Black dead spot suddenly appears on Apple Watch Retina Display with normal use within one week of purchase; third-party tech says caused by forced pressure and not covered by warranty and asks that I buy a new watch (their offer). No unusual pressure or force was ever used on the device. Anyone has similar or same problem?
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Apple Watch, Other OS, null
The same right up corner spot on my Whatch. This isn't a coincidence, this is a problem on the screen. No pressure, no water. Only 5 months of use, and this is my second watch, because the first suffered a problem on the battery or light sensor (forced to rebuy a new one, no warrant). Here, in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, the Official Apple Store with Genius Bar, is a impossible place to schedule a support, all of the other store, don't care about you and your history with Apple. I have a lot of Apple product, like iPad Pro 12", MacBook Pro Retina, iPhone 6 Plus (with a lot of problems), Watch, plans with iCloud, Apple Music, etc. I'm very disappointed with Apple pos Jobs, my proudest with iPhones 3, 4, White MacBook, is not the same anymore. Now, this black spot and more wasted money, probably, I will repair (lime the first one), and sell this gadget. Follow, a picture.
Same thing with my watch - dead spot in the top right corner - identical to the pics I see on this thread. I took my watch off the charger this morning and saw it. It definitely was not there last night when I put it on to charge. I believe this is due to a component inside the watch getting hot and burning the OLED. Looking at the schematics for this watch, the haptic engine is located behind the top right corner. I think this is a likely culprit for the common damage that many users seem to be reporting on their watches. My watch is a first-generation steel and is 2 years old. So, I'm definitely out of warranty. I'm taking it to the local genius bar to see what they say.
So Beiron, the same answer from Apple. Today I was in a Genius Bar, and the support told the same thing like you, forced pressure or impact. So, to everyone, now I can say, don't buy a Apple Watch, because, if this problem occured because that, a simple pressure, this gadget is too sensible and can broke easily.
They offer a new one, for U$ 320,00. But, in my first problem, with my first Apple Watch, I waste U$ 350,00. So now, I'm thinking to sell my broken watch, for someone who wants, for a cheap price or wait a miracle from Apple, to understand that this problem is a problem which needs recall.
That was my experience with the Apple Watch after 2 year. No more.
Regards.
I think the best solution is to have the watch evaluated by Apple technicians at your local Genius Bar. Maybe the third-party service provider you've mentioned simply wants you to buy their device?
Hi D.Cohen, "thanks" for replying. I did return to the premium Apple retailer in Singapore just minutes after I found the "deadspot / blackmass" on screen, as it was literally around the corner. (Posted it on Instagram). They suggested I send it in to the third-party technical service centre, which was less than a block away and I did. **** Just today, QCD Technology (the third-party tech centre) called and repeated what the technician initially said, that it must have been "caused by hard pressure on the screen". Unfortunately, there was never any such usage on my part, of falls, knocks or impacts, or need to use specific hard pressure right at the space between 12 and one o'clock on the watch screen. More specifically, I had used the watch perfectly, took it off for my shower at the gym, and put it back on and it was fine. Only a few minutes later as did I notice its appearance, and I simply detoured immediately to the apple premium retailer I purchased the watch from the week earlier. I am peeved that I was simply told that the best offer QCD Tech had was for me to buy a replacement watch. I wondered if anyone in apple Tech USA has seen this sort of problem. Called the Apple Support and through their service centre, someone in the US has taken up the case and is reviewing the pictures etc. Was wondering if any other apple Watch users have had the same problem as I think it's a hardware quality problem. My worry is that third-party tech centres may not really be caring about these problems the way, perhaps, apple might, and I feel they're just pushing this screen problem away by getting me to buy a replacement watch (not screen).
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View the image of the faulty retina display on flickr: ****
and the video **** - I hope to hear the apple engineers are going to take a closer look at this.
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Exactly three weeks to the date (18 July to 13 August), QCD Technology called to inform me that Apple USA has issued a ticket for the replacement of the faulty Apple Watch and this has been ordered. The replacement watch arrived in its slim packaging and I was able to get it set up and restored in just minutes. Feel 'complete'. But questions about the double standards in warranty by Genius Bar at Apple Stores versus third party service providers who earn money from sales and defects may lead to disparity in how the same faults are handled. ***
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This happened to me yesterday. Restarted the watch but nothing worked. Will post a pic later but it is exactly at the same place. Right top corner.
I Purchased mine in Scotland while on holiday and back in South Africa it has not even launched. I gues I'm screwed and no support from Apple. Very disappointed. Basically it is useless now.
The black mass just appeared on my screen in the same location. In additional I'm not able to use the Digital Crown via push, scroll still works. My 42 MM Stainless Steel was purchased via lanuch day preorder. I have an appointment Thursday night at apple to get it looked at.
Hello Juan-Piere.
One way is to pass the watch (box and receipt) to someone who is travelling to a place where there is an Apple Store with a genius bar for assessment. Another is to go to your country Apple page and start a Customer Service request by submitting it online. Someone should get back to you. You definitely need to get some pictures and don't mishandle the product (especially drop it). Since I started this thread, a Watch owner in Amsterdam had the EXACT same trouble and posted it on Instagram and contacted me. Told him to get back to his Store Genius Bar in Amsterdam and which he did and they replaced it on the spot. Good luck, and keep us updated.
Sorry to hear that. Apple did get mine replace, albeit after a direct appeal and contact with USA, and received my brand new replacement Steel Watch after 21 days. But that's because Singapore doesn't have Apple Stores (just premium re-sellers) and after sales is provided by Apple authorized agents. I hope your meeting with the Apple Store folks on Thursday night proved helpful. Let us know.
Thank you!
Thanks Beiron, that is exactly what I am doing today. I'm sending the watch to a friend in London where he'll make an appointment at a genius bar and hopefully I'll get a replacement.
I've been in contact with Apple UK and they say that is the best solution. I just need to send everything as I received it Original box, receipt etc.
I was surprised how much effort Apple went through to get me the best solution.
I'll keep you posted.
Update:
I got my Watch serviced it took about a week to get it back. I could not get any info about if this was a wide spread problem, but it was replaced for free. They did keep asking about if i had submerged it, i had not. They have made me a bit paranoid about this, and I don't even want to wear it when it rains now. I did greatly miss my watch while it was gone.
Glad to hear that JP.
Totally understand how you feel. I've changed the way I use the Watch since its replacement. However, as it was before, I avoid getting it submerged or wet and do take it off before shower or swim. LOL. Wishing you more fun with the Watch, hereafter.
Black dead spot appears on Watch Retina Display
