Q: Shower with Apple watch

Apple does not recommend it. This is an excerpt from the Apple Watch User Guide.  http://help.apple.com/watch/#/apd707b42a5e

The following may affect the water resistance of Apple Watch and should be avoided:

• Dropping Apple Watch or subjecting it to other impacts.
• Submerging Apple Watch in water for long periods of time.
• Swimming or bathing with Apple Watch.
• Exposing Apple Watch to pressurized water or high velocity water, for example, showering, water skiing, wake boarding, surfing, jet skiing, and so on.
• Wearing Apple Watch in the sauna or steam room.

My emphasis.

Hi,

The one year warranty won't cover water or accidental damage however you can get Apple Care + which covers water coverage.

The Apple Watch has a water resistant rating of 1PX7!.

DO NOT USE YOUR PRODUCT UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE TERMS OF THE WARRANTY.

Carolyn Samit wrote:

 

 

The one year warranty won't cover water or accidental damage however you can get Apple Care + which covers water coverage.

 

I'm afraid this is inaccurate (and potentially misleading / ambiguous, in the context of your question).

The One Year Limited Warranty includes cover for water damage - if caused by defects in materials and workmanship - when the watch has been used in accordance with Apple's guidelines.

Guidelines include the Apple Watch User Guide and the following article (see under "Can I go swimming or take a shower with my Apple Watch?"):

About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support

In addition to extending the coverage period for defects^, buying AppleCare+ adds cover for accidental damage, including when caused by accidental liquid contact. However, it still does not cover any damage caused by intentionally using the watch outside Apple’s guidelines.

Claim eligibility also depends on other terms and all claims are, of course, subject to Apple's (and/or, potentially, an insurer's) decision.

^ In some countries (eg the UK), the extension of this coverage is not actually provided by AppleCare+, but is instead provided separately by Apple (and potentially also consumer law rights).

It provides two instances of replacement for damage outside the scope of the normal warranty which only covers defects in workmanship. It does not say it will not cover water damage from showering with the watch, or showing it on the ground, etc. As long as the watch (or phone, iPad, etc.) is intact they will use one of your two instances. You can tell them at the Genius Bar that you showered with it and they will still replace it if you have AppleCare Plus.

Dropping your iPhone while talking on it is outside of Apple's guidelines but they will replace it if you have AppleCare Plus.

Your post was both inaccurate and unnecessary.

deggie wrote:

 

.. the normal warranty which only covers defects in workmanship. ..

And also damage arising from defects in materials.

deggie wrote:

 

 

It provides two instances of replacement for damage outside the scope of the normal warranty

Only to the extent that such damage is accidental (note 1) and arises from "your normal daily usage of the Covered Device as intended for such Covered Device". (My emphasis - as throughout this reply).

deggie wrote:

 

It does not say it will not cover water damage from showering with the watch, or showing it on the ground, etc.

The AppleCare+ terms do not provide examples of misuse. Apple's documentation (referenced above, for showering) instead identifies uses that are and are not permitted or intended (note 2).

deggie wrote:

 

Dropping your iPhone while talking on it is outside of Apple's guidelines but they will replace it if you have AppleCare Plus.

Precisely. Accidentally dropping your iPhone while talking on it is an example of accidental damage, up to two instances of which are covered by AppleCare+. That does not mean that AppleCare+ also covers damage caused by intentional misuse - such as routinely wearing the watch when showering.

However, accidentally wearing the watch whilst showering, leading to accidental damage, may be covered (subject to the other usual considerations) (Note 3).

The matter of whether any given claim relates to accidental damage rather than "damages caused by reckless, abusive, willful or intentional conduct associated with handling and use of the Covered Device" is for Apple to determine.

deggie wrote:

 

As long as the watch (or phone, iPad, etc.) is intact they will use one of your two instances. You can tell them at the Genius Bar that you showered with it and they will still replace it if you have AppleCare Plus.

For the reasons discussed previously, it is inappropriate to claim that this will always be the outcome. (I'm afraid this is also equivalent to alleging that Apple commits insurance fraud as, in many countries, AppleCare+ is an insurance policy, rather than a service plan offered by Apple).

deggie wrote:

 

Your post was both inaccurate and unnecessary.

Prior to my previous replies, users may otherwise have:

• Incorrectly believed that, under intended usage, the One Year Limited Warranty provides no cover for water damage;
• Incorrectly believed that AppleCare+ provides coverage for water damage howsoever caused.

The OP's question was: "Is it okay to leave a watch on a while showering?".

The inaccurate post that I addressed replied: "The one year warranty won't cover water or accidental damage however you can get Apple Care + which covers water coverage". In the context of the OP's question, mistaken interpretation of and reliance on this post could have proved costly for them.

Notes:

Note 1. AppleCare+ definition of accidental damage:

UK: "“Accidental Damage” means physical damage, breakage or failure of Your Covered Equipment due to an unforeseen and unintentional event occurring either due to handling (e.g. dropping the Covered Equipment or through liquid contact) or due to an external event (e.g. extreme environmental or atmospheric conditions). The damage must affect the functionality of Your Covered Equipment, which includes cracks to the display screen that affect the visibility of the display."

US: ADH coverage only applies to an operational or mechanical failure caused by an accident from handling that is the result of an unexpected and unintentional external event (e.g. drops and damage caused by liquid contact other than as a result of defect in material or workmanship) that arises from your normal daily usage of the Covered Device as intended for such Covered Device

Note 2: What is not Covered?

US: "The Plan does not apply to damage caused by (a) a product that is not the Covered Equipment, (b) abuse, misuse, fire, earthquake or other external causes except as described in section 3.2 above, (c) operating the Covered Equipment outside the permitted or intended uses described by the manufacturer,"

UK: "This Policy does not cover You for: .. damage caused by: .. abuse or misuse .. including knowingly using the Covered Equipment for the purpose or in the manner for which it was not intended;"

Note 3: Coverage

Accidental liquid exposure is described within the AC+ terms as an example of when coverage applies: "unexpected and unintentional external event (e.g. drops and damage caused by liquid contact .."

More information:

US: http://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/applecare/applecareplus/docs/applecarep lusnaen.html

UK: https://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/applecare/applecareplus/acplus_uk_tc.h tml

Independent of the possible warranty coverage for water damage, the problem is that pressurized water could damage the watch. If you do not want to find yourself for several days without your Apple Watch because you have to send it in for inspection and repair, I would avoid the risk of a water damage. Having to go for days without the watch can be really inconvenient.