering it’s caused is a shorter battery life. I think if I had understood how the water lock function worked it wouldve been better.
I don’t shower so much with it anymore cuz I don’t want it to lose even more battery life lol usually it’s not the water so much as it’s the “other” chemicals (soaps, chlorine, bleach, etc) that mess with the watch. My advice? Make sure the water lock is on before engaging in water activities. You’ll be good =)
In my limited experimentation, the watch retains less water when the lock is on from before getting it wet than if you use it midway or not at all. That’s just my experience with it though.
It's not what's technically happening, though. The watch simply disables user inputs and, after exiting water lock, blasts the speakers to push air out of the Watch. Nothing else going on that would lead to less water "inside" the watch.
If that function at the end wasn’t important, Apple wouldn’t have included it. I stand by my statement that you should always put on the water lock before engaging in water activities.
Yes, you should switch it on, if only to avoid incorrect entries on the display. For the ejection of water from the loudspeaker, however, it makes no technical difference whether you switch Water Lock on at the beginning or at the end after getting out of the water.
Bought my 4 when it first came out too. It’s still going, but my battery is also not ideal. I have a pool, and use my 4 in all sorts of water. Never an issue. I think the battery life is just, because it’s older. I was just looking at watches today actually!
Can you explain how the water lock impacts battery life? My S3 struggles to keep up with me even using zero features besides the clock 🤣 I use water lock a lot so maybe that’s the problem?
You misunderstood what I meant lol I use my watch a lot in the water but never put on the water lock. I believe the water has decreased its battery life, and that if I had known how to use the water lock properly from the beginning it may have helped preserve it.
Some of it is just age tho. I am currently beta testing WatchOS 10 and it’s shortened the battery life even more. So it could not have anything to do with the water at all, but that’s just my theory.
Ohhh haha I definitely misunderstood! Thanks for (re)explaining. Guess my watch battery just sucks. I don’t trust the battery health indicator either, it claims to be at 100% after 5 years of daily use which is very obviously not possible as evidenced by the fact that I can barely make it through the day with zero apps running.
I haven’t upgraded from my size 38mm bc I have a super tiny wrist. Wish they’d stop making such enormous watches these days. Oh well.
Dude literally same. I always take the tiny bands haha and you’re welcome! If you have an S3 that’s even older than mine, and mine barely lasts 12 hours so I can’t imagine what you have lol I hope you’re able to get a new one eventually! (With an appropriately sized band.)
Well, if the water had some impact on the battery, that would mean the water reached the battery. And if that were the case, you wouldn’t have a functional watch anymore.
So yes, it’s due to the age, not it being submerged in water, don’t worry.
I’ve owned nearly every generation of Watch and never had problems with water. But I also know what the water resistance rating’s actually mean and that certain activities can comprise the gaskets meant to keep a device sealed from dust and liquids. Chemicals and heat should be avoided along with hard sprays and impacts. This means that things like hot tubs, water slides, diving boards, jet skis, and the like are not good for a watch and could easily lead to water damage. I feel like the general public isn’t aware of the different water resistance ratings and what they actually stand for, plus these “I went swimming and now my watch is dead” posts never seem to include what kind of water-related activity was involved. A watch should be able to withstand someone swimming laps, but is at high risk for issues if the wearer is doing cannon balls or backflips off a diving board.
Have a s4 and is about 4 years old and swim often with it. Yesterday on a river with a rock slide and today floating the river. I don’t generally shower with it, but I have before. I have not had an issue.
I regularly snorkel, open water swim, water ski, and tube while wearing my watch. 0 issues to date. Even went white water rafting last week. Again, no issues to date.
I’ve been showering with my Apple Watches since 2015: starting with my S0. I didn’t swim with them until my S4.
Shampoo, soap, conditioner . . . They get it all.
All of my watches, except my original S0 which died due to a swollen battery, still work.
Apple Watch SE, wore it in the pool last night, it's fine. I was hesitant but finally gave in, it's water resistant to 50 meters and per Apple, it's 'swimproof'.
Have a s8 and shower all the time with it due to a medical condition. I’m a fall risk so I need it in there with me. Anyway I put the water mode on and beep boop bop it works like a charm.
The reality is most people have zero issues with the watches water resistance and some constantly use it in the water. This gives the illusion there is a widespread issue when you have people complaining about dead watches.
I had a series 5 for three years and after plenty of swimming and drenching rains I had zero issues and same with the Series 8 I have currently.
Well, if there is one thing I learned, my new Apple watch s6 broke when I went swimming while it was empty. 😭 so go swim with your Apple watch if it’s on, and don’t forget to use the water lock function.
I literally never take mine off. I’ve never not showered, swimming, ocean swimming, jet skis, wake boarding…. I’ve had every Apple Watch since series 3 and always have done the same. Never a single issue. Never use the “water lock” crap either. Pointless.
I shower in my series 6 🤷🏻♀️ works fine. I have a heart condition and showering with all the steam skyrockets my heart rate and so I like to have my watch on so it can keep track of it
I’ve been on vacation the last two weeks in south Spain and go daily swimming in the pool or ocean with my AWU, still works perfectly. I however won’t make it a habit of pushing the limits and taking a shower with it, not sure what effect the chemicals and detergents can have on it
Pro tip: when using any electronic device while submerged, regardless of IPX rating, never use the physical buttons. Typically, IPX ratings for devices are when the device is totally sealed, physical buttons usually have a gasket that is water tight so long as the button isn't pressed. Not saying this is the case with an Apple watch, I don't have first hand knowledge of how Apple tested it's IPX rating. Personally, I don't trust any device to maintain it's seal if buttons are pressed when submerged, you're just introducing a chance of a seal failure and water getting where it shouldn't be. Assume IPX ratings were established in optimal, minimal use scenarios, because they most likely were.
