Water resistance is one of the main criteria when choosing a watch. Many people mistakenly think that all Apple Watches are waterproof, but this is not the case. Shallow diving is only acceptable with Apple Watch Series 5, 4, 3, and 2, while the first generation of watches and Series 1 models are only resistant to moisture and splash.
Waterproof and Water Resistant: What's the Difference?
As you can see, there is a difference between waterproofness and water resistance (water resistance). In the case of Apple Watch Series 1, the device is waterproof, but by no means waterproof. This means that you can wear your favorite gadget in any weather, wash your hands and play sports without worrying about sweat drops can damage your watch. However, it is not recommended to plunge into the water with them.
Can I swim or shower with Apple Watch Series 5, 4, 3, and Series 2?
Apple Watch Series 5, 4, 3, and 2 can be left on while swimming in the pool or swimming in the sea (you need to enable special mode "Blocking water" more on this below), however, they are not suitable for diving and other water sports that involve diving to great depths or being exposed to water at high speed. You can leave this watch on while showering, but contact with shampoo, soap, body and hair care products, and perfumes is undesirable, as they can damage the waterproof baffles and acoustic membranes. If the watch comes in contact with anything other than water, wipe it off with a clean, lint-free cloth slightly dampened with water, and then wipe it dry.
Remember that water resistance is not permanent and can change. This depends on a number of factors, including whether your gadget has been dropped, been exposed to detergents, or cosmetics, acids, acidic foods or hair dyes. In addition, water resistance may decrease if you have worn your Apple Watch in a steam room or aquatic species sports. Also keep in mind that not all straps are water resistant. For example, leather and steel bracelets are best kept out of water.
Can i swim or shower with Apple Watch Series 1?
No. As mentioned above, Apple Watch Series 1 is water-resistant (water and splash resistant), but not waterproof.
What to do if water gets on your Apple Watch?
If water gets on your watch, wipe it dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. Do not place them on a radiator or near other heat sources, dry them with a hair dryer or spray.
After exercising at the gym, wipe sweat off the watch and strap, and clean the wrist on which you wear the watch. Apple Watch Series 2 and 3 models can be rinsed with warm tap water. Always dry the device thoroughly with a clean, lint-free cloth after cleaning.
After water enters the speaker hole, the sound may become dull, but you should not try to insert something into it to clean it. You don't need to shake the gadget either. Just let it charge overnight to let the moisture evaporate. The same applies to the barometric altimeter, the accuracy of which can be lost after water gets into the ventilation device.
Apple Watch Series 1
You can check if water has entered the microphone or speaker of Apple Watch Series 1 as follows. Place the watch on a lint-free cloth with the speaker facing down and watch for liquid leaks. Until the water evaporates completely, it can affect the performance of the speakers and microphone.
Apple Watch Series 5, 4, 3, and 2
It is recommended that you activate the mode before a planned dive with Apple Watch Series 5, 4, 3, and 2. "Blocking water"... In this mode, touching the screen, the buttons and the Digital Crown will be locked.
How to turn on Water Lock on Apple Watch: 2 Ways
1 ... You can activate the workout "Pool" on Apple Watch.
In this case, the watch will enter the mode "Blocking water" and automatically lock the screen to prevent accidental clicks on it.
2 ... If you do not want to start a workout, turn on the function "Blocking water" can be done manually. To do this, swipe up on the screen to go to "Control point" and click on the water drop icon.
How to turn off Water Lock on Apple Watch and push out the water
When you're done swimming, quickly turn the Digital Crown several times to unlock the screen and.
What else you need to know about contacting Apple Watch with liquids
Pool water contains chemicals that can damage Apple Watch components. In addition, contact with salty sea water can accelerate the corrosion of the watch, so proper care is required. After swimming, gently rinse Apple Watch with clean water.
It should be noted that Apple strongly advises against exposing smartwatches to soap or soapy water, shampoo, perfume, repellents, sunscreens, lotions, or other products that contain chemicals, as these can damage the waterproof baffles and acoustic membranes.
It's not entirely clear what relationship the Apple Watch has with water. Apple provides very conflicting information, which leads to controversy and erroneous judgments in the comments on our site. The manufacturer claims that the Apple Watch is not waterproof, but Tim Cook washes with it in the shower, and numerous videos demonstrate that the watch feels great underwater.
