Is your Apple Watch waterproof? Well, the short answer is no, not completely, but most models are water-resistant, so they won’t get damaged when exposed to or submerged in water up to a certain depth. But there are several levels of water resistance on Apple Watches, so it’s best to know precisely how your watch is rated before you go jumping in any pools or hot tubs.
The good news for Apple Watch owners is that the days of destroying your costly Apple product because you got caught in the rain are gone. Even the oldest Apple Watches offer some degree of protection from moisture, and each watch comes with a rating to tell you exactly how much water it can handle.
If you’re in the market for a new Apple Watch and plan to wear it for soaking in the tub, swimming, or even ocean sports, read on to learn what activities and depth your new watch can handle. Remember that your Apple warranty doesn’t usually cover water damage, so it’s essential to heed the water-resistance ratings (unless you want to fork out for a new watch, of course.)
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A note about water resistance
Unlike most electronics, including iPhones, iPads, and all other tablets and smartphones, Apple watches don’t use the IP water resistance rating. Instead, they use the standard rating method for watches, based on depth.
However, being rated to 50 meters for example doesn’t mean you should take it anywhere near 50 meters – it just means that in lab tests, it was able to withstand the amount of pressure you’d find at that depth (which is about 4.5 times the amount at the surface.)
But - outside the Apple Watch Ultra, which is designed with divers in mind - there’s really no reason to test that yourself, considering it could damage your watch. If you need a smartwatch for scuba diving or freediving, you’re better off getting one that doubles as a dive computer, like the aforementioned Ultra, or one from another brand, such as the Garmin Descent.
It’s also important to know that in general Apple Watches aren’t designed to withstand repeated high-energy impacts. Jumping into a pool or ocean is no problem, but avoid wearing it for more extreme sports, like water skiing or surfing. It’ll probably be fine a few times, but too many high-velocity impacts could start to compromise the water resistance, eventually ruining your watch.
For official details on the water resistance of Apple Watches, head to Apple's dedicated support page.
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