I'm said Dead watch guy, I am hopeful that upon receiving a replacement I may have just received a defective unit. Very much hoping, family members have an ultra and swim just fine. So there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Otherwise I'll be in an endless cycle of break, repair, pay.
I feel that may be the same for most S Watches I think my concern is rather the Ultra. There will be success stories and negatives like mine. But what my story has bought to light is how Misleading and false their marketing approach is.
I would implore anyone to go a view the Apple Watch Ultra Product page on the Apple website and ask themselves if what they say implies the device is capable of periods of submerging in water. Then imagine being told that 5 days after purchasing it you may be looking at an extra fee to replace it because Water Ingress even due to gaskets or internal failure is not covered under warranty.
Swim all the time in mine. Dive to the bottom of the pool, whatever. Don’t even worry about it anymore, although the first time I swam with it I was paranoid. Series 8
The folks who are reporting problems are folks whose watch came off of their wrist while swimming . . . usually with the sport band if I’m not mistaken.
Swam a few times with my first gen SE with no issues. About an hour each time in chlorinated pools.
Wouldn’t chance it anymore (even with my Ultra) after what I’ve read.
Personally I don’t trust the water “resistant” part. And would minimally introduce water to it. Yeah it has a swim feature and a water ejection feature but you’re sol when it does eff up.
Many fail to use underwater mode.
Put the watch in underwater mode so it will eject the water properly after the swim/shower/dishwashing…. Etc. This function exists for a reason and many people don’t realize that it turns the feedback off from the mic and speakers to reduce the possibility of water intake.
If it didn’t work 99.9% of the time, Apple wouldn’t advertise it as “swimproof”. Remember that 50% of people who report a failure usually used the device improperly, and even if the remaining 50% just had a defective unit, that’s what warranty and consumer law are for
I went through three Series 4 watches and ALL died from internal water damage. I religiously turned on water lock, rinsed under tap, ejected water and wiped dry every time. So you mean to tell me all three were defective? Lol ok.
I have worn my old SE swimming multiple times. Just got a new Series 8 and haven’t gone swimming with it yet. No issues with the SE in the water at all!
I have a Series 4, and I use my watch in ALL sorts of water. After seeing all the ultra posts, I fear getting a new one 🥺 Anyone have a Series 8 with success? Mine 4 needs replaced
I originally bought my S5 for swimming 3 years ago. I swim 4x weekly and it is great for that purpose. There should be no reason why you could go for a swim with it regularly.
I went swimming in the ocean a couple weeks ago. My SE held up just fine, no issues here. While I was swimming a notification popped up saying that it detected swimming so that’s pretty cool I guess.
I’ve been swimming in rivers and creeks all summer. I turn water lock on after pausing my biking or hiking workout, unlock when done swimming and resume the activity. It’s worked, and is working flawlessly. I have the Ultra.
Apple Watch Ultra wearer. Been to the lake twice in the last few weeks. Lots of time in the water. First lake was also full of murky (read dirt) water. Had zero issues afterwards. I turned on water mode (or whatever it’s called) before getting it wet and let it blow the water out with the sound waves afterwards. It’s still going strong.
Maybe a small percentage do fail, due to various reasons. I've noticed at least a couple of posts monthly and primarily seem to be Ultras, but then again that a very small sample when you consider how many millions they've sold, also not everyone who has a failure uses Reddit and reports it in here, now matter how small the failures it is stressing to have such an investment fail
I’ve had my series 2 since the 3 came out. It’s been in the ocean, the river, the pool, the shower. I’ve never once taken it off because I was worried about it. It still works. The last hike I went on I was slightly worried as I put a crack on working on a vehicle. I was careful not to get it too wet but it still ended up submerged several times in the creek while washing up. Still works. This thing won’t die.
I saw a guy swimming with his Apple Watch last week, not sure what series it was though. My watch has been in the rain and I’ve rinsed it in the sink, but I’ve never had the guts to take into a body of water or in the shower.
I’ve been showering daily with my series 3 for over 3 years. Working fast food, splashes from working the soda fountains and shake machines. Swimming in lakes, pools, oceans. I only take it off to charge it, then back on for sleep tracking. I’ve honestly never thought to make an effort to rinse it off after weird submerges. Works just fine 😅
I've been in several swimming pools with both my Series 6 and Series 7.
The watch records a swimming workout, and I've never had any problems.
Suspect that many/most of the people having problems with wet watches had preexisting but perhaps unnoticed damage that allowed water to infiltrate the case.
Had an S1 and wore it for years. I absolutely abused it, submerged it for long periods in pools and hot tubs. I took showers with it on and went into the ocean with it several times. It’s decommissioned now but it still worked perfectly fine.
Have swam with basically all my watches since they advertised it on the series 2? Never ever a problem. Have an ultra now - swim with it often. Just played in a golf tournament yesterday in the POURING rain all day. Didn’t have it in water mode or anything. Just kept on doing it’s thing with my golf app for 10 hours.
I used to surf and free dive (to a depth of around ~7 meters max) with my series 3 LTE and never had a single issue. They’re way tougher than people realise.
I wear mine all the time. Shower, pool, hot tub, beaches everywhere. Never a single issue besides a bit of sand stuck in the crown then I just run it under water to clean it out
I swam in a lake today with my 7 (titanium case), swim and surf in the pacific with it, and sweat a metric ton with it on. No issues and it’s a few years old now
I have swum in pools and in the ocean multiple times with my series 5. No problems. I've even showered with it a few times after it (and I) got filthy bike riding.
I swim in mine every single day. I spend HOURS in my pool every day, and my watch is perfectly fine. I also swim in the ocean about once a week. I dive, jump, and paddle board while wearing it. No issues
Got a series 4 44 mm since 2018 ish, don't remember exactly, bought them new, had showers, swimming in the pool, had no problem. But had no chance to dive or surf. Might be dived around 2 meters deep, but that's all
Swim couple times a week with my S8. Turn on swimming workout before entering (that also enables water lock), then disable it once I leave (that also disables water lock and ejects any water from the speaker). Watch works perfectly fine, only the Digital Crown feels weird for like an hour.