The recently published one also introduces confusion, according to which the company advises to wash the watch under the tap if the digital crown is clogged. Many thought that this would give them a reason to take the Apple Watch to the warranty service after diving, and Mikhail Korolyov drew my attention to the fact that the Apple store page does not recommend washing Apple Watch under water.
So is Apple Watch waterproof?
No, and Apple speaks about this many times. Apple Watch is not waterproof, but it is moisture resistant. Do not confuse these concepts. Splash and moisture resistance means you can run your watch in the rain, wash your hands without fear of water spilling onto your watch, but submerging Apple Watch in water is not recommended. Apple Watch water resistance rating - IPX7. It is also worth noting that the leather straps are not moisture resistant.
But after all, on a huge number of rollers, the watch is submerged under water and it works! Yes, but it is worth considering the point, which is described in the manual for the Apple Watch. Moisture resistance is a fickle condition that cannot be tested. It is also impossible to return the lost moisture resistance. In other words, when you submerge your watch under water, you cannot be sure that it will work.
What is IPX7?
This is an international standard that technically means that the device can withstand accidental exposure to water at depths of up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. If the depth or time is exceeded, it may affect the moisture resistance of the device, even if it does not appear immediately. However, this rating does not recommend using the device in the shower due to the fact that the water falls under pressure.
But takes a shower in hours!
Maybe he accepts, maybe not. Tim Cook's words were shared by highly respected iGen.fr, but there is no evidence that Tim Cook actually spoke about it. Apple does not officially recommend showering with a watch; the IPX7 rating suggests that the watch is not designed for this. So why don't you just take off your watch before you shower? This is not difficult.
But they even dived into the pool with them?
It is worth returning to the first point again. There are waterproof things. If you buy a waterproof watch, you can dive in it all summer and then do the same a year later. Apple Watch is water resistant, and unlike water resistant, it is not permanent. You can never be sure that your watch is as water resistant as it was yesterday. Today the hero of the video successfully sailed in the Apple Watch, and they work. This does not mean that they are at the same level of protection and will withstand the dive the next day.
What about bracelets?
Here Apple makes it clear that leather bracelets should not be wetted. Excessive sweating during exercise probably won't do the trick for a leather bracelet either. And it seems that this should be clear to those who have taken care of leather goods at least once. As for the other straps, they have to be water friendly.
Can I…?
Can you leave your watch underwater for a long time? Can you swim in them, take a bath or shower? Can you keep your watch on before surfing? The answer is no in all cases. If that sounds unconvincing, let me remind you that Apple recommends that you avoid getting some substances on your Apple Watch, including soapy water, pool water, and salt water. In the same list there are various perfumes, ointments, lotions, and more.
And finally ...
What else do we need to know if Apple doesn't recommend immersing the Apple Watch and the IPX7 rating says the same? Want to argue with that? In this case, you run the risk of being left without your Apple Watch. There is little sense in them if they stop working. Just try to avoid getting water on your watch as you do with your iPhone. If they get a little wet in the rain or if you accidentally get them wet while washing your hands - that's okay, but when you go to the shower - you know for sure that the watch will get wet, and in this case, you should take it off.
Based on materials from iDB
This is a great helper that monitors the health of the owner. Due to its specification, the watch can be immersed in water. But each model has its own international standards for water resistance, which limit the contact of the device with liquid. Using " smart watch»You need to know and apply precautions that will save your device.
How to start a water workout with iWatch?
Swimming is a great sport that keeps the athlete in good shape at all times. physical form... Apple took care of water training and released a waterproof watch. During water treatments Apple Watch will show the whole picture of the health of the owner.
How do I put a swim workout mode on Apple Watch?
- It is necessary to enter the "Training" menu.
- Next, you should select the item "Swimming in the pool" or "Swimming in the open water" (the choice depends on the location of the training).
- After manipulations, the device will automatically switch the watch to the "Water blocking" mode.
After completing these steps, the user can easily submerge in the water. After the training time is over, you should unlock the watch. This is done as follows: you need to hold down the Digital Crown and the button on the side of the device.
How to turn on the Apple Watch water lock yourself?
