Apple Watch owners with tattooed wrists are reporting problems with the wearable tech. Some users are saying that the device is only working intermittently due to their body art. Apple has admitted that tattoos can cause problems with the Watch. The problems are due to dark-coloured artwork fooling the sensors located at the back of the watch. Some users with darker coloured skin types may also be affected.
A support page on the tech giant’s website says: “Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can… impact heart rate sensor performance…the ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings.”
The Watch is being marketed as a valuable device for athletes in particular, with green LED lights and photodiode sensors working together to detect blood flow and calculate heart rate. Some users have said that tattoos have been affecting the Watch’s ability to perform this function. A number of YouTube videos about the issue have appeared. Apple is not the only company to see the performance of its wearable tech compromised by tattoos. Many manufacturers have also struggled to cater for people with darker-coloured skin, due to the limited amount of light reflected back from it.
The Apple Watch has performed well in independent tests against some of the market’s most trusted heart monitors.