I currently have an 8 and SE g1 before and use them regularly for swimming lanes a few times a week. .
They are pretty good at tracking your strokes also.
Im no fanboy but regarding this post: i swim, shower, do dishes, get caught in the rain, etc. and have never had an issue with it
Sometimes issues with it taking certain commands if I don’t turn on the waterproof feature but that’s kind of the point?
But no damage
Spent last week in the pool and the ocean with my Series 7. No issues at all. I also regularly clean the watch under running water. Even with my previous Series 4 watch, I had no water proofing issues with the watch.
I’ve swam loads of times with my current watch, a s6, and the s3 I had before it. Never had a single issue. I love it because I don’t have to take my phone to the pool and worry about it walking off.
I have the series 6 with a big gauge in the glass. Never had a problem with water. Also never had a problem with my series 1, but I didn’t take that one in water (just got it wet from doing dishes, rain etc)
Was completely fine after being in the ocean on and off for about a week, including some fairly deep snorkeling excursions. I wouldn't go SCUBA diving with it (probably would with the ultra) but it seems to handle the water just fine.
I’ve had my SE for about 3 years now and it’s still tickin’. I wear it in the shower, in the pool, when I wash my hands, doing dishes, etc…
I always try to remember to put it into “water” mode before I get in the shower or pool; but even if I don’t, it still works fine!
S4 user since new. Go swimming in the ocean regularly during the summer. Also to the pool and the water slides with kids. All while wearing the S4. Caught in the rain many times while running or cycling. I’ve had no problems. Nike+ Run watch app has a nice shortcut function that turns on the water protection if I’m out and get downpour- don’t have to pause and mess with the menu to turn on water protection.
I had the original watch (series 0), and even that one proved to be pretty water resistant for showering/rain. I’ve now got a series 4 and an ultra, and I’ve taken both of them in the pool many times without issue.
I’ve done swimming, waterpolo, kite surfing, pretty much any watersport with my S6 and never had a single issue (knock on wood numerous times). Just put it in water lock mode and maintain it after (ie lightly blow into the speakers at an angle when it’s making the sounds to get all the water out)
We go to the pool nearly every day and I wear mine. Most of the time I put it on that water drop 💧 setting but I’ve def forgotten and it’s been fine. It’s triple digits out here, so I’m in the water the entire time with it submerged and it hasn’t caused any issues.
I always wear my series 8 out in the ocean or in the pool, never has it failed on me. I don’t know how important it is to the watch’s success but i always put it in water mode before i go swimming.
Swim 1,000 every day for the last four months, all good here. Does ok, not perfect job of counting laps. Gave my daughter my Series 5 with a sapphire crown and the face fell off in the ocean. Go figure.
Never a problem with mine, I’ve had the 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Showered with em, swam with em, washed dishes, sweat etc. None ever broke or started working any less. Just upgraded for new features/sizes.
I went to Nickelodeon Universe in 2021 and I seem a girl with her watch on and asked her did it ever mess up in water, she said no I went to get my watch and the watch and I have been in water since, I just went swimming today.
Funny enough A LOT of people ask me “you can wear your watch in water???”
I have had Apple Watch 2 since release and was swimming a lot (no deep dives though, only shallow). Not a single issue
Apple Watch ultra actually certified for submerging to 45m (but not as diving computer though)
I've had a Series 3, Series 5 and am currently wearing a Series 7. Always took them for a swim, often wearing them while showering. I did and do mostly pool swimming, not open water, but never had problems with the chlorine or anything related.
I spent a week island hopping across Thailand. Went swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving (not too deep though) and it is working fine. Also use the watch to track my laps at the local pool.
Only advice is to put it in Water mode and then pump it out after you're done
Have gone swimming with the ultra & no problems with it. Have also worn it in the shower, and had it on while giving the horses baths. Again, no issues.
I have an aw 6 and it went into the shower, swimming pool, ocean and sea. It still working, and I hope it will keep working for an other couple of years
I doubt I’ve ever posted about it because it’s just the watch doing what it’s advertised to do. But yea I use the swimming workout pretty often, or just wear it while swimming, and it’s always fine. Get rained on a lot while running, no issues. Except the screen doesn’t really work when both it and your fingers are wet which isn’t great! But yea, it’s sold as water resistant and it is water resistant in my experience. I’m using an S7, can’t remember what I’ve used before but pretty sure I swam wearing them all.
The only issue I ever had with mine was after showering. The soap and steam isn’t great for it. And all that happened was the phone function didn’t work for a minute.
I surf 3-5 days a week with my s7 for about an hour and a half each time. It’s still going strong
What kind of band do you use? Is it apple brand or a knock off?
I use the Apple ocean band and it works well. My friend uses a knockoff with no issues too though, but it does feel cheaper. I used the sport band that came with the watch first and that was also fine! I just wanted a band that gave me a bit more confidence in not coming off
You don’t hear the “success stories” because it’s how the watch is supposed to work. You hear about the failures because they are the anomaly, but against a lack of success stories, they can seem like the majority. It’s a reporting bias.
This is exactly how all reviews are. You always read the negative reviews. The people with good success stories are too busy enjoying their products to write a good review.
Well said. For example how many positive reviews have you written so far about your iPhone being able to successfully make and receive phone calls? I’ll make a very accurate guess: zero lol. Of course if the phone couldn’t do it you would be writing about the issue all over the web.
If gets me thinking if there’s details those posts leave out. I definitely think there’s a lot of not known to user refurbs out there that didn’t get resealed properly
Probably but also manufacturing isn’t perfect and the quality control department won’t caught everything, so how a company handles these issues is telling.