- Go to the "Management" menu.
- Next, you need to select the drop icon.
- Click on the icon and select the "Water blocking" mode.
This operation should be done before taking a shower, bath, before going outside in the rain.
Cons of using iWatch underwater
- Since the watch is locked, the screen is inactive underwater, although all available symbols are clearly visible. Therefore, you will not be able to use the device's functions while bathing.
- It is important to remember that water has a high electrical conductivity: if you do not turn on the lock before water procedures, the watch may break. It is also important to remove drops of liquid after swimming.
How do I view the training report?
After swimming, many users check their performance against previous activities. To follow the process of improvement, first you need to unlock the device and in the "Training" menu click "End".
In water training mode, the duration of activity and rest is automatically marked. The owner can view the activity report on the iPhone in the Apple Watch app. The watch will show not only the total distance that the user has swum, but also calculate what style the person used during classes. Also, the report will display the pace at which the athlete did the swims.
How to remove moisture from Apple Watch?
Any water contains impurities (in the sea - salt, trace elements, in the pool - chlorine, in the bath - personal hygiene products), which must be cleaned from Apple Watch. This requires:
- Touch the bottom of the display, hold your finger for a while, then swipe up. The Management menu opens.
- Here again it is necessary to touch the "Drop".
- Then you should scroll the Digital Crown several times. This action will unlock the watch and remove excess fluid from the speakers.
But before the first use, you must familiarize yourself well with the instructions for using the watch in water. Before removing the lock after swimming, make sure that the watch and its mechanisms are dry.
What are the restrictions on using different versions of Apple Watch in water?
- Apple Watch Series 1 is not intended to be exposed to liquids for extended periods of time. Manufacturers used IEC 60529 liquid protection standard and IPX7 rating for this series. This suggests that prolonged exposure to liquid on the watch will adversely affect the device. You can walk in them in the rain, even take a shower. But at the same time it is necessary to ensure that the watch does not come into contact with water for more than a few seconds. You cannot immerse them in water more than 1 meter.
- Apple Watch 2 and series are made to a different standard (ISO 22810: 2010). The device can be immersed in water for a long time. But there are limitations on the depth to which the athlete can descend. With Apple Watch, you can dive into a body of water at least 50 meters. In other words, the user will not be able to dive in the watch.
Water resistance of different Apple Watch models 1
Many users ask the question: Are the Apple Watch, Apple Watch Edition, and Apple Watch Sport waterproof? The developers clearly state that 1st generation watches are not waterproof. Although the IEC 60529 IPX7 standard requires the device to be immersed in water for a short time. However, the company warns the owners of the devices not to let the watch come into contact with liquid.
According to some reports, Craig Hockenbury (Apple software developer) and Tim Cook (Apple CEO) took a shower and bathed in Apple Watch at one time. They assured that the watch works great after water procedures. It is difficult to judge how true these assurances are.
Therefore, in order to avoid unpleasant incidents, you should not swim in iWatch. In order to keep your Apple Watch waterproof for a long time, you should follow some simple rules for using and storing the device.
What can't you do on Apple Watch?
- Dropping or subjecting the watch to mechanical shock.
- Avoid contact of the watch with hygiene products (soap, shampoos, gels), perfumes, acids, solvents, oil products (gasoline, diesel fuel), dyes.
- Contact with water droplets at high speed (jet skis, attractions) is not allowed!
- Avoid exposure of hours to high temperatures (sauna, steam bath).
- Do not expose the watch to low temperatures. Use temperature from 0 to 35 degrees Celsius.
It is important to remember that leather and metal watch bands are not waterproof!
How do I care for my Apple Watch?
- You should regularly clean and wipe the watch from sweat. It is necessary that the human skin remains dry.
- Before the Water Lock function is activated, the watch may be damaged by contact with liquid.
- After each workout, you must wipe the watch and the bracelet with a non-scented napkin that absorbs moisture.
- After swimming in the open water or in the pool, it is recommended to rinse the device with clean water.
- When leaving or drying the watch, do not use a hairdryer, heater, or treat the gadget with chemical reagents, compressed air or ultrasonic devices.
- It is strictly forbidden to clean Apple Watch while charging!
Every day, moisture protection is becoming just a regular feature in any device. If you take top-end devices, then for sure you will find moisture and dust protection in them.
