"Dropping device in water up to 3 feet" is a lot different than submerging it for 15 minutes. I'm not recommending people go diving with their Apple Watches but you have to admit that this test outperformed the IPX7 rating. No one is saying Apple Watch is IPX8 but we know that Apple is typically conservative on all specifications so they set the bar low and the IPX7 "full water splashdown" means nothing to real world users.
I believe they only went 1.5 meters for 30 mins which is fine for IPX7. So using the word "destroy" in the title is a bit much. I doubt the Apple Watch will ever have the rating of a divers watch because it has to meet ISO certification which requires far more than it just being waterproof.
However I have seen water resistant watches handle 30 meters. I plan to truly torture test my sport version. For my cardio I swim 3000-3500 yards a day and then weight lift for 90 mins six days a week. The concern isn't the water depth it's can the watch and even more so the band hold up to chlorine and sweat on a regular basis. If Apple is going to put out watch out for fitness tracking then it better be able to handle the rigors of fitness.
Ridiculous that it isn't completely water proof. I never take my watches off when in the shower, swimming, falling off a boat, falling in a pool, etc. Life happens. Your (expensive) watch shouldn't die because of it.
The phone should also be waterproof. Don't tell me they can't do it. They just don't want to.
I know. My tv should be water proof too. Along with my wallet. And my photos.
Give me a break. If water proofing is your #1 need, get another item.
like most watches , when it is brand new with perfect seals around the buttons it will be water resistant but give it a few months on the wrist I bet it isn't once the seals have worn a bit
Ridiculous that it isn't completely water proof. I never take my watches off when in the shower, swimming, falling off a boat, falling in a pool, etc. Life happens. Your (expensive) watch shouldn't die because of it.
The phone should also be waterproof. Don't tell me they can't do it. They just don't want to.
and it will probably cope with all of that - statistically most people won't swim with it for example and the few that do - most watches will be ok. I intend to boat with mine, (maybe not jet ski (i lost a dive watch cos the pressure of a wave knocked it from my wrist!)
When i design portable instruments, we usually do the 'survive 1m drop test on any side or corner) we pass, but I try to design it such that 1.5 meters will still be ok. If 10 meters is still ok - its a bonus, or else i over designed it (depends on weight etc)
Don't worry. Some idiot is smashing it with a hammer as we speak, hoping to get some click-bait Youtube views under heading of "Apple Watch fragile...".
Videos that start with "Hey guys, it's me!" And ends with "be sure to click the Like button and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos!!!"
It is still operating. This still is from the James Cameron documentary Deepsea Challenge.
Get back to me when the apple watch can operate at the same depth without being crushed like an egg.
If you need to use your watch at -35,000 ft., the Apple Watch is not for you. Get that Moto 360 watch you really desire and be happy. Seriously. This is not a valid use case for a smart watch.
It is still operating. This still is from the James Cameron documentary Deepsea Challenge.
Get back to me when the apple watch can operate at the same depth without being crushed like an egg.
And what you do with that watch, checking the time? Get back to me when your overpriced piece of jewelry can do 1% of Apple watch functions.
BTW, I owned a few watches from Citizen Ecodrive to Omega Seamaster and Rolex Daytona. Currently, they're all in my drawers or sitting somewhere in my house collecting dirt. Why? The sole purpose of these watches is telling time and I didn't need that since iPhone release in 2007. It now is the technology time and smart watches will eventually put those traditional watches in the museum.
Also, please do me a favor: stop comparing those fucking dumb watches with Apple watch.
The Watch didn't over perform it performed as expected based on the rating. This review was meaningless.
IPX7 doesn't include operating the watch underwater, just a static submersion for 30 minutes. So I'd say th review wasn't totally meaningless. While not, "totally meaningless," it's also not super informative either though. For instance the watch wasn't disassembled and checked for water damage after the test, so all that can be said is that the watch functioned with noobvious water damage after the test.
BTW I'm impressed with the performance of the watch (as I expected to be) but I still think it would be super foolish to shower, swim with, or wear it in a sauna or steam room. (Wearing it in the rain or during most workouts shouldn't be a problem though.)
Anything on your person should be water proof. And pretty much everything is except your phone. Because they refuse to (easily) make it so. Must be no money to be made in it; or money to be made because of it.
While I wish everything on my person was water proof, I assure you waterproofing electronics (especially highly compact and usable consumer electronics) is nowhere near as easy as you might think.
Comments
No, I wish I had $350 to "throw away". That's what they're doing when they purposely pushing the limits.
"Dropping device in water up to 3 feet" is a lot different than submerging it for 15 minutes. I'm not recommending people go diving with their Apple Watches but you have to admit that this test outperformed the IPX7 rating. No one is saying Apple Watch is IPX8 but we know that Apple is typically conservative on all specifications so they set the bar low and the IPX7 "full water splashdown" means nothing to real world users.
I believe they only went 1.5 meters for 30 mins which is fine for IPX7. So using the word "destroy" in the title is a bit much. I doubt the Apple Watch will ever have the rating of a divers watch because it has to meet ISO certification which requires far more than it just being waterproof.