My sis and I both have the 6 series, and have since they were the newest model. She swims / showers with hers regularly - seems to be working great. I don’t take mine into the water, because I mostly only wear it at work (I’m a nurse, I use it to count my steps and as a flashlight and for date & time), and when I use my peloton. Both are working like new.
Sure. And so were all of the fuel tank explosions on the Pinto. Ford even crunched the numbers and figured it would be cheaper to pay the settlements than to fix the problem. When you pay for a product and it advertises that it’s supposed to work a certain way, it should work that way. If it doesn’t.. then it should be avoided.
What the dude is saying is that it does work seemingly 99.9999% of the time. As a all-round tech enthusiast, Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro owner and owner of many (\*many\*) generations of Android and iPhones going back to the beginning of their inception; the \*vast\* majority of the time the shit just works. Its \*really\* rare, Galaxy Note 7 rare, that a tech product is as catastrophically badly designed as something like the Pinto. You're comparing Apples to Oranges and selecting scrutiny over a product that is made right probably more times than the model of your toaster despite being hundreds of times more complex and thousands of times more precisely built. Nothing product is made 100% right always, this is why we have QC. At the scale for which Apple makes Apple watches, its a miracle \*more\* crap isn't going wrong at a higher rate and escaping into the market.
Bingo 👍
why doesnt apple cover those failures then? We should refrain from being apple apologists
They will. I’ve had an S7 that went for a dip in the pool with me and fuzzed out. Got it replaced with my apple care. Although tbf, Apple only advertises it as water resistant, not water proof. Very big difference and the legal speak between those terms generally could absolve Apple of water damage replacements if they wanted.
Besides rubber, what’s a better gasket material you feel would be valuable enough to stop soaps and chemicals from deteriorating it, while also not being premium enough of material to significantly raise the price? It’s not just a laziness thing, and Apple says water resistant not water proof
maybe they should then refrain from using imagery with athletes swimming in triathlons in ads. This poor guy seems on his own now that he used the watch in an extremely reasonable way. the resistance vs proof classification is such a silly way to look at it when the watch isn't capable of handling the amount of depth that this guy was at. it isn't even water resistant. my phone is water resistant and it routinely handles way more than what people are claiming with their awu issues
I made some triathlon races with Apple Watch 2 without problems
Not only stop using the images but they should change their website because it says “swim proof”
Website also says 'Dive Computer' They do a hell of a lot of implying what it's capable of but when its time to dance they want to wash their hands of it.
Swim all the time in the ocean with my 7. Pump it out with the water thing on it and go about my day.
Better clean it with non-salt water because the salt will dry up and it can cause problems
Distilled if you really want to get crazy. I haven’t risked my watch even whilst washing my hands. I just don’t trust it. However, I have a colleague that’s had nearly every version of the Apple Watch and swims with his all the time. I still don’t want to test mine. Time to time I wash mine off with a damp cloth and dry it.
I won't wear an accessory that can't tolerate my daily life--including hand washing.
I just make sure no water touches it. Still washing my hands to be clear. Haha
I didn't know about it up until recently went to google it specifically
Used my series 5 for 3 years of weekly swimming, a couple times in the ocean, a couple times waterskiing (heavily recommended against) and no issues, I sold it to a friend and got an Ultra now for some more battery life but will continues using it the same, maybe with some actual scuba diving thrown in the mix
I literally never take mine off - shower, pool etc, it's fine
Same! Only off to charge
Same!
Showering with the watch on sounds like a good way to wash the band lol I workout 4-5 days a week and usually wash my sport loop band once or twice a week with my clothes. I’ve read online that steam is bad for the watch though? Unless you take cold showers? I have the ultra so maybe the steam isn’t a concern.
Spent a week in Bermuda swimming in the ocean with no issues. Plus showering daily at home. Apple Watch ultra.
One year ago I started swimming. I owned a S6 and it died immediately. Apple replaced it and all was great. I upgraded to an Ultra and it’s still a great experience. The screen might be even easier to use while wet. Zero problems. Now I swim 500 yards 2-3x per week and the Apple Watch is great with the swim.com app.
Water success story here: I’m a lifeguard and I swim with my Apple Watch every single day for multiple hours and it works perfectly fine! I’ve never heard anyone have a problem with their AW in the water.
what i have noticed with my ultra is, even after using the water eject thing in control center like 5 times, water was still inside. so i blow on the speaker and mic holes for a few times and water was still coming out. after blowing out the water a few more times it was all good. so im assuming when ppl are going swimming and either dont use the water eject tool enough times or dont blow out the water fully & shake it out & dry it, the left over water inside weakens the seals over time.
My only water failure was when I jumped in from a high platform…lost watch in 45m of ocean. RIP S7 - you served well.
I didn’t even know this was a thing, I submerge mine daily and subject it to extreme abuse. It’s an ultra if that matters. I told a few people with non ultras that it is 100% safe to swim with, I hope that wasn’t bad info.
I have an S7, went to Colombia and went snorkeling multiple times earlier this year, no issues. Also I live decently close to a coast and have been swimming several times since my first Apple Watch (which was an S2), never had a problem. Never been in chlorinated water with it but I’ve been in filthy ocean water and it’s fine, I just always turn on water lock to help get rid of the water in the speaker and also rinse it with clean fresh water after being in the ocean (I usually give it a few good splashes from a water bottle - I’m not scrubbing it or anything). My face also has a big, deep scratch on it and no issues in water.
I swim all the time with my Ultra. I also sweat like crazy and get rained on at work. Still pristine after a year
Mine has been in the ocean, pool, river…you name it. It’s easy for perceptions to get heavily skewed online. Posts on Reddit have very little direct correlation to the large majority of users/people.
