Apple Watch and AirPods: Which Models Can You Get Wet?

Historically, water and electronics haven’t always gotten along, and not long ago something as simple as a spilled drink drowning your phone could cost you hundreds of dollars. A lot has changed in a very short time, however, with nearly all flagship smartphones now boasting some form of waterproof or water resistance rating, meaning you can dunk it in the pool (or even worse, the toilet), rinse it off and the phone should keep working without issue.

But what about the Apple Watch and Apple AirPods? Not every watch or AirPods model are given the same water resistance treatment. Below I’ll break down which Apple Watch models can get wet, including any limitations. I’ll also cover what type of abuse you can expect the AirPods to survive.

Apple Watch

Before I dive into specifics, I want to make it clear that Apple very carefully states that no Apple Watch models are waterproof, they’re water resistant. That means you can’t expect any Apple Watch to survive every dip in the pool or swim in the ocean. According to Apple, water resistance isn’t permanent and can lessen over time due to normal wear and tear on the Apple Watch.

That said, unless your Apple Watch has some form of physical damage like a cracked screen or deep scratches on the housing, you should feel confident wearing an Apple Watch while in the shower or going for a swim, and especially during an extra sweaty workout. After you get your Apple Watch wet, you should rinse it off — especially if it’s from a swim in the ocean, or you got shampoo or soap on the watch during a shower. Turn the faucet on with low pressure, rinse the watch, turning the Digital Crown to clear any debris or chemicals, and then let it air dry.

Apple’s current fitness tracker lineup consists of the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 3. All three models have the same water resistance rating of 50 meters. The Series 7 is the first Apple Watch to feature IP6X dust resistance, adding an extra layer of protection. There are several color options, as well as two different sizes available for each model Apple currently sells. Along with Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity, you can pay a slight premium to get an Apple Watch with cellular connectivity so you’re always connected, allowing you to send or receive messages, calls and interact with select apps.

Below is a breakdown of each Apple Watch model.

Apple Watch Series 3 ($199, originally $229, amazon.com)

The least expensive and the oldest Apple Watch currently sold by Apple is the $199 Series 3. It first launched in 2017, making it nearly five years old now. 

I have a hard time recommending someone go out and buy the Series 3 right now, but if it fits your budget and you just want a watch that works — without needing all the fluff, it’ll certainly get the job done. The Series 3 comes with a 38mm or 42mm display, 18 hours of battery life, and basic fitness and health monitoring. It lacks an always-on display and advanced health features like ECG capabilities, auto-fall detection, and Sp02 measurement.

Apple Watch SE ($249; amazon.com)

The Apple Watch SE is Apple’s mid-range watch that’s only $50 more than the Series 3. It has a newer processor inside, meaning you’ll get better performance and will be supported further into the future than the Series 3. You have two size options, either 40mm or 44mm. It still lacks ECG and Sp02 monitoring, but it does have fall detection that will call for help if it detects you’ve fallen. For those who are looking for an Apple Watch that has a bigger display than the Series 3, but don’t want to spend a ton of money, the Apple Watch SE is the right choice.

Apple Watch Series 7 ($349, originally $399; amazon.com)

The Series 7 is Apple latest and greatest Apple Watch, featuring all of the latest features and capabilities Apple has to offer. You can take an ECG directly on the watch, and it’s routinely monitoring your Sp02 levels. It has the largest display Apple’s put on its wearable, measuring 41mm or 45mm, or roughly 20% larger than the previous Apple Watch model. 

If I was buying an Apple Watch today, I would buy the Series 7, even though it’s the most expensive in Apple’s lineup. The larger display combined with the always-on feature makes the watch face readable at all times. Battery life is a full day of use, but the Series 7 can fast charge so by the time you’re done getting ready in the morning your watch is fully charged.

Apple AirPods

Apple’s completely wireless earbuds completely changed the wireless earbud market, nearly overnight. But one loud complaint about AirPods throughout the years is the lack of a pair designed for fitness enthusiasts.

Apple’s current AirPods lineup consists of the AirPods Pro, and third-generation AirPods, are both water and sweat resistant. Just like with the Apple Watch, Apple makes it clear that the AirPods are not waterproof or sweatproof.

Essentially, you don’t have to worry about wearing your AirPods while working out and getting sweat or a splash of water on them, however, you shouldn’t wear them while swimming or taking a shower. Furthermore, the MagSafe Charging case for the third-generation AirPods and the Wireless Charging Case for the AirPods Pro have the same label for water and sweat resistance.

The second generation AirPods do not have any sort of water or sweat resistance rating, so use those during workouts at your own risk. I’ve personally worn them for a few workouts that exposed them to sweat and they were fine, but your experience will undoubtedly vary.

Below is the breakdown of Apple’s current AirPods lineup.

AirPods (2nd Generation) ($118.98, originally $159; amazon.com)

Again, the 2nd generation AirPods are not water or sweat resistant, but they should still work just fine for random workouts. You’ll get five hours of use from each charge, with an additional 19 hours or so from the charging case, bringing to total to 24 hours of listening time. They’ll work with all of your Apple devices, and can even be paired to non-Apple devices if that’s important to you.

AirPods (3rd generation) ($169.98, originally $179; amazon.com)

Apple’s latest pair of standard AirPods are equipped with water and sweat resistance, along with the MagSafe charging case. You’ll get around six hours of use out of a single charge, with another 24 hours if you include the charging case. The third-generation AirPods look a lot like the AirPods Pro, but lack the swappable ear tips that secure a better fit. 

That said, they’re designed to fit most ears so you shouldn’t have a problem. The sound quality and overall listening experience on these AirPods is going to be a big step above the second generation AirPods with improved sound quality and the addition of Spatial Audio that creates a 3D sound-like environment that adjusts as you move your head.

AirPods Pro ($197, originally $249; amazon.com)

Apple’s AirPods Pro feature sweat and water resistance, and offer the best sound experience out of the company’s completely wireless earbuds. In addition to Spatial Audio, the AirPods Pro have swappable ear tips to ensure a proper fit and seal, keeping the sound in your ear canals where it belongs. 

The AirPods Pro also have active noise cancelation and transparency mode. The former will drown out any environmental noises, like the person on the other side of the gym that constantly grunts, while the latter feature will allow environment sounds in while still making your music or podcast loud enough for you to hear. Transparency mode is a key feature for those of us who ride bikes along busy streets.

Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.