Apple acknowledges problem with new Watch, but says there is a fix

The data connection is the wearable's biggest feature, but seems not to be working

Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller introduces AirPower during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Apple Watch's biggest feature might not work. But it's all fixable.

A number of reviewers have complained that the Watch didn't appear to connect to the internet properly, and that using its built-in radio seemed to deplete the battery quickly. That was particularly worrying because the data connection is the biggest new feature in the third version of the Watch.

But Apple has responded to the problems, saying it is working on a fix and suggesting that people use their Watch differently.

Apple said the watch can experience LTE connectivity problems when it connects to open wi-fi networks such as at a hotel or a coffee shop. The problems can be fixed by telling the phone to "forget" the network.

The company is "investigating a fix for a future software release," Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette said.

The problems also appear to be particularly prevalent in the US. European reviewers, including The Independent's, and early users didn't report the issues.

Many reviewers such as the New York Times praised the new features and gave generally positive assessments.

But other prominent publications, including the Wall Street Journal and The Verge, recommended against purchasing the new model because the LTE cellular data connectivity did not work as expected.

The mixed reviews weighed on Apple shares, which closed down about 1.7 per cent.

"Considering that my Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE (both first and second review units) didn't function like it was supposed to, I can't recommend buying it — and paying the monthly cell fee — based on promises," Verge reviewer Lauren Goode wrote.

Apart from connection issues, some reviewers were disappointed with the drain on the watch's battery while making calls. Apple had touted up to 18 hours of battery life but said the watch would get only one hour on a cellular phone call. Gene Munster, a longtime Apple analyst with Loup Ventures, doubted issues with the Series 3 Watch would hurt Apple's bottom line. "That review takeaway is a negative but is not a surprise. This is the first generation watch with LTE," he told Reuters.

Additional reporting by Reuters