[Exclusive] Apple Watch 6 Also Overheats: "Wore It for Two Hours and My Wrist Swelled Up"

Wrist Swells Two Hours After Wearing Watch Purchased
Hospital Diagnoses 'Contact Dermatitis'
Apple Demands Recall Without Mentioning Apology or Compensation

The wrist of Mr. A who purchased an Apple Watch 6 (Photo by informant)

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] A domestic Apple Watch 6 user experienced redness and swelling of the wrist skin due to heat as soon as she wore the watch. Similar cases have been reported more than 10 times with the Apple Watch SE, and now a similar issue has occurred with the Apple Watch 6.

Ms. A, a woman in her 30s who purchased a 40mm aluminum model of the Apple Watch 6 last weekend, experienced redness and heat on the wrist skin in contact with the watch while using various functions such as ECG measurement, calls, and mobile messenger. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with 'contact dermatitis.'

In a phone call with Asia Economy on the 17th, Ms. A said, "I thought it was because I wore the watch tightly, but even when I wore it loosely, it kept itching. When I took off the watch, my skin was red, and after a day, the wound swelled more." She added, "The hospital said that if I had worn it a little longer, the skin would have peeled off due to burns."

The wrist where the Apple Watch 6 was worn is swollen. (Photo by Informant)

The Apple Watch 6 that caused the heating phenomenon showed no major abnormalities, and Ms. A reported the damage to the Apple customer center. Apple requested Apple Watch 6 data and photos of the wrist and asked for the device to be returned by courier, but according to Ms. A, there was no proper apology or mention of compensation. Despite being a loyal customer who had used only iPhones from iPhone 6, X, to 12 Pro, she criticized the response process of the Apple customer center as "insufficient."

Ms. A said, "The customer center informed me that there were technical and customer relations departments, but I could not speak with the customer department that handles refunds or compensation." She added, "They only demanded the device be returned, so I asked if policy was prioritized over customer discomfort, and the counselor told me 'do not demand answers,' which was disappointing."

Apple Watch 6

In Korea, more than 10 cases of heating and ignition damage related to the Apple Watch SE model have been reported since last October. Apple Watch SE users experienced the watch becoming hot and the screen turning yellow and burning, with some suffering burns on their wrists. So far, Apple has not provided the cause or countermeasures. The National Institute of Technology and Standards, responsible for product safety investigations, is also investigating reports of Apple Watch SE damage. Until Apple implements a voluntary recall, consumers have no choice but to purchase and use the devices with anxiety.

An official from the National Institute of Technology and Standards explained, "One report has been received and is under investigation, but we have not secured the problematic product, and it will take some time to complete the investigation." He added, "Whether hardware or software, a defect that causes damage must be identified for a recall to be possible, but at this point, it is difficult to determine whether it is a defect or a fault."