Just days before the Apple Watch Series 3 goes on sale, the company has confirmed it is investigating an issue with the new wearable’s headline feature.
Cupertino has acknowledged an issue with connecting to cellular networks via the built-in LTE antenna.
The problem is arising when the watch attempts to join an unauthenticated Wi-Fi network.
In a statement, Apple says (via WSJ): “We have discovered that when Apple Watch Series 3 joins unauthenticated Wi-Fi networks without connectivity, it may at times prevent the watch from using cellular. We are investigating a fix for a future software release.”
Related: Apple Watch Series 3 vs Series 2
The issue doesn’t sound too serious and seems to relate to the Wi-Fi hotspots our phones will often attempt to join when we’re out and about.
For example, the iPhone will often attempt to join an open network in a coffee shop or shopping centre, requiring us to authenticate to gain access.
However, considering the Apple Watch has no real way of authenticating a Wi-Fi network by itself, it leaves users stuck without connectivity.
Future software release
In its statement, Apple promised the fix in a future software release, which suggests the problem may be lingering for early adopters.
The Apple Watch Series 3 goes on sale on Friday with pre-orders open now.
One fix would be to prevent the Apple Watch attempting to join Wi-Fi networks unless previously approved on the iPhone, as well as those requiring an additional tick box click to get online.
Late last week we learned the Series 3 will only connect to cellular networks in the user’s home country, presenting an inconvenience for travelers.
Will this setback alter your decision to buy an Apple Watch Series 3? Will you wait until Apple resolves it? Share your thoughts with us @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
