The support documentation for the Apple Watch has been updated, confirming complaints that wearers of the watch might have problems if they have wrist tattoos. As reported yesterday, users have taken up the hashtag #tattoogate to complain that the auto-unlock feature doesn’t work and the ink also affects the watch’s ability to reliably track a user’s heart rate.
According to the support document, “Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can also 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 updated support doc says, “If you’re not able to get a consistent reading because of any of these factors, you can connect your Apple Watch wirelessly to external heart rate monitors such as Bluetooth chest straps.”
We’re pretty sure that someone who pays that much money for a smartwatch wants all its features to work properly, without having to attach any other equipment.