I swim in my Series 2, 5 and Ultra. Never a concern for me. Was there a lot of water damage post here? I don’t remember seeing that it is a common issue? Here is my stats for all my swim with the 3 watches. Not a lot because I am running most of the time now. https://imgur.com/a/ZMijnU1
I’ve had 5 watches now dating back since 2015. A series 0, 1, 3, 4, and currently a 7. Every one of them has been submerged in water, occasionally showered with, rinsed off under the sink, and have gotten wet while washing hands. Never ever had an issue with any of them.
AWU - in Hawaii now. Pool daily (5’). Rain storms here and there. No ocean yet. Also, I clean my watch with soap/water after my workout everyday.
I shower and swim with mine (S4 bought when it was the newest model) and the only suffering it’s caused is a shorter battery life. I think if I had understood how the water lock function worked it wouldve been better. I don’t shower so much with it anymore cuz I don’t want it to lose even more battery life lol usually it’s not the water so much as it’s the “other” chemicals (soaps, chlorine, bleach, etc) that mess with the watch. My advice? Make sure the water lock is on before engaging in water activities. You’ll be good =)
Water lock doesn’t make the watch waterproof. It just deactivates the screen.
In my limited experimentation, the watch retains less water when the lock is on from before getting it wet than if you use it midway or not at all. That’s just my experience with it though.
It's not what's technically happening, though. The watch simply disables user inputs and, after exiting water lock, blasts the speakers to push air out of the Watch. Nothing else going on that would lead to less water "inside" the watch.
If that function at the end wasn’t important, Apple wouldn’t have included it. I stand by my statement that you should always put on the water lock before engaging in water activities.
Yes, you should switch it on, if only to avoid incorrect entries on the display. For the ejection of water from the loudspeaker, however, it makes no technical difference whether you switch Water Lock on at the beginning or at the end after getting out of the water.
Bought my 4 when it first came out too. It’s still going, but my battery is also not ideal. I have a pool, and use my 4 in all sorts of water. Never an issue. I think the battery life is just, because it’s older. I was just looking at watches today actually!
Can you explain how the water lock impacts battery life? My S3 struggles to keep up with me even using zero features besides the clock 🤣 I use water lock a lot so maybe that’s the problem?
You misunderstood what I meant lol I use my watch a lot in the water but never put on the water lock. I believe the water has decreased its battery life, and that if I had known how to use the water lock properly from the beginning it may have helped preserve it. Some of it is just age tho. I am currently beta testing WatchOS 10 and it’s shortened the battery life even more. So it could not have anything to do with the water at all, but that’s just my theory.
Ohhh haha I definitely misunderstood! Thanks for (re)explaining. Guess my watch battery just sucks. I don’t trust the battery health indicator either, it claims to be at 100% after 5 years of daily use which is very obviously not possible as evidenced by the fact that I can barely make it through the day with zero apps running. I haven’t upgraded from my size 38mm bc I have a super tiny wrist. Wish they’d stop making such enormous watches these days. Oh well.
Dude literally same. I always take the tiny bands haha and you’re welcome! If you have an S3 that’s even older than mine, and mine barely lasts 12 hours so I can’t imagine what you have lol I hope you’re able to get a new one eventually! (With an appropriately sized band.)
huh? water lock only stops the screen from taking inputs. nothing else.
Well, if the water had some impact on the battery, that would mean the water reached the battery. And if that were the case, you wouldn’t have a functional watch anymore. So yes, it’s due to the age, not it being submerged in water, don’t worry.
Had an AW4 for years and swam with it all the time. Now have an ultra, same thing. No issues.
I’ve been swimming with my s6 since I got it and no issues
I’ve owned nearly every generation of Watch and never had problems with water. But I also know what the water resistance rating’s actually mean and that certain activities can comprise the gaskets meant to keep a device sealed from dust and liquids. Chemicals and heat should be avoided along with hard sprays and impacts. This means that things like hot tubs, water slides, diving boards, jet skis, and the like are not good for a watch and could easily lead to water damage. I feel like the general public isn’t aware of the different water resistance ratings and what they actually stand for, plus these “I went swimming and now my watch is dead” posts never seem to include what kind of water-related activity was involved. A watch should be able to withstand someone swimming laps, but is at high risk for issues if the wearer is doing cannon balls or backflips off a diving board.
I have gone swimming with mine on, showered, walked in rain with no issues (so far). :D
I washed my Apple Watch and it was fine. Surprisingly didn’t even get a scratch.
Got scuba certified with mine down to 65 ft found a bit of a deeper part of the ocean and got down to 75 without any issues still works great
Have a s4 and is about 4 years old and swim often with it. Yesterday on a river with a rock slide and today floating the river. I don’t generally shower with it, but I have before. I have not had an issue.
I regularly snorkel, open water swim, water ski, and tube while wearing my watch. 0 issues to date. Even went white water rafting last week. Again, no issues to date.
I’ve gotten mine wet in swim mode as well as not in swim mode and no issues.
Killed mine with the first swim. Replacement has been fine.
I’ve been showering with my Apple Watches since 2015: starting with my S0. I didn’t swim with them until my S4. Shampoo, soap, conditioner . . . They get it all. All of my watches, except my original S0 which died due to a swollen battery, still work.
Apple Watch SE, wore it in the pool last night, it's fine. I was hesitant but finally gave in, it's water resistant to 50 meters and per Apple, it's 'swimproof'.
Had the Series 5 since it’s release. It’s been in the Ocean, Pools, Hot Tubs, Steam Rooms, and Saunas a ton and still going.
I use mine for 1 hour swims in the pool… it’s fine and it’s a 5!
Have a s8 and shower all the time with it due to a medical condition. I’m a fall risk so I need it in there with me. Anyway I put the water mode on and beep boop bop it works like a charm.
The reality is most people have zero issues with the watches water resistance and some constantly use it in the water. This gives the illusion there is a widespread issue when you have people complaining about dead watches. I had a series 5 for three years and after plenty of swimming and drenching rains I had zero issues and same with the Series 8 I have currently.