However I have seen water resistant watches handle 30 meters. I plan to truly torture test my sport version. For my cardio I swim 3000-3500 yards a day and then weight lift for 90 mins six days a week. The concern isn't the water depth it's can the watch and even more so the band hold up to chlorine and sweat on a regular basis. If Apple is going to put out watch out for fitness tracking then it better be able to handle the rigors of fitness.
I know. My tv should be water proof too. Along with my wallet. And my photos.
Give me a break. If water proofing is your #1 need, get another item.
Ridiculous that it isn't completely water proof. I never take my watches off when in the shower, swimming, falling off a boat, falling in a pool, etc. Life happens. Your (expensive) watch shouldn't die because of it.
The phone should also be waterproof. Don't tell me they can't do it. They just don't want to.
and it will probably cope with all of that - statistically most people won't swim with it for example and the few that do - most watches will be ok. I intend to boat with mine, (maybe not jet ski (i lost a dive watch cos the pressure of a wave knocked it from my wrist!)
When i design portable instruments, we usually do the 'survive 1m drop test on any side or corner) we pass, but I try to design it such that 1.5 meters will still be ok. If 10 meters is still ok - its a bonus, or else i over designed it (depends on weight etc)
wonder if the battery life will be equally surprising.
Videos that start with "Hey guys, it's me!" And ends with "be sure to click the Like button and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos!!!"
Naysayers are running out of things to say nay about.
This is a Rolex at the bottom of the Challenger Deep, 35,000 feet below the surface of the ocean, at the lowest point on the planet earth.
It is still operating. This still is from the James Cameron documentary Deepsea Challenge.
Get back to me when the apple watch can operate at the same depth without being crushed like an egg.
If you need to use your watch at -35,000 ft., the Apple Watch is not for you. Get that Moto 360 watch you really desire and be happy. Seriously. This is not a valid use case for a smart watch.
This is a Rolex at the bottom of the Challenger Deep, 35,000 feet below the surface of the ocean, at the lowest point on the planet earth.
It is still operating. This still is from the James Cameron documentary Deepsea Challenge.
Get back to me when the apple watch can operate at the same depth without being crushed like an egg.
A $350 dollar watch vs a $7000+ watch. Or a $500 watch for the stainless vs a $7000 watch.
(I know, don't feed the wildlife and trolls)
Read and follow the directions. Don't submerge your valuable new Apple Watch in your swimming pool or the ocean for long periods of time.
Don't take it scuba diving with you. Don't drop a granite slab on top of it. Don't blend it. Don't drop it into a volcano.
Are these kinds of warnings necessary in the directions? Apparently, yes.
This is a Rolex at the bottom of the Challenger Deep, 35,000 feet below the surface of the ocean, at the lowest point on the planet earth.
It is still operating. This still is from the James Cameron documentary Deepsea Challenge.
Get back to me when the apple watch can operate at the same depth without being crushed like an egg.
And what you do with that watch, checking the time? Get back to me when your overpriced piece of jewelry can do 1% of Apple watch functions.
BTW, I owned a few watches from Citizen Ecodrive to Omega Seamaster and Rolex Daytona. Currently, they're all in my drawers or sitting somewhere in my house collecting dirt. Why? The sole purpose of these watches is telling time and I didn't need that since iPhone release in 2007. It now is the technology time and smart watches will eventually put those traditional watches in the museum.
Also, please do me a favor: stop comparing those fucking dumb watches with Apple watch.
So you want Apple to build a watch that no one will use at that depth?
In that case, I want a nuclear bomb proof watch.
And had they had problems with the watch, would they have called it "Water-gate"?
The Watch didn't over perform it performed as expected based on the rating. This review was meaningless.
IPX7 doesn't include operating the watch underwater, just a static submersion for 30 minutes. So I'd say th review wasn't totally meaningless. While not, "totally meaningless," it's also not super informative either though. For instance the watch wasn't disassembled and checked for water damage after the test, so all that can be said is that the watch functioned with no obvious water damage after the test.
BTW I'm impressed with the performance of the watch (as I expected to be) but I still think it would be super foolish to shower, swim with, or wear it in a sauna or steam room. (Wearing it in the rain or during most workouts shouldn't be a problem though.)
And had they had problems with the watch, would they have called it "Water-gate"?
...drops the mic and walks off
Anything on your person should be water proof. And pretty much everything is except your phone. Because they refuse to (easily) make it so. Must be no money to be made in it; or money to be made because of it.
While I wish everything on my person was water proof, I assure you waterproofing electronics (especially highly compact and usable consumer electronics) is nowhere near as easy as you might think.
Yes. The original Watergate was short for Watergategate.
I want a watch that will work without a phone.
I want a watch that is thin.
I want a watch that runs for a week without recharging.
I want a watch that is waterproof.
I don't want an apple watch ... yet.
I'm not interested in paying version 3 prices for a beta product.
If you are, great. Be an early adopter. I've said all along that Apple will sell every one they can make.
Maybe it will be like the iphone where sales continually rise.
Maybe it will be like the iPad where sales take off, disrupt things, then plateau.
Maybe, it will be like the Fiat 500...