Apple is the leader in smartwatches. The most current model at the moment is the Apple Watch 4. When buying this kind of device, people often wonder about the water permeability of the device.
We will deal with this today. Let's consider what kind of protection this device has and, in general, whether it is possible to swim in them in the sea and then feel calmly.
Can Apple Watch 4 shower or swim in the sea?
You don't need to spend a lot of time to find out the answer to this question. Everything is written in detail on the official website, you just need to know where to look.
Therefore, we go to the Apple Watch 4 page and scroll to the very bottom, where we find the information we need:
All thanks to the ISO 22810: 2010 standard. The only thing Apple warns about is fast water sports and very deep diving.
To be honest, Apple talks about the water permeability of the Apple Watch 4 in every ad. Here is one of them:
Craig Hockenberry lives in California, builds apps and websites, surfs and often swims in the ocean. He also uses Apple Watch for several months and does not take it off, even while swimming. The smart watch is still alive.
Craig shared his experience of using the Apple Watch in salt water as an activity tracker, and this experience turned out to be very interesting. At the very least, he proves that Apple has made a rather strong smartwatch, with which you can not only wash your hands or walk in the shower, but also swim in the pool and in the sea. Now let's talk about everything in order.
Water specifications
Before actively using the Apple Watch during his water activities, the enthusiast decided to study the specification IPX7 to which the device corresponds. Apple claims that it is not recommended to submerge smartwatches under water, and leather straps, in principle, are not waterproof. In this case, the company is only partially right. Leather things really deteriorate quickly from water and you will have to change the strap almost every month if you swim with it. So physically active citizens should stop their choice on silicone models. As for the IPX7, the situation is somewhat different.
According to this specification, the gadget can be submerged to a depth of up to a meter for half an hour, and it must withstand such a test without negative consequences... Since the Apple Watch complies with IPX7, it means that the watch was tested in such, and even more severe conditions. Thus, according to the specification, you can safely submerge the accessory under water, and, in theory, also swim in the pool.
By the way, a triathlete Ray Maker I checked all this and. Moreover, he did not limit himself to just a half-hour swim, but also dived in a watch from a tower and even tested them with water pressure, simulating a dive to 40 meters. The clock survived, and to this day they delight the owner with uninterrupted work.
In this case, Apple decided it was better to “overdo it” than “not to miss it,” even despite the negative feedback from people when they learned that the company does not recommend immersing the watch in water, let alone bathing with it. And this is the right decision. It's more pleasant to know that your gadget can do a little more than to be disappointed after loud advertising statements from the manufacturer.
Potential water problems
Now let's talk, in fact, about water. By itself, it is an insulator and does not conduct electricity. That is, immerse any electronic gadget in 100% pure, distilled water, and nothing will happen to it - it will continue to work as if nothing had happened. The problem is that ordinary tap water, and any other in an open environment, be it a pool or the sea, contains a lot of trace elements that are very good conductors. Under the influence of the same sodium chloride (common salt), real electrochemical reactions take place.
To simplify the picture as much as possible, then ordinary water can be perceived as millions of microscopic wires and contacts that easily conduct electricity and "fry" any electronics they touch. The amount of material in water that can conduct electricity is related to total mineralization(also known as Total Dissolved Solids, TDS). In turn, the unit for measuring electrical conductivity is Siemens per meter(S / m).
So, the number of soluble particles in deionized water is very small - about 5.5 μS / m. Drinking water is 1000 to 10000 times more conductive with an indicator of 5-50 mS / m. Ocean water has a conductivity a million times higher than deionized ( 5 S / m). And chlorinated pool water has a much higher conductivity than ordinary tap water.
Let's draw the line. All of the above means only that any water in our life with you conducts electricity, and this has serious consequences for the Apple Watch.
Untouchable
IOS devices use a capacitive touch panel that uses our body as a conductor. Due to a weak electrostatic field, the display reacts to a current leak when touched, and technical magic happens on the screen - lists scroll, buttons are pressed, menus change each other. But if you surround the display and our body with a conductive liquid, the sensor will literally go crazy, perceiving it as a simultaneous touch on the entire surface.