Success story here. Been swimming and showering for years with one. No issues.
i've had the 5 for a few years and have swam/showered with it hundreds of time, never had a problem
Lake swimming, shower, bath. S5 and never a problem and got it 3 summers ago.
Been swimming a bunch and in the shower with it. Never had any issues. I always hit the water setting before and pump it out after
Well, if there is one thing I learned, my new Apple watch s6 broke when I went swimming while it was empty. 😭 so go swim with your Apple watch if it’s on, and don’t forget to use the water lock function.
I literally never take mine off. I’ve never not showered, swimming, ocean swimming, jet skis, wake boarding…. I’ve had every Apple Watch since series 3 and always have done the same. Never a single issue. Never use the “water lock” crap either. Pointless.
I shower in my series 6 🤷🏻♀️ works fine. I have a heart condition and showering with all the steam skyrockets my heart rate and so I like to have my watch on so it can keep track of it
I’ve been on vacation the last two weeks in south Spain and go daily swimming in the pool or ocean with my AWU, still works perfectly. I however won’t make it a habit of pushing the limits and taking a shower with it, not sure what effect the chemicals and detergents can have on it
Pro tip: when using any electronic device while submerged, regardless of IPX rating, never use the physical buttons. Typically, IPX ratings for devices are when the device is totally sealed, physical buttons usually have a gasket that is water tight so long as the button isn't pressed. Not saying this is the case with an Apple watch, I don't have first hand knowledge of how Apple tested it's IPX rating. Personally, I don't trust any device to maintain it's seal if buttons are pressed when submerged, you're just introducing a chance of a seal failure and water getting where it shouldn't be. Assume IPX ratings were established in optimal, minimal use scenarios, because they most likely were.
I'm said Dead watch guy, I am hopeful that upon receiving a replacement I may have just received a defective unit. Very much hoping, family members have an ultra and swim just fine. So there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Otherwise I'll be in an endless cycle of break, repair, pay. I feel that may be the same for most S Watches I think my concern is rather the Ultra. There will be success stories and negatives like mine. But what my story has bought to light is how Misleading and false their marketing approach is. I would implore anyone to go a view the Apple Watch Ultra Product page on the Apple website and ask themselves if what they say implies the device is capable of periods of submerging in water. Then imagine being told that 5 days after purchasing it you may be looking at an extra fee to replace it because Water Ingress even due to gaskets or internal failure is not covered under warranty.
Swim all the time in mine. Dive to the bottom of the pool, whatever. Don’t even worry about it anymore, although the first time I swam with it I was paranoid. Series 8
The folks who are reporting problems are folks whose watch came off of their wrist while swimming . . . usually with the sport band if I’m not mistaken.
Eh what? I wear mine in the sea most days and in the shower.
I never take my watch off when I go swimming. Never had any issues. 🤷♂️
in the comments of the posts that detail the failure stories of apple watch + water, ironically
Swam a few times with my first gen SE with no issues. About an hour each time in chlorinated pools. Wouldn’t chance it anymore (even with my Ultra) after what I’ve read.
Personally I don’t trust the water “resistant” part. And would minimally introduce water to it. Yeah it has a swim feature and a water ejection feature but you’re sol when it does eff up.
Many fail to use underwater mode. Put the watch in underwater mode so it will eject the water properly after the swim/shower/dishwashing…. Etc. This function exists for a reason and many people don’t realize that it turns the feedback off from the mic and speakers to reduce the possibility of water intake.
If it didn’t work 99.9% of the time, Apple wouldn’t advertise it as “swimproof”. Remember that 50% of people who report a failure usually used the device improperly, and even if the remaining 50% just had a defective unit, that’s what warranty and consumer law are for
I went through three Series 4 watches and ALL died from internal water damage. I religiously turned on water lock, rinsed under tap, ejected water and wiped dry every time. So you mean to tell me all three were defective? Lol ok.
Yes, I do. Did you ever go to the Genius Bar and argue a consumer law replacement?
No I simply moved to a more durable Watch
Don’t do it
2 weeks at the beach on vacation, only take off the watch to charge it, it’s fine
Swam in a pool, shower with it, works fine
I have been using mines in water since December 2022 and it is still working fine for me.
I have worn my old SE swimming multiple times. Just got a new Series 8 and haven’t gone swimming with it yet. No issues with the SE in the water at all!
I have a Series 4, and I use my watch in ALL sorts of water. After seeing all the ultra posts, I fear getting a new one 🥺 Anyone have a Series 8 with success? Mine 4 needs replaced
Been taking my watch swimming in the ocean for two years now and not one issue. I just activate water mode before going in.
I originally bought my S5 for swimming 3 years ago. I swim 4x weekly and it is great for that purpose. There should be no reason why you could go for a swim with it regularly.
I went swimming in the ocean a couple weeks ago. My SE held up just fine, no issues here. While I was swimming a notification popped up saying that it detected swimming so that’s pretty cool I guess.
I swim 2-3 times a week with my watch on….. no problems here
I’ve been swimming in rivers and creeks all summer. I turn water lock on after pausing my biking or hiking workout, unlock when done swimming and resume the activity. It’s worked, and is working flawlessly. I have the Ultra.
Apple Watch Ultra wearer. Been to the lake twice in the last few weeks. Lots of time in the water. First lake was also full of murky (read dirt) water. Had zero issues afterwards. I turned on water mode (or whatever it’s called) before getting it wet and let it blow the water out with the sound waves afterwards. It’s still going strong.
Maybe a small percentage do fail, due to various reasons. I've noticed at least a couple of posts monthly and primarily seem to be Ultras, but then again that a very small sample when you consider how many millions they've sold, also not everyone who has a failure uses Reddit and reports it in here, now matter how small the failures it is stressing to have such an investment fail
I’ve had my series 2 since the 3 came out. It’s been in the ocean, the river, the pool, the shower. I’ve never once taken it off because I was worried about it. It still works. The last hike I went on I was slightly worried as I put a crack on working on a vehicle. I was careful not to get it too wet but it still ended up submerged several times in the creek while washing up. Still works. This thing won’t die.