Thus, the capacitive touch panel will only be able to adequately respond to your touch in distilled water.
You can easily check this effect yourself - throw the watch into a glass of water and try to enter the code to unlock:
In addition to the touch panel, the function that is blocked by software when registering a regular touch also does not work. So, no matter how hard you press on the glass, the vibration motor will not trigger. To what extent all this interferes in reality, we will discuss a little later, but for now, let's think a little more about water.
When rubber meets liquid
Electrochemical processes in water that cause electrical conduction are also responsible for corrosion. Anyone who has spent some time by the sea or ocean knows perfectly well that after contact with a salty liquid, things need to be washed. fresh water... This is especially well remembered by divers. If you do not bother with washing, then salt and other minerals remaining on the surface of the thing after the evaporation of the liquid will very quickly lead to damage to the equipment.
Accordingly, the question is - how is Apple Watch perceived a similar scheme exploitation? Please note that in this case it comes only about the aluminum Sport model. Other options use different materials both in the case (steel) and to protect the display (sapphire). Their reaction to water may also differ. I suppose that physically active citizens who are interested in using watches in water and other extreme conditions will nevertheless make a choice, because they are also cheaper.
Metal
The watch case is made of anodized aluminum... The anodizing process creates a thin protective layer (2-3 nm) on the surface. He is not a conductor and provides good protection from electricity and corrosion. Specifically, the multimeter showed 6 MΩ resistance between the speaker and microphone ports.
In addition, this layer provides a good scratch protection. For several months of very active operation, the body of the gadget remained pristine.
Glass
The display is covered with very strong glass Ion-X... The exact same material is used in space shuttle windows and high-speed train windows.
In addition, glass is a good insulator. In high-voltage towers, it is glass and ceramics that are installed to prevent current leakage to the ground.
Rubber
Apple smartwatches are made of more than just aluminum and glass. There are minimal, but still gaps between these materials, which must be insulated to comply with the IPX7 specification. It was there that it found its application. rubber.
Unfortunately Apple doesn't tell us anything about this important material. There is no information even about whether there is natural rubber or artificial. All that is known is only the presence of this material in critical areas of the structure.
So, a sealing layer was found on the side button, in the plug and in the electronic crown.
It may seem that it is the rubber that will weak point for corrosion, especially in salt water, but based on a US Navy study, this is not the case. They studied the reaction of natural rubber in torpedo designs to sea air and salt water. The conclusion is as follows:
It takes a very long time to seriously degrade the properties of rubber.
Any diver will assure you that rubber has no problem with salt water, if you follow a simple rule ...
Cleaning
Remember to rinse your watch with fresh water after every contact with salt water. The same goes for a swimming pool with chlorinated water, as well as profuse sweating after an intense workout.
You should not strain too much with washing the watch - pour a little on them pure water from a bottle or substitute it under the tap for a couple of seconds. If you go to the shower after training, then just do not take off your watch, but raise your hands up and let the water flow calmly between your wrist and the gadget.
The only nuance that Craig paid attention to was the crown, which did not rotate very smoothly immediately after swimming in the ocean. Probably the problem is salt getting between the body and the metal head. After washing, the smoothness of rotation returned.
If you have been in water with Apple Watch, be it a pool, sea, river, lake, etc., be sure to rinse them after that!
P. S. Music in watches
Apple Watch can also be used as a player, however, given the subject of this article, waterproof wireless headphones are required for underwater listening. But the phone is not needed, since the smartwatch has an impressive amount of memory for storing music. Quite enough for a downhole training playlist.
In turn, for running, there is already a good solution that can work with the Apple Watch. It is called.
These are high-quality Bluetooth headphones, designed to withstand harsh use during even the most hard training fit well in the ears and have their own sports tracker TRACKFIT, capable of measuring distance, pace, calories burned even when Apple Watch is already depleted.
In addition, they delight with excellent sound - juicy, energetic, bass. Just the right one for the mighty Mouzon, forcing him to work even, it would seem, beyond his physical capabilities.
There is protection against sweat and rain. Headphones sync with dedicated Jabra app Sport Life, which offers entire training programs and monitors their implementation. A full-fledged sports gadget that plays music perfectly. In general, you will find out about everything yourself ( 4.50 out of 5, rated: 2 )