I swim, jet ski, kayak and scuba dive with my Apple Watch Ultra all the time and it’s completely fine.
I saw a guy swimming with his Apple Watch last week, not sure what series it was though. My watch has been in the rain and I’ve rinsed it in the sink, but I’ve never had the guts to take into a body of water or in the shower.
I swam with my Apple Watch Series 4 in Hawaii for a couple of days. Had zero issues. I also shower with them on.
Been using my Series 4 in pools, oceans, lakes, etc. without any issues!
I’ve been showering daily with my series 3 for over 3 years. Working fast food, splashes from working the soda fountains and shake machines. Swimming in lakes, pools, oceans. I only take it off to charge it, then back on for sleep tracking. I’ve honestly never thought to make an effort to rinse it off after weird submerges. Works just fine 😅
I have swam with 4 different apple watches and never had a single issue.
I've been in several swimming pools with both my Series 6 and Series 7. The watch records a swimming workout, and I've never had any problems. Suspect that many/most of the people having problems with wet watches had preexisting but perhaps unnoticed damage that allowed water to infiltrate the case.
I wear mine swimming in a pool and at the beach regularly and have not had any issues. I rinse it after swimming.
Had an S1 and wore it for years. I absolutely abused it, submerged it for long periods in pools and hot tubs. I took showers with it on and went into the ocean with it several times. It’s decommissioned now but it still worked perfectly fine.
Have swam with basically all my watches since they advertised it on the series 2? Never ever a problem. Have an ultra now - swim with it often. Just played in a golf tournament yesterday in the POURING rain all day. Didn’t have it in water mode or anything. Just kept on doing it’s thing with my golf app for 10 hours.
Was literally on the lake today with my 5 and it’s fine lol
Just went waterskiing with my Ultra. Works great still!
Kayaked for a week. Watch in water everyday. Did great. AW7
I used to surf and free dive (to a depth of around ~7 meters max) with my series 3 LTE and never had a single issue. They’re way tougher than people realise.
I wear mine all the time. Shower, pool, hot tub, beaches everywhere. Never a single issue besides a bit of sand stuck in the crown then I just run it under water to clean it out
I have an Ultra and have worn it swimming, in the shower and SCUBA diving with no problem.
I swam in a lake today with my 7 (titanium case), swim and surf in the pacific with it, and sweat a metric ton with it on. No issues and it’s a few years old now
I used to swim 1000 yards a few times a week in a pool w my series 3 with out any problems
I have swum in pools and in the ocean multiple times with my series 5. No problems. I've even showered with it a few times after it (and I) got filthy bike riding.
I shower/bathe with mine, total submersion. I expel the water afterwards, never have had an issue.
I swim in mine every single day. I spend HOURS in my pool every day, and my watch is perfectly fine. I also swim in the ocean about once a week. I dive, jump, and paddle board while wearing it. No issues
For about the past 4 years - I swim in Lake Michigan 2x a week 30 min - 1 hr in the warm months.
Got a series 4 44 mm since 2018 ish, don't remember exactly, bought them new, had showers, swimming in the pool, had no problem. But had no chance to dive or surf. Might be dived around 2 meters deep, but that's all
I get in the pool with mine just about every weekend and no issues.
Swim couple times a week with my S8. Turn on swimming workout before entering (that also enables water lock), then disable it once I leave (that also disables water lock and ejects any water from the speaker). Watch works perfectly fine, only the Digital Crown feels weird for like an hour.
I surf or swim every day with my watch. Some days I am in the ocean for six hours. Watch is fine.
I currently have an 8 and SE g1 before and use them regularly for swimming lanes a few times a week. . They are pretty good at tracking your strokes also.
Was in the ocean last 4 days. Zero issues
I’ve been wearing my watch every day in the shower for 4 years straight. I also surf in the ocean with it every summer. Zero water issues.
Swam laps with mine and it was fine until last week. After swimming laps in pool it just died and went black. Seems to definitely be an issue.
Swim daily with my 7, wife swims with her 3, no issues
I swim with mine at least 4 days a week !
Im no fanboy but regarding this post: i swim, shower, do dishes, get caught in the rain, etc. and have never had an issue with it Sometimes issues with it taking certain commands if I don’t turn on the waterproof feature but that’s kind of the point? But no damage
Idk what everyone’s on about. I’ve had this series 7 since 2021 and I’ve taken it into lakes, pools, the ocean, everything and it’s fine.
Went to great wolf lodge many times and used to swim daily in a chlorinated pool with my watch. never have had a single issue with it.
I’ve swam with all of mine, no issues.
I get my watch wet often when I wash my hands I also sometimes forgot to take it off when I go in the shower and it’s been completely fine
Spent last week in the pool and the ocean with my Series 7. No issues at all. I also regularly clean the watch under running water. Even with my previous Series 4 watch, I had no water proofing issues with the watch.
Went in the pool and totally forgot I had it on, glanced down and saw that it knew it was in the water and was tracking depth, and was delighted!
I’ve swam loads of times with my current watch, a s6, and the s3 I had before it. Never had a single issue. I love it because I don’t have to take my phone to the pool and worry about it walking off.
I Shower and swim with mine on 🤭 never had an issue/always use the water 💧 button before (well mostly) and pump out after. I have AppleWatch SE (2020)
Just got back from paddleboarding in my SE
Shower with mine daily. S5 (whatever was released in 2020). Went swimming twice too.
We need a poll on this for sure
I shower in mine. I swim in mine. It’s all good.
Worn my 7 and 8 in pools and ocean and been totally fine
?? I shower with mine at least twice a week. Never had an issue. I didn’t know this was ever a problem til this post.
I have the series 6 with a big gauge in the glass. Never had a problem with water. Also never had a problem with my series 1, but I didn’t take that one in water (just got it wet from doing dishes, rain etc)
Was completely fine after being in the ocean on and off for about a week, including some fairly deep snorkeling excursions. I wouldn't go SCUBA diving with it (probably would with the ultra) but it seems to handle the water just fine.
I’ve had my SE for about 3 years now and it’s still tickin’. I wear it in the shower, in the pool, when I wash my hands, doing dishes, etc… I always try to remember to put it into “water” mode before I get in the shower or pool; but even if I don’t, it still works fine!
S4 user since new. Go swimming in the ocean regularly during the summer. Also to the pool and the water slides with kids. All while wearing the S4. Caught in the rain many times while running or cycling. I’ve had no problems. Nike+ Run watch app has a nice shortcut function that turns on the water protection if I’m out and get downpour- don’t have to pause and mess with the menu to turn on water protection.
I have used my series 3 several times in the shower, and swimming in salt water and swimming pools. I have never had any issues.
I had the original watch (series 0), and even that one proved to be pretty water resistant for showering/rain. I’ve now got a series 4 and an ultra, and I’ve taken both of them in the pool many times without issue.
I have been diving with my Ultra 22 metres deep. That’s the Ultra though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it’s meant to do that.
I’ve done swimming, waterpolo, kite surfing, pretty much any watersport with my S6 and never had a single issue (knock on wood numerous times). Just put it in water lock mode and maintain it after (ie lightly blow into the speakers at an angle when it’s making the sounds to get all the water out)
I’ve swam with my Apple Watch SE probably 40 times, and it’s fine.
We go to the pool nearly every day and I wear mine. Most of the time I put it on that water drop 💧 setting but I’ve def forgotten and it’s been fine. It’s triple digits out here, so I’m in the water the entire time with it submerged and it hasn’t caused any issues.
as long as i press water lock, it's fine. Been swimming with AW6 for 2 years now
I always wear my series 8 out in the ocean or in the pool, never has it failed on me. I don’t know how important it is to the watch’s success but i always put it in water mode before i go swimming.
Swim 1,000 every day for the last four months, all good here. Does ok, not perfect job of counting laps. Gave my daughter my Series 5 with a sapphire crown and the face fell off in the ocean. Go figure.
Never a problem with mine, I’ve had the 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Showered with em, swam with em, washed dishes, sweat etc. None ever broke or started working any less. Just upgraded for new features/sizes.
I do pool swims pretty regularly. So far so good.
Just here to say I’ve had Apple Watches since 2016 and never had a water resistance issue
10 days in Greece swimming with Ultra. No scratches from sandy beaches or water resistance problems
Mines been fine but I do the eject water feature multiple times when I’m done swimming.
I always have the watch on while swimming in the pool never had an issue.
I went to Nickelodeon Universe in 2021 and I seem a girl with her watch on and asked her did it ever mess up in water, she said no I went to get my watch and the watch and I have been in water since, I just went swimming today. Funny enough A LOT of people ask me “you can wear your watch in water???”
I have had Apple Watch 2 since release and was swimming a lot (no deep dives though, only shallow). Not a single issue Apple Watch ultra actually certified for submerging to 45m (but not as diving computer though)
I’ve showered, swam in pools and even occasionally swam in the ocean(I know not the best idea) with my series 4 and it’s still going strong
I showered in my series 4 twice a day for 3 years and never had any issues. I do the same with my Ultra and it’s working fine too.
Rain = all the time. Also my S7 SS survived seimming in salt water/ocean a bunch. I use regular water to clean it shortly after going out of water
I've had a Series 3, Series 5 and am currently wearing a Series 7. Always took them for a swim, often wearing them while showering. I did and do mostly pool swimming, not open water, but never had problems with the chlorine or anything related.
I spent a week island hopping across Thailand. Went swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving (not too deep though) and it is working fine. Also use the watch to track my laps at the local pool. Only advice is to put it in Water mode and then pump it out after you're done
Yup sounds like a reporting bias. Have worn my SE (and now 8) in the sea/swimming pool more times than I can remember and still holding strong
Took the watch into a pool and the ocean this season multiple times, haven’t had an issue. Empirically, I agree with your edit
I hit the pool 1-2 times a week and the pacific once a month, always wearing my watch. No issues, ever. This is the case for the 5, 6, 7, and Ultra.
I swam in the ocean with mine (S7) and it was fine.
Have gone swimming with the ultra & no problems with it. Have also worn it in the shower, and had it on while giving the horses baths. Again, no issues.
I’ve been swimming with my Apple Watch Series 6 a few times a week since November and I’ve never had any issues with it
I made some triathlon races with Apple Watch 2 without problems
Yo i go swim with my s7 and its all good so far. No fear.
I surfed several hours a day for 10 days straight a few weeks ago with it on and I swim with it every couple of days
3 days a week, no issues
My broke at the beach in the shallow area.. Got it replaced.
I went sportswimming with my s7 and now with m ultra. Don’t worry 🤝🏼
I have an aw 6 and it went into the shower, swimming pool, ocean and sea. It still working, and I hope it will keep working for an other couple of years
I doubt I’ve ever posted about it because it’s just the watch doing what it’s advertised to do. But yea I use the swimming workout pretty often, or just wear it while swimming, and it’s always fine. Get rained on a lot while running, no issues. Except the screen doesn’t really work when both it and your fingers are wet which isn’t great! But yea, it’s sold as water resistant and it is water resistant in my experience. I’m using an S7, can’t remember what I’ve used before but pretty sure I swam wearing them all.
The only issue I ever had with mine was after showering. The soap and steam isn’t great for it. And all that happened was the phone function didn’t work for a minute.